SFA at Rice: Q&A with Rice beat writer Adam Coleman
Now sitting below .500 once again, the Lumberjacks need a big win this weekend to right the ship. The Owls of Rice are not the caliber of C-USA team that SFA faced in UAB on Wednesday, but they have gotten off to a quick 6-2 start with narrow losses to Texas Southern (3-points), and Texas Tech (1-point).
The Owls are led by Mike Rhoades, a third year coach and familiar foe for the Lumberjacks. Rhoades was on Shaka Smart's staff at Virginia Commonwealth when SFA knocked them out of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
To get the Owl perspective on this match, we reached out to Houston Chronicle Rice beat writer Adam Coleman. Here's what he had to say:
Rice was picked 9th in the C-USA preseason poll. Now at 6-2 and a combined four points from being undefeated, is there any optimism surrounding the program that could suggest they're better than many assumed?
Adam: Absolutely there is. There is a feeling around this team that this could be the program's best year in a while. I don't think that means an NCAA Tournament berth but I think that means a respectable season, near .500. Even a CBI berth would be great for this team. They are so young and still fitting the pieces together. But so far, progress is definitely noticeable.
How much of the VCU "Havoc" style defense has Mike Rhoades carried over to his scheme at Rice?
Adam: Honestly, you'll see it at Rice but it isn't this team's identity like it was at VCU. Rhoades has some different pieces to work with. This team is absolutely predicated on playing fast and scoring. They can get to 100 in a hurry. They are going for at least 80 points in seven straight games for the first time ever.
What player matchup in this game is most intriguing to you?
Adam: I'm interested to see how SFA handles and guards Marcus Evans. He might be the best guard in the country you've never heard of. He's a sophomore and leads the conference in scoring. Not much has stopped him so far. So I wonder if SFA puts someone with some length on him to disrupt his game, double team or whatever it may be.
What is the environment like for a game at Tudor Fieldhouse? Can traveling fans expect to find seats?
Adam: It's not Allen Fieldhouse, of course, but for a big game it's a pretty fun atmosphere. Tudor Fieldhouse is small but intimate. So you'll get a crowd right on top of you. But Rice hasn't had many home games worthy of a raucous crowd. This one may be it. And there always seems to be room for traveling fans, too, at every game I've covered there.
What is your prediction for this game?
Adam: This is the kind of game Rice has to have to show progress is being made. I know a lot has changed at SFA but SFA is kind of what Rice wants to be - a low/mid-major, making tournament runs and being relevant. I think Marcus Evans wills Rice once again. I think Rice gets the edge in a close one. 85-81.