Game 10: @ Houston Dec 10 1:30p ESPNU

runninrams5 · Unread post by **runninrams5** » 8 years ago

The Rams visit Houston on Saturday for a 1:30 game that can be seen on ESPNU. This is a return game as we beat them at the Ryan Center last year 67-57
Houston is 6-2 on the year with Wins against Morgan St., George Mason, South Dakota, Vermont, Cornell, Prairie View A&M and Losses against LSU and Arkansas. Very guard oriented team that likes to shoot a lot of 3's and play at a fast tempo.

Starters
Rob Gray Jr. 6'2" Junior Forest City, North Carolina
29.4 minutes a game 19.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG

Damyean Dotson 6'5" Senior Houston, Texas
29.8 minutes a game 14.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.1 APG

Galen Robinson Jr. 6'1" Sophomore Houston, Texas
28.9 minutes a game 5.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.9 APG

Kyle Meyer 6'10" Senior Atlanta, Georgia
13.4 minutes a game 3.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, .4APG

Devin Davis 6'7" Junior Indianapolis, Indiana
21.0 minutes a game 11.1PPG, 6.5RPG, 1.4 APG/ He got a cut on his hand in last nights game and had to get stitches and did not return to the game.

Bench
Denrad Knowles 6'10" Senior Nassau, Bahamas
22.8 minutes a game 9.1PPG, 4.5RPG, .3APG

Wes VanBeck 6'2" Senior Houston, Texas
22.1 minutes a game 8.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.2 APG

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 8 years ago

Defending the 3 has been out strength this year, let's hope it carries over to this game.

thatRamBand · Unread post by **thatRamBand** » 8 years ago

Here's a solid look at the arena, the Hofheinz Pavilion. Seats about 8500, looks like there were only about 1,00 people there for this game. Looks like a place that'll get loud when it's closer to capacity.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 8 years ago

Gray is a pure scorer.
We defended him pretty well last year, until
near the end of the game.
Stop him and you win the game.
They've played a pretty weak schedule, and
nobody goes to their games, despite having a beautiful arena.
The most they've drawn this year is 3,220.
Sad for a once marquee program.

RoadyJay · Unread post by **RoadyJay** » 8 years ago

They actually do not play at a fast pace... but they are a very efficient scoring team

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 8 years ago

With us not being ranked now, I doubt this game will draw a lot of people. Could be beneficial to us, judging from how we've played on the road this year in two hostile environments.

RoadyJay · Unread post by **RoadyJay** » 8 years ago

I still don't know how this guy has a job coaching college basketball.... CHEATER!!

Cheater.jpg

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Didn't you get banned for this sign?

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 8 years ago

That sign was excellent.

Hopefully we can lock down their 3pt attack and not be absolutely useless on offense ourselves.

rhodysurf · Unread post by **rhodysurf** » 8 years ago

From that video they use the same camera as the Ryan Center haha

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

In August, Houston announced a gift of $20 million from Tilman Fertitta, which be used in the $60 million campaign to completely renovate Hofheinz and the building will be renamed the Fertitta Center in his honor. This renovation of the 47 year old facility is expected to help Houston in its quest to gain membership in the Big 12.

BTW, Tilman Fertitta is the CEO of Landry's which is one of the largest restaurant companies in the US and their holdings include Morton's, McCormick & Schmick, Golden Nugget among others. Fertitta also chairs the UH Board of Regents and has an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion. His ancestors emigrated to Texas from Sicily many years ago.

RoadyJay · Unread post by **RoadyJay** » 8 years ago

Obadiah wrote:Didn't you get banned for this sign?

The sign was banned, not me.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 8 years ago

Tillman's folks are from Sicily. Good man.
He hosts a reality show called Billion Dollar Buyer.
My question is, Judge Roy Hofheinz, who was a huge donor while alive,
gets his name removed from the building he helped fund.
It would be as if someone gave URI money some day,
to renovate the Ryan Center and have the name changed to
the new donor's name.
Maybe it's me, but it seems harsh.
PS Hofheinz' family thinks it is, too:
"In 2016, the Hofheinz family filed suit to require the University of Houston to keep Hofheinz's name on the school's basketball arena, where the Houston Cougars play. The university has asked the Harris County Probate Court to end the 47-year agreement on Hofheinz Pavilion so that the institution can negotiate a naming-rights deal in a $60 million renovation project set to begin in the spring of 2017".

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

I think that was cleared up. They named the area in front of the arena as Hofheinz Plaza and have petitioned to have the street renamed also. The Hofheinz family is now OK with all that recognizing the importance of the huge gift Fertitta has made. Also, Roy Hofheinz was a short tenure mayor of Houston, and made his mark as a judge and a big supporter of sports in Houston and while his 1968 gift was $1.5 million, his agreement with UH never was rigid. Times are now different and we all know money talks as evidenced by all the stadiums that have changed their names under similar circumstances.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 8 years ago

Usually the name changes involve corporate names.
1.5 million in 1968 money.
You could by a Ferrari for $20,000, a house for $25,000.

Inflation Results

$1,500,000 in 1968 equals $10,465,707.96 in 2016.

Not $20 mil like Fretitta's putting down, but not insignificant, either.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 8 years ago

Remember Ferttitta is on the Board of Regents and is a billionaire, so I am certain that he is primed to give even more money to UH especially on the academics side

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 8 years ago

Rhody15 wrote:With us not being ranked now, I doubt this game will draw a lot of people. Could be beneficial to us, judging from how we've played on the road this year in two hostile environments.

1 hostile environment. Valpo was a half full high school gym.

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 8 years ago

bigappleram wrote:
Rhody15 wrote:With us not being ranked now, I doubt this game will draw a lot of people. Could be beneficial to us, judging from how we've played on the road this year in two hostile environments.
1 hostile environment. Valpo was a half full high school gym.

Dan himself said it was hostile, or something similar.

Small places like that don't have to packed to be loud.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 8 years ago

Lots of history in that building from the Phi slam mama Jamma days under Guy Lewis

I will be watching on ESPNU this is a huge game coming up before our last 2 cupcakes to finish OOC

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 8 years ago

Yeah the valpo game was packed in all sections in the lower bowl around court. They just didn't sell many tickets up high.

Mongo · Unread post by **Mongo** » 8 years ago

I'm going to the game. I've been to that arena a few times, it can get load. I'm going with a few UofH alum and they said that they would be surprised if they draw more than 2500 for the game. I went to buy 2 more tickets next to the one I already had and they're were plenty of seats available. Any one else on the board going? I know there is an alumni group sitting in sec 107, I'll be in 108.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

thatRamBand wrote:Here's a solid look at the arena, the Hofheinz Pavilion. Seats about 8500, looks like there were only about 1,00 people there for this game. Looks like a place that'll get loud when it's closer to capacity.

Good lord is that crowd embarrassing. I understand television markets and football drive the bus, but why should the Big 12 take Houston seriously after seeing that. Just totally unacceptable in a market the size of Houston to only draw that. I'm only half joking when I say they might have had a bigger fan presence when I went to see their football game against UConn last year.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

They have played 3 home games:
Nov 11 Morgan State 3005 people - won by 41 points
Nov 26 Cornell 3223 people - won by 30 points
Dec 3 Prairie View A&M 3091 people - won by 44 points

Students are free with ID
Free entry if you bring a teddy bear
Loads of tickets for $6 on stub hub

Looking at similar date in December on a Sunday afternoon for last year vs LSU, which is a geographical rival, possibly bringing in A lot of LSU people - they drew close to 8000.

My guess is 4000 for a team like URI, maybe 5000? Will still feel pretty empty

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 8 years ago

ramster wrote:They have played 3 home games:
Nov 11 Morgan State 3005 people - won by 41 points
Nov 26 Cornell 3223 people - won by 30 points
Dec 3 Prairie View A&M 3091 people - won by 44 points

Students are free with ID
Free entry if you bring a teddy bear
Loads of tickets for $6 on stub hub

Looking at similar date in December on a Sunday afternoon for last year vs LSU, which is a geographical rival, possibly bringing in A lot of LSU people - they drew close to 8000.

My guess is 4000 for a team like URI, maybe 5000? Will still feel pretty empty

Who cares how many people go?

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

BillyBoy,
You got me on that one

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 8 years ago

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 8 years ago

Billyboy78 wrote:
ramster wrote:They have played 3 home games:
Nov 11 Morgan State 3005 people - won by 41 points
Nov 26 Cornell 3223 people - won by 30 points
Dec 3 Prairie View A&M 3091 people - won by 44 points

Students are free with ID
Free entry if you bring a teddy bear
Loads of tickets for $6 on stub hub

Looking at similar date in December on a Sunday afternoon for last year vs LSU, which is a geographical rival, possibly bringing in A lot of LSU people - they drew close to 8000.

My guess is 4000 for a team like URI, maybe 5000? Will still feel pretty empty
Who cares how many people go?

Only URI is allowed to have a decent team and no fan support.

We want a monopoly on misery.

Mongo · Unread post by **Mongo** » 8 years ago

Hassan is Doubtful, have we heard the severity of the quad injury? Is it torn or strained?

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

That's got to be considered good news that he's doubtful instead of just ruled out already. Not even for Saturday but to come back closer to four weeks instead of six if that is the actually timeline.

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

Mongo wrote:Hassan is Doubtful, have we heard the severity of the quad injury? Is it torn or strained?

From "out" on Tuesday to "doubtful" on Saturday...seems like an upgrade. Will take it, whether he plays or not

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

If he can't worsen the injury by playing...play at least some......cortisone shot? Hassan wanted that because he wanted to play against ODU.....he doesn't need to be out there against HC and W&M......and SLU too......can take a break and let it heal......

We need this win.....

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 8 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:If he can't worsen the injury by playing...play at least some......cortisone shot? Hassan wanted that because he wanted to play against ODU.....he doesn't need to be out there against HC and W&M......and SLU too......can take a break and let it heal......

We need this win.....

Maybe he can't make the injury worse, but he can overcompensate and injure something else, which is exactly what he did last year.

josephski · Unread post by **josephski** » 8 years ago

At this point I'd rather see Hassan sit until he's healthy. This Houston game would be an extremely nice win to have but it's not make or break and the stretch of games after Houston up to Dayton should be wins even without Hassan.

If for whatever reason Hassan played and worsened the injury or as Billyboy said injures something else then we could really be in a tough situation.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 8 years ago

It is make or break. College basketball is a competition and if you lose your 3 true road games for OOC its not a good thing.

Not saying HM needs to play through an injury. I rather sit him until healthy like everyone else, but the team losing all of your OOC road games? They need to gut out a win.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

Well, if he can't play at near 100% in any event, then sit he should......

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 8 years ago

I'm feeling another Berry performance like he had against Dayton.

Any takers?!

Just please win this damn game someway somehow.

Mongo · Unread post by **Mongo** » 8 years ago

Rhody15 wrote:I'm feeling another Berry performance like he had against Dayton.

Any takers?!

Just please win this damn game someway somehow.

That is very possible... I'd love it.

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 8 years ago

Rest Hass til he's fully healthy!
Would not feel good about him out there Saturday.
No reason to play him against Holy Cross and W&M either.
If we beat ODU like we did we shouldn't feel like we HAVE to play him while he's injured.
Berry and Langevine can handle it.
Maybe we can see some Laysaard??
I'm not working during this Rhody game. Let's winnn!
Winning fixes everything.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 8 years ago

Am I missing something here?
Why is everyone acting like this is the Phi Slamma Jamma or
the Elvin Hayes Cougars?
Has anyone looked at the teams they've played?
We held them to 57 points last year,
and it's largely the same cast this season.
We beat them by 10 but the final score isn't indicative of
how the game was played.
Houston was never really in the game.
Oh, and we had 3,600 at the game.
Unless we totally crap out, this should be a win.

RoadyJay · Unread post by **RoadyJay** » 8 years ago

Rod, that's how I looked at the Valpo game. I was so confident we would beat them. And I still think we should have.

I feel the same way too about Houston. They just don't impress me.

But I learned my lesson. So tough to win on the road.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 8 years ago

Interesting to see the line on this game ?? Guess close to even ??

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

When it comes to us, the road is the great equalizer......

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 8 years ago

We have a totally different team, no Hassan, and we're playing on the road, where we are 0-2 this year.

"Should be a win" should not be used when we are playing on the road. Not yet anyway. We have not proved we can close on the road this year.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 8 years ago

Well, we were supposed to "have depth at every position" this year.
Where's the next man up?
Good teams win on the road.
This was supposed to be THE YEAR. We had Hassan during the road losses.
So, is his being out to be the 2016-17 excuse for under-performing?

Rhody15 · Unread post by **Rhody15** » 8 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Well, we were supposed to "have depth at every position" this year.
Where's the next man up?
Good teams win on the road.
This was supposed to be THE YEAR. We had Hassan during the road losses.
So, is his being out to be the 2016-17 excuse for under-performing?

Agree with everything you just said. I have not seen the depth at all this year yet.

And sadly, if we do under perform, Martin being out will probably be the excuse. He's been our best player so far this year. Tough to replace 16, 8, 4 blocks, 67% FG, 84% FT.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

The only time we're good on the road against a good team?

When we see the word "Dayton" on the other team's jerseys........

If we play like we did against Valpo and PC, we will lose again by a similar score [low 60's].......is 70 points too much to ask?

15, the depth was there against ODU...in the first half....then they sat for the most part in the second half...and we played like crap.....

Mongo · Unread post by **Mongo** » 8 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:Well, we were supposed to "have depth at every position" this year.
Where's the next man up?
Good teams win on the road.
This was supposed to be THE YEAR. We had Hassan during the road losses.
So, is his being out to be the 2016-17 excuse for under-performing?

Totally agree with Rod here. Hass is my favorite player and he's been amazing this year, but this is suppose to be a deep, hard to guard team. Teams that are deep have guys step up, we have that here. We totally let Valpo take that win, and we didn't close out PeeC, if we play our game, this should be a win. No excuses here, it's time to prove that this is a NCAA caliber team.

Go Rhody!

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

If Iverson decides that he wants to play, that would help.....EC the same....of course when EC has the ball, everyone stands around and watches....hurts JT and JG's aggressiveness......no easy answers here!

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 8 years ago

RoadyJay wrote:Rod, that's how I looked at the Valpo game. I was so confident we would beat them. And I still think we should have.

I feel the same way too about Houston. They just don't impress me.

But I learned my lesson. So tough to win on the road.

I'm not saying I get it, but Houston is projected to finish as a top-30 RPI team. So beating them on the road without your most important player would be quite an accomplishment. I'm hopeful but not expectant. For what it's worth, the difference between winning and losing this game would be about 5 spots in the final RPI based on the forecasts (26 vs 31) and would be another feather-in-the-cap on the resume. So winning the game would be huge but the season isn't over if we lose. Hope people will be able to keep some perspective and have realistic expectations in light of the way this team has looked since the Duke game.

By the way, I'd expect the line to be about Houston -6. The rest of the way, though, we will only be dogs one more time and that's against Dayton on the road. The @Davidson game we could also actually be slight dogs or a pick, but I will like us in that game.

eli#10 · Unread post by **eli#10** » 8 years ago

How about getting a B+ game from Iverson and Mathews. If so we have a great chance of winning. If Iverson lays another egg I am afraid we won't have much of a chance. I think we need to get him the ball on the blocks for him to do some damage by scoring or making a pass for some open shots.