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.

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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.

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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).