Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#45 Rice Owls

WAC

 2003-04: 22-11, 12-6, 4^th

2003-04 postseason: NIT

By Joel Welser

Seniors Michael Harris, Jason McKrieth and Brock Gillespie have seen the program improve every year they’ve been in Houston.  Nothing could be better then to make the NCAA Tournament for their grand finale.   They will need some help from returning players J.R. Harrison, Morris Almond, Jamaal Moore, Greg Killings and Lorenzo Williams.  All those players should see an increased role and compete for starting jobs. 

Who’s Out: Mamadou Yamar Diene averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior last year.  The 6-9 forward was a big body under the basket.  Rashid Smith will be missed the most though.  The point guard only averaged 5.9 points but dished out 4.8 assists.  A hole will be left at the point guard spot that could be filled by sophomore Lorenzo Williams.  Either Jason McKrieth or Brock Gillespie could be asked to run the point if Williams can’t get the job done.  Christian Kollik didn’t see many minutes as a senior averaging only 2.4 points in 24 outings.

Who’s In: Incoming freshmen Paulius Packevicius, Patrick Britton and Matt Hagen are big bodies that will see some minutes.  Packevicius, a 6-9 230 pound Lithuania native, was overlooked by many programs due to injury that kept him sidelined his entire senior year of high school.  He could become a major contributor for Willis Wilson’s squad.  Britton averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds last year.  He needs to bulk up a little in order to battle under the basket.  Hagen, at 6-10 and 240, is a solid post player with a decent touch for a big man.  Point guard Rodney Foster will add a little more depth at the guard spot, but isn’t expected to be able to take over the starting job this year.  He’s a consistent shooter and could become a good point guard for the Owls in the years to come.

Who to Watch: Michael Harris is one of the most underrated players in the nation.  He won’t be for long if Rice can make some noise in March.  He led the Owls last year with 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds, in fact he’s led the team in those two categories all three years he’s been an Owl.  Harris is only 6-6, but plays much bigger in the paint.  He usually has his back to the basket but when turned around Harris has a smooth short jumper.  He nearly made half of his 33 attempts from behind the arc last season.  This is the type of player that can explode for 30 points on any given day and he should do just that multiple times for his senior season.

Projected Conference Rank: If a few role players and newcomers step up, Rice is deep enough to hang around all year long.  The conference is relatively strong, so a 2^nd place finish in the WAC should be enough to send the Owls dancing for the first time since 1970. 

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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