Rice Rallies for 65-55 Victory Over UALR

Rice sophomore guard Tamir Jackson matched a career high with eight assists to go along with 12 points and six rebounds as Rice began play in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic with a 65-55 win over UALR Thursday in Tudor Fieldhouse.

Both teams move on to Las Vegas and the South Point Arena located south of The Strip for games next Tuesday through Thursday. Rice, now 5-4, will take on Stetson while UALR, 6-5, will play Akron in tournament action on Tuesday.

For more details including video highlights and interviews, a game recap and statistics, click on the following RiceOwls.com Link.

Owls Return to the Hardwood Thursday

The title of the tournament is the 2010 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic, but the venue for the Owls' opening round game will be Tudor Fieldhouse when Rice plays host to Arkansas-Little Rock Thursday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast locally by ESPN 97.5 as well Rice All-Access.

In 2006, the NCAA added legislation for Multi-Team Events which allows schools to compete in up to four games as part of a tournament and the event only count as one game against teams' schedules. The round-robin tournament continues next week at South Point Arena in Las Vegas with the Owls playing Stetson, Miami and Oral Roberts.

Read more at RiceOwls.com by going to this Link.

Braun, Herndon Help Tip-Off Ticket To Reading Rewards

Rice University basketball coach Ben Braun and junior forward Emerson Herndon helped tip-off the Ticket To Reading Rewards program at Pershing Middle School on Tuesday. Both coach and player spoke about the benefits of reading during their visit to the Houston Independent School District middle school campus located just minutes from the Rice campus.

Braun challenged the middle school students to find books about subjects which interested them. He also encouraged students to share books with their classmates. Herndon, who is a graduate of the Houston ISD system, spoke about reading and how it prepared him for college. He also singled out the young people involved in athletics and told them how academic success could help lead to an athletic scholarship.

The reading incentive program encourages Middle School students to read books outside the classroom and obtain rewards for reading. Ticket To Reading Rewards has three primary components: reading rewards, tickets to local college basketball games and a coaching component for middle school coaches.

The reading component encourages students to read in an effort to obtain predetermined rewards such as subscriptions to Sports Illustrated for Kids, miniature basketball hoops, medals, basketballs autographed by NCAA coaches, books and gift certificates.

The NABC Foundation provides free tickets to local college games or practices to all students who enter the program. Teachers often remark that having middle school students visit a local college campus and visualize themselves attending the college can be the single most important element of the program.

Finally, the NABC Foundation often runs a Coach the Coaches clinic for middle school basketball coaches in each school district. The clinics not only focus on basketball techniques but also on motivating coaches to encourage their players to reach a high level of reward in the program and to provide leadership within the school to promote reading.

The Ticket To Reading Rewards program was founded in 2002 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Foundation. Over the life of the program, students have read an estimated 4,000,000 books, obtained nearly 1,000,000 rewards and attended 125,000 local men’s and women’s NCAA basketball games – all at no cost to the schools or students.

Owls Dispatch Lamar, 75-73

Arsalan Kazemi scored a career-high 24 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and sparked Rice to a 75-73 victory over Lamar Saturday.

Check out statistics, video and comments following the win at RiceOwls.com.

Link to RiceOwls.com Recap.

Owls Take on High-Scoring Cards Wednesday

Rice will look to stop one of the most prolific scoring offenses in Division I Saturday afternoon when the Owls play host to Lamar. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Cardinals began the week leading the nation in scoring and currently averaging 90.1 points per game.

RiceOwls.com Link

Rice Falls to Arizona, 84-57

Rice suffered its first home court loss of the season, dropping an 84-57 decision Wednesday night to a hot-shooting Arizona team.

For a full recap, go to RiceOwls.com.

Link to Game Story

Rice Plays at Texas Saturday

For the second time in as many games, Rice University’s basketball team will look to stop Tristan Thompson when the Owls take on Texas Saturday in Austin.

Earlier this week, North Texas’ Tristan Thompson scored 26 points to help lead the Mean Green to a 68-65 win against Rice. UNT’s Thompson scored 11 straight points early in the second half and was a catalyst to the Mean Green retaking a lead in the game. His free throw with 1:37 to play gave North Texas the lead for good.

Now, the Owls face a Texas team whose roster also includes a player named Tristan Thompson. The Longhorns’ Thompson ranks second on the Texas team in scoring with a 12.6 points per game saverage. He leads the Longhorns with 13 blocks through five games and is also averaging 6.2 rebounds.

Saturday’s game between Rice and Texas is slated for 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast within the Lone Star State on Fox Sports Net Southwest and will be broadcast locally in Houston by 1560 the Game.

For the full story, go to RiceOwls.com.

Rice vs. Texas preview.

Owls Take on North Texas Tuesday

Rice University plays its third game in six days when the Owls travel to North Texas on Tuesday. Tip-off for the intastate battle is 7 p.m. from The Super Pit on the UNT campus and the game will be broadcast locally in Houston on ESPN 97.5 and through RiceOwls.com.

Rice will be at full strength with the return of junior guard Connor Frizzelle. In Sunday’s game against Saint Gregory’s, Frizzelle was fouled in the opening minute and came down hard hitting his head on the hardwood. He had to be assisted by teammates to the locker room.

Frizzelle underwent tests conducted by the Rice medical staff Monday morning and has been cleared to play. He was averaging 13.3 points per game heading into the week and has started the last two games for the Owls.

Link to Full Story.

Owls Take on Santa Clara Thursday

Rice will look to equal last year’s 3-0 start Thursday night when the Owls take on Santa Clara in the team’s first road game of the season. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. local time, 9 p.m. in Houston. The game will be broadcast by ESPN 97.5

Rice capped a 2-0 weekend to start the season last Sunday when the Owls beat Grambling State 86-57. In both of the team’s games this season a player has come off the bench to lead the Owls in scoring. Trey Stanton scored 17 points in the Owls’ 63-51 season-opening win over St. Thomas. Earlier this week, Connor Frizzelle came off the bench and was the team’s scoring co-leader with 17 points.

Frizzelle leads Rice with 13.0 point scoring average this season and has five steals in two games.

Thursday’s game against Santa Clara is the return trip for a home-and-home series with the West Coast Conference school. Last year, Frizzelle scored 16 points and the Owls converted 23 Santa Clara turnovers into 27 points in a 70-57 victory over the Broncos.

Link to RiceOwls.com Preview

Fight and Desire

Few student-athletes have had to overcome the amount of adversity which has beset Rice University basketball player Cory Pflieger during his career. Pflieger has had to overcome not one, but two season-ending injuries during his time at Rice.

Back in November of 2007 and just five games into his junior season, Pflieger suffered a torn ligament in his ankle that would sideline him for the rest of the year. He received a medical redshirt and came back to play a full junior season a year later. And then, heading into his senior season last fall, Pflieger suffered what was later diagnosed as a torn anterior cruciate ligament as well as torn meniscus which required surgery and prevented him from playing.

But in the weeks after surgery, which ironically came on the day of the Owls’ 2009-10 season opener against Sacramento State, Pflieger learned of the NCAA’s hardship waiver and the possibility of gaining one final year of eligibility.

“I had heard of a few athletes such as Jordan Shipley at Texas who had received a sixth year,” Pflieger said. “After talking it over with the coaches, I felt I had the opportunity of possibly being granted a sixth year since I didn’t even go through one official practice. Even though it was not guaranteed, I believed I would be back and have a chance to play.”

Pflieger, along with the team’s trainer and team physicians, all had to write letters to the NCAA to request the waiver which granted Pflieger a sixth year to play four seasons of basketball.

Surprisingly, the process took less time than expected. Pflieger received the waiver just a few weeks after submitting his request.

“I really appreciate the NCAA reading the letter I wrote and realizing it wasn’t just a petty attempt to gain another year of college. It was an opportunity to gain another year of life that I didn’t want to miss,” he said. “After getting the waiver, the choice was definitely up to me. I made my decision to come back and then it was up to the coaches to see how I would fit in.

No Regrets

Pflieger’s rehab following surgery is now right at a calendar year. His health is good. He is ready to provide the kind of leadership only a senior can provide.

“If something happened during rehab or something happens during the middle of the season that prevents me from finishing my career – and I don’t expect that to happen knowing how I have worked and trained – I will always know I gave it my best shot. I am not going to give up or quit on myself or my team.”

Even though his past injuries were beyond his control, Pflieger said he felt as if he let his teammates down last year.

As he began rehabilitation for his knee, he proved to be a role model for his teammates. He rehabbed in the training room. He worked out in the weight room at the same time his teammates were there.

“I should have been there for leadership,” he said about last year. “I wanted to prove to my teammates that I wasn’t giving up on them. And I wasn’t giving up on myself as far as playing. I worked as hard as I could every day to show them I still had a positive attitude and was positive about the situation.”

Pflieger is one of four seniors on this year’s squad. With a strong core of returning talent, the Owls will look to improve on last year’s 8-23 record.

Pflieger said he has high expectations for himself as well as this year’s Rice team.

“A lot a people may not feel that way because of the record we had last year,” he said of his expectations. “I feel a lot of the problems we have had in the past were eliminated during the workouts this summer. This team is definitely unified and in the goal we have for this season.

“The theme for the year is ‘Get Better Each Day’ and we have shown that on the court. From the first practice, people were working hard. You could tell from our intensity and how we were communicating, this season is going to be different. We have worked too hard during the offseason and during the preseason to have another disappointing year.”

In the Classroom

One interesting postscript to Pflieger’s story is the uniqueness of being a sixth-year student-athlete at a university the caliber of Rice.

Pflieger graduated from Rice this past spring with a degree in kinesiology. Returning to the classroom this year, the bar was raised when it came to the academic performance. He must maintain a higher grade point average than his teammates to remain eligible for next semester.

His course load also has depth and direction.

In addition to taking business courses which will help in any future endeavors, Pflieger is continuing to take courses which focus on different cultures. His course load includes a modern government course taught by CBS presidential historian and analyst Douglas Brinkley.

“I picked classes which have well-respected professors as well as classes which will help me when I am finished with my career at Rice,” he said. “Douglas Brinkley is a very interesting guy. It is a class you don’t want to miss and you learn something every day. The same with my Modern Arab History course which is taught by Dr. (Ussama) Makdisi.”

Trey Stanton scored 17 points and Arsalan Kazemi registered his 10th career double-double as Rice opened its season Friday with a 63-51 win over St. Thomas.

Check out video highlights, statistics and a full recap at RiceOwls.com.

Link to game story.

Rice Takes on St. Thomas in Opener

Rice University opens its 97th basketball season Friday when it plays host to the University of St. Thomas. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. in Tudor Fieldhouse and is part of a rare, double-header with the Owl volleyball team which plays host to Marshall at 5 p.m.

Friday's game for the Rice basketball program begins a busy first weekend. The Owls also play host to Grambling State Sunday afternoon. The squad will look to take advantage of playing three of its first four at home in Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Owls' games are broadcast by ESPN 97.5. Live statistics and video are available through RiceOwls.com.

Read more at RiceOwls.com.
Here is a link to the full story.

White Sands Await Owls in 2011

Rice University is one of six teams announced Wednesday by ESPN Regional Television to participate in the 2011 Cancun Governor's Cup. The tournament will be held in late December around the Christmas holiday, at Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico. The remaining two teams for the tournament field will be announced at a later date.

The second annual Cancun Governor's Cup field also includes the College of Charleston, Kansas State, Massachusetts, Southern Illinois and Utah. Kansas State, currently ranked No. 3 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, advanced to the Elite of the NCAA Championship in 2010, falling to national runner-up Butler. Charleston participated in the College Basketball Invitational.

The 2011 Cancun Governor's Cup, a bracket-format tournament, will feature 12 games over three days in late December 2011. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship game on the final day.

The inaugural Cancun Governor's Cup will take place Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 22-24, 2010, at the Poliforum Benito Juarez. Conference USA will serve as the event's sponsoring conference. C-USA member Southern Miss is in the 2010 field.

The tournament offers teams an opportunity to practice, play and be immersed in the Mexican culture and landscape. Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the Cancun Governor's Cup Web site at CancunGovernorsCup.com.

The Cancun Governor's Cup is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, Inc. (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN.

The nation's largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Collegiate basketball events include the 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Cancun Governor's Cup; Charleston Classic (S.C.); DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational; Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Honda Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); Lane Furniture All-College Basketball Classic (Oklahoma City) and BracketBusters.

If the Rice men's basketball exhibition game Monday against Texas A&M International was an opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the squad in a game setting, the coaches had to be pleased with what they saw. The Owls flew past the Dustdevils in a 76-49 exhibition victory at Tudor Fieldhouse and the outcome never in doubt.

Forward Arsalan Kazemi led the team with 14 points and five rebounds, as a balanced scoring attack saw five Owl players in double figures. Connor Frizzelle scored a dozen points and Cory Pflieger contributed 11, including three from 3-point range. Trey Stanton had 11 points and led the team with nine rebounds. Lucas Kuipers had 10 points and seven boards. The team shot 47.5 percent overall.

For more images, video and statistics, go to RiceOwls.com.
Link to Texas A&M International Game

Rice held its final preseason intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday in Tudor Fieldhouse. Read more at RiceOwls.com. Pictured, Returning sophomore Arsalan Kazemi defends against freshman Omar Oraby.

Link to full story about intrasquad scrimmage.

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Weekend Opens Season

Rice will open the 2010-11 basketball season with a weekend which recognizes faculty and staff for their efforts on campus. The athletic department will be selling discounted tickets for the opening weekend of hoops during the lunch hour Tuesday through Thursday at Willy’s Statue on campus.

Rice opens the regular season on Friday, Nov. 12th against St. Thomas then plays host to Grambling State Saturday, Nov. 14th.

Faculty and staff can purchase an End Court ticket to either game for $10. The ticket price also includes a hot dog and drink at the game. Tickets for both games are $15 which also includes a hot dog and drink for each game.

Faculty and staff are admitted free to all Rice women’s games. With a purchase of a ticket for either men’s game, faculty and staff can purchase additional tickets for family and friends for the women’s season opener on Nov. 17th against Stephen F. Austin for $1.

The athletic department will be selling tickets Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. next to Willy’s Statue.

Also this week, both the men’s and women’s basketball programs will co-host Hootin’ Hoops in Tudor Fieldhouse Thursday at 7 p.m. Fans will have an opportunity to meet members of both teams and receive player autographs while women’s head coach Greg Williams and men’s coach Ben Braun will preview their upcoming seasons. Fans and students will also have an opportunity to learn chants and cheers during a simulated game played during the evening.

Season tickets for both programs’ home schedules are also available by visiting the ticket link at RiceOwls.com or by calling the Rice Ticket Office at (713) 522-6957.

Rice Basketball Begins Second Full Week of Preseason Drills

It has been just over a week since the Rice basketball program began full-squad workouts. Now with the season opener against St. Thomas less than three weeks away, third-year coach Ben Braun sees areas where the Owls have made marked improvement as well as aspects of the game that continue to be a focus during workouts.

For more, click on RiceOwls.com.

Link to full story.

Hootin' Hoops Slated for Nov. 4th

Rice fans and students will get an early peak at the upcoming season on Thursday, Nov. 4th, when the women’s and men’s basketball programs co-host Hootin’ Hoops in Tudor Fieldhouse. The event tips off at 7 p.m.

Fans will have an opportunity to meet members of both teams and receive player autographs while women’s head coach Greg Williams and men’s coach Ben Braun will preview their upcoming seasons. Fans and students will also have an opportunity to learn chants and cheers during a simulated game played during the evening.

Both the Rice cheerleading squad and dance team will perform and Sammy the Owl will also entertain. The Rice Basketball Owl Band (BOB) will musically set the stage during the evening.

Additionally, fans can get geared up for the upcoming season by visiting the Rice Team Store which will be open during the event.

Following an exhibition game against Texas A&M International on Nov. 8, the men’s team opens the regular season Nov. 12 when the Owls play host to St. Thomas. The men’s 2010-11 home schedule includes nonconference games against Arizona, LSU and TCU as well as a conference schedule which includes preseason conference favorites Memphis, Southern Miss and UTEP.

After opening the season at the World Vision Invitational hosted by Baylor, the Rice women open at home against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 17. The nonconference schedule for the women also includes Texas A&M on Nov. 20 while the Gene Hackerman Invitational is set for Dec. 3-4 in Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice opens Conference USA play at home against UCF on Jan. 6.

For information on purchasing season tickets, fans may go to the ticket link at RiceOwls.com or call the Rice Ticket Office at (713) 522-6957.

Owls Begin Extended Workouts Friday

While the Rice men's basketball coaching staff has had an opportunity to workout members of the team in groups of four since the start of the semester and the squad has practiced as a unit for two hours a week for the past three weeks, Friday will offer another benchmark.

The Owls will be on the Tudor Fieldhouse court Friday afternoon for the first official day of practice.

Rice has also announced the addition of a Nov. 8 exhibition game against Texas A&M-International while Conference USA has released the Owls' television schedule.

Click on RiceOwls.com for more information.

Full story link: http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/101410aac.html

More From NYC

Ben Braun (far left) and C-USA's other 11 coaches were in New York City Wednesday for a series of media opportunities. Pictured along with Braun from left, Memphis head coach Josh Pastner, Marshall head coach Tom Herrion, UTEP head coach Tim Floyd, Southern Miss head coach Larry Eustachy, Houston head coach James Dickey, Tulsa head coach Doug Wojcik, UCF head coach Donnie Jones, UAB head coach Mike Davis, Tulane head coach Ed Conroy, East Carolina head coach Jeff Lebo and SMU head coach Matt Doherty.

Preseason Accolades

Rice University sophomore Arsalan Kazemi has been selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA Second Team in a vote by the league’s 12 head coaches. Kazemi was the lone sophomore to be named to either the league’s first or second team.

For more information click on RiceOwls.com.
Link to full story: http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/101310aab.html

A Bite out of the Big Apple

Ben Braun will be previewing the upcoming season as Conference USA's basketball coaches are descending on New York City this week. Tomorrow Braun will be taping a segment for the CBS College Sports season preview which will air Nov. 1. The C-USA coaches will also have an opportunity to meet with New York and national media outlets, including both of C-USA's television partners (ESPN and CBS College Sports).

Kazemi Closes FIBA World Championship With Double-Double

Rice University sophomore Arsalan Kazemi concluded his first FIBA World Championship by equaling a tournament high when he grabbed 14 rebounds to go with 13 points in Iran’s 65-60 loss to Slovenia Thursday.

Kazemi’s only double-double of the tournament, helped Iran stay in sight of an upset bid but in the end fell short against a Slovenian team which improved to 4-1 and will advance out of Group B play and on to the “Eight-Finals.” Iran ended pool play with a 1-4 record.

In five games in Group B, Kazemi averaged 12 points while shooting 48.7 percent from the field. His 14 steals in five games was the most by a player through the preliminary round of the championship. He also finished in a tie for ninth in rebounding average at the tournament, pulling down 7.4 rebounds per game.

Kazemi Scores 14 Points Against Team USA

Rice University sophomore Arsalan Kazemi scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds as his Iranian national team continued Group B pool play Wednesday with an 88-51 loss to Team USA.

Against a United States team featuring NBA players, Kazemi was 5-for-8 from the field. He also had a game-high five steals in the contest televised on ESPN.

Kazemi’s play was highlighted by a layup in which he was fouled while driving into the lane midway through the third quarter as well as a fourth-quarter dunk. With just under seven minutes to play in the game, Iranian point guard Saman Veisi broke free for a long pass and then found Kazemi trailing for the 2-on-1 dunk.

In four games of play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship being held in Turkey, Kazemi is averaging 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and shooting 47.2 percent from the field. He has 11 steals at the tournament.

Iran, 1-3 at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, concludes pool play Thursday against Slovenia.

Kazemi Helps Iran to FIBA Victory

With a 14-point, 7-rebound effort, Rice sophomore Arsalan Kazemi helped Iran to its first victory – a 71-58 win over Tunisia – at the FIBA World Championship being played in Turkey. Kazemi was 4-for-7 from the field and four of Iran’s eight steals in the game.

Iran returns to action Wednesday when it takes on Team USA and closes out play in Group B on Thursday against Slovenia.

Kazemi Scores 12 Points vs. Croatia

Arsalan Kazemi scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds for Iran in a 75-54 loss to Croatia on the second day of the FIBA World Championship being played in Turkey.

Kazemi was 5-for-10 from the field in 30 minutes of play. He scored 10 points during a third-quarter in which Iran managed to cut Croatia's lead to 53-40 to start the final quarter.

Iran takes on Tunisia Monday as Group B play continues.

Link to video of Sunday's highlights including a pair of Kazemi dunks.

Kazemi Scores Nine Points in World Championship Debut

In his FIBA World Championship debut, Rice University sophomore Arsalan Kazemi scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds Saturday as Iran began the tournament with an 81-65 loss to Brazil. Kazemi was 4-for-11 from the field.

Iran continues play in Group B on Sunday against Croatia. Iran’s pool also includes Slovenia, Tunisia and the United States. Kazemi’s team, which includes Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi, will play Team USA on Wednesday.

Williams Bound for Hungary

Lorenzo Williams, who concluded his Rice playing career in 2007, has signed to play this coming season for the defending Hungarian champion, Zalakeramia ZTE KK.

Williams played the past season in the German Bundesliga for the Giessen 46ers where he averaged 11.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Prior to playing for the Giessen 46ers, Williams honed his skills playing the European style of basketball in the Slovak lead. He averaged 20.8 points and 5.8 rebounds for Pezinok during the 2008-09 season.

Studies Abroad

Following a four-year career as a student-athlete at Rice University, Rodney Foster’s education continued this past year on another continent. While many of his classmates from Rice went on to post-graduate studies, Foster’s classroom this past year was a city in the Rhineland area of Germany and basketball courts unlike any in the United States.

Foster’s agent worked out a contract just days before the former Rice point guard set out for the city of Leverkusen in the far western reaches of Germany. Just days after arriving in Leverkusen, Foster made his debut as a professional athlete playing for Bayer Giants Leverkusen (and yes, the team takes its name from the pharmaceutical manufacturer which is headquartered in the city).

“It was definitely a quick transition,” Foster said. “I got there, settled in and we practices two or three days before our first game.”

On the court, Foster had to become adjusted to a different kind of basketball. And outside the team’s home venue, Wilhelm Dopatka Halle, the suburban Houston native had to come accustom himself to a new culture.

“I was there to play basketball but I definitely wanted to experience everything I could,” he said. “Not too many people get the opportunity to go to another country and live their daily life in a different culture. I definitely got a lot out of the experience.”

Read more about Foster's experience at Rice University's athletic blog, The R.

Kuipers Helps Rice Dominate

Lucas Kuipers was one of five Rice student-athletes to be named Conference USA Scholar Athlete of the Year for their respective sport as the league announced the 2009-10 recipients on Thursday.

Kuipers became the second Rice basketball player in as many years to be recognized. Aleks Perka was named the 2008-09 recipient.

For more information, go to RiceOwls.com.

Staff Changes

Rice University basketball coach Ben Braun has announced Marco Morcos, who has served as the program’s Director of Basketball Operations the past two years, has been elevated to assistant coach. Braun also announced Gaelyn Rose has been named the Owls’ Director of Basketball Operations.

In his former position, Morcos worked in an administrative role for the Owls. With his new appointment, the former high school coach returns to the familiar setting of working with student-athletes on the court. Additionally, he will have an extended role in recruiting.

Rose graduated from Rice University in May after working three years as a student manager for the basketball program.

For more information, go to RiceOwls.com.

March Madness in El Paso

Pending approval by the league's Board of Directors early next month, the 2011 Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championship will be hosted by UTEP.

Three presentations were made to the athletics directors during Conference USA's Spring Meetings on the site for the basketball championships with El Paso getting the majority vote. Memphis and Tulsa also presented.

"The group was very impressed by the quality and comprehensiveness, including the financial guarantee, in the El Paso proposal," C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said. "We felt confident we would have a great experience."

Other recommendations which will presented to the board which affect basketball are listed below.

1. Modifying video exchange platforms for men's and women's basketball to all be digital.

2. Creating a policy for men's and women's basketball to receive approval from the conference office regarding non-conference scheduling.

3. Proposing modifications of the men's basketball revenue distribution to financially reward on the basis of the number of non-conference Division I wins.

4. Recommending a new five-year Strategic Plan

The Conference USA Board of Directors will meet in Dallas on Monday, June 7.

Images from Rice Commencement

Rice University basketball student-athletes Lawrence Ghoram, Cory Pflieger and Chadd Wilson took part in Rice University's 97th Commencement on May 15, 2010. For the first time in 30 years, thunderstorms moved commencement inside to familiar territory for the graduates and Rice basketball coach Ben Braun who was in attendance in Tudor Fieldhouse.

Braun Takes 10 Shots

Rice basketball coach Ben Braun takes 10 shots with the Houston-based Jewish Herald-Voice.

Here is a link to the online story.

Oraby Is An Owl

Ben Braun has announced that Omar Oraby, a 7-1 center from Cairo, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Rice. Oraby has been a member of Egypt's U18 and U19 national teams the past two years. He averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championships.

For more information, check out the release on Oraby at riceowls.com.

Rice Basketball Galleries

With the slideshow galleries of Rice University's freshmen from the 2009-10 season now posted below, there are slideshows of each member of the Owls' team who played this season. For additional images, check out the galleries attached to the player bios found at riceowls.com.

Tamir Jackson Images

Images of Rice guard Tamir Jackson from the 2009-10 season.

Arsalan Kazemi Images

Images of Rice forward Arsalan Kazemi from the 2009-10 season.

A.J. Holland Images

Images of A.J. Holland from the 2009-10 season.

Chris Eversley Images

Images of Rice guard Chris Eversley from the 2009-10 season.

Stuart Pirri Images

Images of Rice forward Stuart Pirri from the 2009-10 season.

Egheosa Edomwonyi Images

Images of Rice forward Egheosa Edomwonyi from the 2009-10 season.

Nate Schwarze Images

Images of Rice sophomore guard Nate Schwarze from the 2009-10 season.

Lucas Kuipers Images

Images of Rice sophomore forward Lucas Kuipers from the 2009-10 season.

Emerson Herndon Images

Images of Rice sophomore forward Emerson Herndon from the 2009-10 season.

Connor Frizzelle Images

Images of Rice sophomore guard Connor Frizzelle from the 2009-10 season.

Trey Stanton Images

Images of Rice junior forward Trey Stanton from the 2009-10 season.

Bryan Beasley Images

Images of Rice junior guard Bryan Beasley during the 2009-10 season.

Suleiman Braimoh Images

Images of Rice junior forward Suleiman Braimoh from the 2009-10 season.

Quite An Honor

Mike Harris, who concluded a four-year playing career at Rice as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, was named the NBA Development League's Most Valuable Player for the 2009-10 season.

Around three call ups to the NBA - two with the Houston Rockets and one with the Washington Wizards - Harris led the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the D League in scoring, averaging 27.1 points per game along with 10.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 assists in 35.6 minutes of action. He shot 58 percent from the field for the year.

Harris received the honor prior to the Vipers' D-League semifinal game against the Austin Toros from NBA Development League President Dan Reed.

During his career at Rice, Harris established career records with 2,014 points and 1,111 rebounds.

Cliff Ghoram Images

Photo images from the 2009-10 season of Rice senior Lawrence "Cliff" Ghoram.

Academic Recognition from Conference USA

It is fitting that the first post to the Rice Basketball blog involves academic achievement. Rice had four basketball student-athletes named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. The honor roll recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Sophomores Connor Frizzelle, Lucas Kuipers and Nate Schwarze along with freshman Tamir Jackson were named to the honor roll. In addition to their academic success, all four Rice basketball honorees started at one point or another during the 2009-10 season.

Rice placed the highest number of student-athletes on the honor roll, producing a record 227 members.