The Rice Owls are a young team with their top three players in regards to minutes all being underclassmen. Those three account for 33.3 points per game. There is just one senior on the roster and this should be a tough environment for their first true road game. They just played Sacramento State, South Alabama and Houston Baptist at home. Only the Jaguars of South Alabama have a quality team and the Owls were outshot and outrebounded in that game despite a 2 point home victory.
Arizona dominated Northern Arizona in their lone game on the schedule winning by 17 points. Like Rice they are a young club with just one senior on the roster. That said the talent level is of much higher quality and the young studs are playing at home. The Wildcats had eight players produce 8 points or more in the opener and that depth will be a key here.
Arizona had just one senior last year and they won 21 games with an RPI ranking of 62. So experience isn't a worry with the Wildcats.
Bryan Leonard 11/19
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