Preseason MVP: Coaches said Chris Mullins has returned as a stronger, more vocal version of himself. If he can shoot better, he’ll be critical to the Owls’ success.

The Ceiling: The Owls could reasonably push beyond the first round for the first time since 2017, when they entered the Conference USA Tournament as a No. 5 seed but were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Anything above that isn’t something that can be gauged on paper.

The Floor: Even at their worst, Scott Pera’s built the talent up enough during his tenure so that the Owls should have enough experience to qualify for the Conference USA Tournament for a third consecutive season. That floor still makes Rice a respectable conference opponent.

Game of the Year: UTEP

Projected Starting Five

Payton Moore
G | 6-4 | Jr. | Los Angeles, Calif.

Quincy Olivari
G | 6-2 | So. | Atlanta, Ga.

Chris Mullins
G | 6-3 | Jr. | Grand Prairie, Texas

Malik Ondigo
F | 6-10 | R-Jr. | El Mirage, Ariz.

Max Fiedler
F | 6-10 | So. | Indialantic, Fla.

Scott Pera
Head Coach

Impact-First Year Player: Malik Ondigo

Season Preview

On the surface it’s the same story, just a different year.

Once again, Rice will replace a collection of prematurely departed talent, which includes guards Trey Murphy III (Virginia) and Drew Peterson (USC) this year. Rice coaches will try to incorporate eight new players without the benefit of five-on-five scrimmages or full team workouts this summer.

“For Trey to be able to be at Virginia right now is phenomenal,” assistant coach Van Green said. “I don't know if you try to replace them, or you just try to make the most of what you have.”

Rice evolved from a squad that struggled to win consecutive games to one that threatened and occasionally upset better teams last year. That growth was powered by veteran contributors who asserted themselves in their senior seasons, and young guards like Murphy, who became more reliable scorers.

Coach Scott Pera hopes a similar dynamic plays out in the 2020-21 season.

Explosive junior Payton Moore sat behind former point guard Ako Adams for two years. He’s expected to take charge of the Owls attack in an expanded role this season. Chris Mullins, a 2019-20 Conference USA All-Freshman team selection, will help offset Moore’s ball-handling responsibilities as he looks to shake a sophomore slump.

For what the team lost in players like Murphy, Peterson or Josh Parrish (University of San Diego), it gains in something it hasn’t had in years: depth and size down low.

Redshirt junior Malik Ondigo (6-foot-10) was a member of Texas Tech’s 2019 NCAA Tournament runner-up team. Rice also features sophomore Max Fiedler (6-foot-10) and freshman Mylyjael Poteat (6-foot-9), after the team’s tallest upperclassmen stood at 6’8 last season.

“We have more of an impact near the rim,” Pera said. “We have three legitimate five men now so we won’t have to double the post as much, we can play one-on-one. Hopefully we'll be able to really rebound and outlet the ball with those guys. The other thing is we'll be able to throw it into them on the block and get a bucket every now and then.”

Rice ranked third worst in C-USA in points allowed last season (74.2 per game). Pera believes his group will be much better this year because of the additional size and stoppers.

Mullins has arguably been the team’s best defender each of the past two seasons. Pera has high expectations for graduate transfer guard Tre Clark’s (Furman) defensive ability, as well as that of freshmen Noah Hutchins and Cameron Sheffield.

Rice hopes transfers Travis Evee (Virginia Military Institute) and Riley Abercrombie (Boise State) will be granted waivers to play this season.

It’s through those new faces that Green sees space for Rice to forge a new identity this year.

“We think we can be better,” Pera said. “We don’t need to be a ton better, but we need to be a little better, and if we had been a little better last year, we might have won 18 or 19 (games).”