The Rice Owls men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of Rice University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the American Athletic Conference. They previously participated in the Southwest Conference (1914–1996), the Western Athletic Conference (1996–2005), and Conference USA (2005–2023).
The Owls play their home games in Tudor Fieldhouse, which they have called home since 1950. Previously known as Rice Gymnasium, it was renamed in honor of Rice alum Bobby Tudor, who spearheaded the 2008 renovation of the facility with a multimillion-dollar donation. Rice has appeared four times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 1970. Their 54 years without making the Tournament is currently the fifth longest in active history.
Rice has never reached a conference tournament final in any of the conferences they have played in (Southwest, WAC, Conference USA, The American).
Head coaches Head Coach Years Win–lossPct.Robert Cummings1914–191730–11.732Wilbur Tisdale1917–191914–14.500Leslie Mann1919–19206–6.500Pete Cawthon1920–19215–10.333Howard Yerges Sr.1921–19222–12.143Philip Arbuckle1922–192310–9.526Franklyn Ashcraft1923–19243–17.150John Patrick Nicholson1924–19252–12.143Franklyn Ashcraft1925–19271–22.043Russell Daugherty1927–193225–46.352James Kitts1932–193848–56.462Buster Brannon1938–194268–20.773Joe Davis1942–194552–10.839Buster Brannon1945–194617–16.515Joe Davis1946–194931–46.403Don Suman1949–1959149–106.584John Frankie1959–196339–54.419George Carlisle1963–196618–53.254Don Knodel1966–197477–126.379Bob Polk1974–197717–63.212Mike Schuler1977–198130–76.283Tommy Suitts1981–198764–106.376Scott Thompson1987–199265–79.451Willis Wilson1992–2008219–246.471Ben Braun2008–201463–128.330Mike Rhoades2014–201747–52.474Scott Pera2017–202496–127.430Rob Lanier2024–present17-25.404
Postseason history
NCAA tournament results The Owls have appeared in four NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 2–5, with their only wins coming in third-place games, a practice that no longer exists. Their drought of 56 years is the eighth longest drought between appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament history. 1940 First roundRegional third-place game KansasColorado L 44–50W 60–56 1942 First roundRegional third-place game StanfordKansas L 47–53L 53–55 1954 Sweet SixteenRegional third-place game Oklahoma A&MColorado L 45–51W 78–55 1970 First round New Mexico State L 77–101
NIT results The Owls have appeared in five National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–5. 1943 Quarterfinals St. John's L 49–51 1991 First round Arkansas State L 71–78 1993 First roundSecond round WisconsinBoston College W 77–73L 68–101 2004 Opening Round UW-Milwaukee L 53–91 2005 Opening Round Southwest Missouri State L 82–105
CBI results The Owls have appeared in three College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournaments. Their combined record is 2–3. 2017 First roundQuarterfinals San FranciscoUtah Valley W 85–76L 79–85 2022 First round Ohio L 64–65 2023 First roundQuarterfinals DuquesneSouthern Utah W 84–78L 79–81
CIT results The Owls have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their combined record is 2–1. 2012 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinals Louisiana-LafayetteDrakeOakland W 68–63W 74–68L 70–77
Players of note
Owls in the NBA Morris Almond Ken Austin Bill Closs Mike Harris Bill Henry Bob Kinney Trey Murphy III Ricky Pierce Brent Scott Mike Wilks Drew Peterson Quincy Olivari
Owls in international basketball Suleiman Braimoh (born 1989), Nigerian-American in the Israel Basketball Premier League Egor Koulechov (born 1994), Israeli-Russian basketball player for Israeli team Ironi Nahariya
Politicians Glenn Youngkin (born 1966), 74th Governor of Virginia
Retired numbers
Rice University has retired six numbers.
16 Bill Henry 1942–45 Rice retires jerseys of basketball greats By: MIKE TENNEY - Nov. 19, 2003 21 Gene Schwinger 1951–54 22 Bill Closs 1939–43 23 Bob Kinney 1938–42 25 Ricky Pierce 1979–82 29 Don Lance 1951–54
References
External links