Owls Look For Non-Conference Win No. 10 Against TCU

The Owls were 8-6 about this time during the 2010-11 season and coming off a 74-68 home court win against LSU before hosting the TCU Horned Frogs on January 2, 2011. The Owls were playing well and beat the Horned Frogs 70-61 just before their first conference game against Tulane on January 5, 2011.

They are 9-5 this season heading into Wednesday night’s game at TCU. However, on last Saturday the Owls dropped a 73-59 decision to the Longhorns in Austin which doesn’t sit well with Head Coach Ben Braun who knows that his team has to be more consistent especially on the road.

“Well, rebounding was one area where we let down. They did beat us on the boards. So, that area was a tough one and we turned it over a few times and that led to some fast breaks and (we) didn’t get through some screens. So, just some technical things that we need to do a better job of; didn’t box out on a one-point game and giving a three-point play at the free-throw line (was) very reminiscent of a year ago.”

The Owls lost the battle of the boards to the Longhorns 37-27. They actually won the turnover battle 19-13. But the number of turnovers weren’t nearly as critical as the timing of the turnovers which led to 14 easy points for Texas, now 10-3.

“So those are baskets that you give away and Texas is a good enough team without playing giveaway basketball. So, we just have to make sure that our opponents are really earning and we’re not giving them opportunities.”

Juniors Tamir Jackson and Arsalan Kazemi led the way for the Owls with 34 minutes on the floor. But it was Jackson who paced the Owls with 19 while Arsalan Kazemi led both teams with 10 rebounds and scored 11 points. Port Arthur native and 6’1” junior guard J’Covan Brown of Texas led all scorers with 23 points.

KEEP ‘GOALS’ IN MIND

The Owls look to finish strong as they close out non-conference play. But, it won’t be easy against a TCU team that 6’7” Rice forward Arsalan Kazemi says they know well.

“We beat them last year. They’re almost like the same players. So, they want to come back and beat us. So, it’s going to be a good game.”

The Horned Frogs are 8-5 overall, 5-2 at home while the Owls are 2-1 on the road and 9-5 overall. Last season around this time, the Owls were 0-6 on the road. So, it’s especially important for them to play well at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, says the Nations’ leading rebounder and double-doubles leader. (12.3 rpg and 11ddbl respectively)

“We played there two years ago and we didn’t play that well.” Kazemi is correct as the Owls lost 70-58. “We were all kind of tired. So, we didn’t play that well against them”, he adds. “But, it’s there place and they’re going to have their home crowd and everything. So, we’re just going to go there and we want to get our 10 wins from the preseason. That’s our goal; to go there and get this win.”

If the Owls win in Fort Worth on Saturday, it will be the first time since the Scott Thompson coached Owls during the 1991-92 season that Rice will have won 10 non-conference games before staring conference play. That achievement would fit right into the Owls plan, says Kazemi.

“Definitely â€" getting the 10 wins and then go to like the conference game would help us a lot â€" because it’s our goal to make it to a post-season tournament. And to do that, we need these wins. And when you play the teams that are in a different conference, it helps a lot.”

SCOUTING TCU

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