Will the Rice Owls Ride the Wave at Devlin Fieldhouse?
As the Rice Owls prepare to face off against the Tulane Green Wave at Devlin Fieldhouse, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their momentum from recent games. The Owls have shown a mix of grit and grace on the court, but will it be enough to overcome Tulane's home-court advantage?
In their last game on December 23, despite falling short against Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns with a final score of 67-84, there were glimmers of potential that could be harnessed in upcoming matches. The Owls managed a respectable three-point shooting percentage of 42 percent and free throw accuracy stood at 78 percent. However, they struggled in other areas – only converting 34 percent from inside the arc and being outrebounded by a significant margin.
Contrastingly, just two days earlier on December 21 against Prairie View A&M Panthers, RICE showcased what they're capable of when things click into place. Dominating with an impressive final scoreline of 82-56, they excelled in two-point field goals hitting an outstanding rate of 65 percent and maintained high efficiency at the free-throw line with an exceptional rate of 90 percent. Their rebounding was also noteworthy as they collected a total of 47 rebounds.
The performance against Northwestern State Demons on December 16 further solidified RICE's capabilities as they secured victory away from home with a scoreline reading favorably at 76-51. They demonstrated strong paint presence scoring an impressive number of points inside while maintaining over half success rate across all field goals.
Looking ahead to January third’s clash with TULN in New Orleans; it is imperative for RICE to tighten up their defense and maintain consistency in shooting if they wish to come out on top. The Green Wave will undoubtedly look to capitalize on any lapses while defending their turf fiercely.
Fans should expect RICE’s players to focus heavily on improving ball movement and creating open shots which has been evident through their assist-to-turnover ratio figures from past games. If these aspects are executed well along with maintaining composure under pressure – especially during critical moments – then there is every reason for optimism among supporters.
The scheduled tip-off is set for eight o'clock in the evening local time at Devlin Fieldhouse this Thursday night. Those unable to attend can catch all the action live nationally via ESPNU channel two hundred eight where every dribble, pass, and shot will be broadcasted as these collegiate athletes battle it out for supremacy.