2017–18 Rice Owls men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Rice Owls men's basketball team represented Rice University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Owls, led by first-year head coach Scott Pera, played their home games at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas as members of Conference USA. They finished the season 7–24, 4–14 in C-USA play to finish in 13th place and failed to qualify for the C-USA tournament.

2017–18 Rice Owls men's basketball
ConferenceConference USA
Record7–24 (4–14 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Chris Kreider
  • Mark Linebaugh
  • Omar Mance
Home arenaTudor Fieldhouse
Seasons
2017–18 Conference USA men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Middle Tennessee162 .889258 .758
Old Dominion153 .833257 .781
Western Kentucky144 .7782711 .711
Marshall126 .6672511 .694
UTSA117 .6112015 .571
UAB108 .5562013 .606
North Texas810 .4442018 .526
FIU810 .4441418 .438
Southern Miss711 .3891618 .471
Louisiana Tech711 .3891716 .515
Florida Atlantic612 .3331219 .387
UTEP612 .3331120 .355
Rice414 .222724 .226
Charlotte216 .111623 .207
2018 C-USA Tournament winner

Previous season

The Owls finished the 2016–17 season 23–12, 11–7 in C-USA play to finish in fifth place. They defeated Southern Miss in the first round of the C-USA tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to UTEP. They received an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational where they defeated San Francisco in the first round before losing in the quarterfinals to Utah Valley.

On March 21, 2017, head coach Mike Rhoades resigned to become the head coach at VCU.[1] He finished at Rice with a three-year record of 47–52. On March 23, the school promoted assistant coach Scott Pera to head coach.[2]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Marcus Evans2G6'2"195SophomoreChesapeake, VATransferred to VCU
Egor Koulechov4G/F6'5"210RS JuniorVolgograd, RussiaGraduate transferred to Florida
Corey Douglas11F6'8"190FreshmanLouisville, KYTransferred to Tallahassee CC
Marquez Letcher-Ellis12F6'7"205SophomoreHouston, TXTransferred to Nevada
Chad Lott21G6'3"190RS FreshmanShreveport, LATransferred to Howard
Marcus Jackson22G6'3"185SeniorActon, CAGraduate transferred to UC Santa Barbara
Harrison Brown31G/F6'4'200SophomoreAustin, TXWalk-on; left the team due to personal reasons
Andrew Drone54C6'10"260SeniorRidgway, ILGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
A. J. Lapray2G6'5"190RS SeniorSalem, ORTransferred from Pepperdine. Will be eligible to play immediately since Lapray graduated from Pepperdine.
Dylan Jones4F6'8"215RS SeniorHouston, TXTransferred from Penn. Will be eligible to play immediately since Jones graduated from Penn.
Josh Parrish12G6'5"220SophomoreArlington, TXTransferred from TCU. Under NCAA transfer rules, Parrish will have to sit out for the 2017–18 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.

2017 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Miles Lester
PG
Wichita, KSWilbraham & Monson Academy6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)N/A 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Najja Hunter
PG
Brooklyn, NYSt Benedict's Preparatory School6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg)Apr 15, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Malik Osborne
SF
Matteson, ILDon Bosco Prep Academy6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg)Apr 24, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.

2018 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Chris Mullins
#55 SG
Mansfield, TXTimberview High School6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)N/AAug 23, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN grade: 3
Trey Murphy III
SG
Cary, NCCary Academy6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)165 lb (75 kg)Nov 8, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 0
Quentin Millora-Brown
PF
Lorton, VABishop O'Connell High School6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)205 lb (93 kg)Nov 8, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 0
Payton Moore
SG
Los Angeles, CAWindward School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)175 lb (79 kg)Nov 8, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 0
Drew Peterson
SF
Libertyville, ILLibertyville High Scoool6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)180 lb (82 kg)Apr 10, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN grade: 0
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2017–18 Rice Owls men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G0Connor Cashaw6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg)JrStevenson High SchoolLincolnshire, Illinois
G2A. J. Lapray6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg)RS SrSprague HS
Pepperdine
Salem, Oregon
G3Ako Adams6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)SoBishop Denis J. O'Connell High SchoolWashington, D.C.
F4Dylan Jones6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg)RS SrThe Village School
Penn
Houston, Texas
G5Addison Owen (W)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg)SoThe Paideia SchoolAtlanta, Georgia
F10Robert Martin6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)SoTilton SchoolPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
G11Miles Lester6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg)FrWilbraham & Monson AcademyWichita, Kansas
G12Josh Parrish  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg)SoSeguin High School
TCU
Arlington, Texas
F13Malik Osbourne6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)200 lb (91 kg)FrDon Bosco PrepMatteson, Illinois
G15Bishop Mency6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)215 lb (98 kg)SrChino Hills High SchoolChino Hills, California
G20Grant Youngkin (W)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)SoSt. Albans SchoolWashington, D.C.
G24J. T. Trauber (W)5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)165 lb (75 kg)SrSt. John's SchoolHouston, Texas
F30Austin Meyer6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg)SoRouse High SchoolPflugerville, Texas
F35Tim Harrison6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg)SoFrancis W. Parker SchoolSan Diego, California
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
OpponentResultRecordSite (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Nov 4, 2017*
7:00 pm
Wayland BaptistW 79–72 
Tudor Fieldhouse 
Houston, TX
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
7:00 pm
Eastern Kentucky
MGM Resorts Main Event campus-site game
L 72–73 0–1
Tudor Fieldhouse (2,001)
Houston, TX
Nov 14, 2017*
7:00 pm
Georgia State
MGM Resorts Main Event campus-site game
L 54–75 0–2
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,208)
Houston, TX
Nov 17, 2017*
6:30 pm
at Northwestern StateW 87–65 1–2
Prather Coliseum (1,312)
Natchitoches, LA
Nov 20, 2017*
9:00 pm
vs. UNLV
MGM Resorts Main Event Heavyweight semifinals
L 68–95 1–3
T-Mobile Arena (8,107)
Paradise, NV
Nov 22, 2017*
9:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Ole Miss
MGM Resorts Main Event Heavyweight consolation game
L 62–79 1–4
T-Mobile Arena (8,424)
Paradise, NV
Nov 25, 2017*
6:30 pm
St. Thomas (TX)W 70–59 2–4
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,439)
Houston, TX
Nov 29, 2017*
6:30 pm, ESPN3
at Texas–ArlingtonL 49–69 2–5
College Park Center (1,649)
Arlington, TX
Dec 2, 2017*
2:00 pm
Texas–Rio Grande ValleyL 67–69 2–6
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,548)
Houston, TX
Dec 9, 2017*
2:00 pm, ESPN3
at Stephen F. AustinL 62–81 2–7
William R. Johnson Coliseum (4,071)
Nacogdoches, TX
Dec 14, 2017*
11:30 am
St. Edward'sW 91–86 3–7
Tudor Fieldhouse (5,208)
Houston, TX
Dec 16, 2017*
7:00 pm
at No. 24 Texas TechL 53–73 3–8
Lubbock Municipal Coliseum (7,034)
Lubbock, TX
Dec 19, 2017*
8:30 pm, ATTSN
at New MexicoL 69–78 3–9
Dreamstyle Arena (9,415)
Albuquerque, NM
Dec 22, 2017*
7:00 pm
Texas StateL 66–74 3–10
Tudor Fieldhouse (2,913)
Houston, TX
Conference USA regular season
Dec 28, 2017
7:00 pm
at UTSAL 66–79 3–11
(0–1)
Convocation Center (1,163)
San Antonio, TX
Dec 30, 2017
8:00 pm
at UTEPL 62–80 3–12
(0–2)
Don Haskins Center (6,147)
El Paso, TX
Jan 4, 2018
7:00 pm
Old DominionL 75–82 OT3–13
(0–3)
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,313)
Houston, TX
Jan 6, 2018
2:00 pm
CharlotteW 73–64 4–13
(1–3)
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,482)
Houston, TX
Jan 13, 2018
2:00 pm
North TexasL 78–85 4–14
(1–4)
Tudor Fieldhouse (2,487)
Houston, TX
Jan 18, 2018
7:00 pm
at Southern MissL 75–86 4–15
(1–5)
Reed Green Coliseum (2,001)
Hattiesburg, MS
Jan 20, 2018
6:00 pm
at Louisiana TechL 54–69 4–16
(1–6)
Thomas Assembly Center (3,836)
Ruston, LA
Jan 25, 2018
7:00 pm
FIUW 73–64 5–16
(2–6)
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,485)
Houston, TX
Jan 27, 2018
2:00 pm
Florida AtlanticL 62–63 5–17
(2–7)
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,866)
Houston, TX
Feb 3, 2018
5:00 pm, ESPN3
at North TexasL 70–74 5–18
(2–8)
The Super Pit (2,322)
Denton, TX
Feb 8, 2018
6:30 pm, Stadium
at Middle TennesseeL 75–94 5–19
(2–9)
Murphy Center (5,602)
Murfreesboro, TN
Feb 10, 2018
7:00 pm
at UABL 56–61 5–20
(2–10)
Bartow Arena (3,703)
Birmingham, AL
Feb 15, 2018
7:00 pm
MarshallL 80–93 5–21
(2–11)
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,694)
Houston, TX
Feb 17, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Western KentuckyL 66–85 5–22
(2–12)
Tudor Fieldhouse (4,246)
Houston, TX
Feb 22, 2018
6:00 pm
at Florida AtlanticW 79–76 OT6–22
(3–12)
FAU Arena (1,188)
Boca Raton, FL
Feb 24, 2018
6:00 pm
at FIUL 64–67 6–23
(3–13)
FIU Arena (4,580)
Miami, FL
Mar 1, 2018
7:00 pm
UTEPW 76–70 7–23
(4–13)
Tudor Fieldhouse (1,802)
Houston, TX
Mar 3, 2018
7:00 pm
UTSAL 60–79 7–24
(4–14)
Tudor Fieldhouse (3,738)
Houston, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

See also

References