KILT - Sports Radio 610 (610 AM, FM) 24 Greenway Plaza, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Dave Harbison, SD

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2 MEDIA INFORMATION The Rice Owls Basketball media guide was produced to assist in your coverage of the upcoming season. Additional information, including weekly news releases, photographs and video clips, is available on request. RICE SPORTS INFORMATION The Rice media relations office is located on the east concourse of Rice Stadium. The telephone number is INTERVIEWING WILLIS WILSON Rice head coach Willis Wilson is accessible to the media and will answer telephone calls at the earliest opportunity. The best time to reach coach Wilson is weekday mornings. Please call his office directly at for appointments. PLAYER INTERVIEWS Local Media Players and coaches are available each day at the conclusion of practice. The media is not allowed in the Rice locker room, weight room or sports medicine areas. Out-of-town Media All player interviews must be arranged through the media relations office. Players personal information, including home telephone numbers, will not be released. Rice studentathletes are not permitted to participate on live radio call-in shows, but they may record an interview ahead of time. PRACTICE The media is welcome at Rice practice sessions unless otherwise noted. Advance notice to the media relations office of attendance at a practice session is expected. The men s and women s basketball teams split practice time between Autry Court and the Fox Gymnasium. To enter Autry Court during a practice session, take the stairs in the lobby to the second level. Seating is in the permanent bleachers on the north side of Autry Court. To enter Fox Gym, contact Rice SID personnel. Coach Wilson is available at the conclusion of practice. No interviews will be allowed during practice. If you wish to interview a player, a member of the SID staff will retrieve that player for you after practice has ended. ELECTRONIC MAIL To receive all Rice men s basketball news releases, please send an to media relations director Chuck Pool at cpool@rice.edu and request this service. PRINT MEDIA Houston Chronicle 801 Texas, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Mail Address: PO Box 4260 Houston, TX MoiseKapenda Bower, Rice beat Fred Faour, SE Michael Murphy Charlie Crixell, asst. SE Joseph Duarte Carlton Thompson, asst. SE Brian McTaggart Richard Justice, columnist Fran Blinebury Neil Holhfeld Jerome Solomon David Barron, radio-tv Examiner Newspapers 2444 Times Blvd., Suite 200, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Heath Hamilton, SE The Thresher Rice University, 6100 Main, MS 526, Houston, TX (713) Nathan Bledsoe, SE RADIO ESPN 97.5 The Ticket (KFNC) Rice basketball flagship station 2700 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 2300 Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) John Madani, SD Jerome Solomon Jorge Vargas KTRH (740 AM)/ KPRC (950 AM)/KBME (790 AM) 2000 West Loop South Suite 300 Houston, Texas (713) ; FAX (713) Tom Franklin, SD Brad Davies Robert Henslee Ted DeLuca Charlie Pallilo David Dalati Craig Roberts John Lopez KILT - Sports Radio 610 (610 AM, FM) 24 Greenway Plaza, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Dave Harbison, SD Jeremy Foster Andre Ware Rich Lord Marc Vandermeer Matt Jackson Adam Wexler KGOW 1560 The Game (1560 AM) 24 Greenway Plaza, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) John Granto, VP Ken Hoffman Richard Justice Lance Zierlein John Harris Sean Pendergast KCOH (1430 AM) 5011 Almeda, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Daily sports talk programming Ralph Cooper, SD Kris Gardner KTRU (91.7 FM) Rice University, 6100 Main, MS 526 Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Rice baseball, women s basketball flagship Will Robedee, GM Texas State Network 7901 Carpenter Freeway, Dallas, TX (214) ; FAX (214) Chris Schneider, SD NEWS SERVICES Associated Press Northchase, Suite 2110 Houston, TX (281) ; FAX (281) Chris Duncan Associated Press 4851 LBJ Freeway, Suite 3000 Dallas, TX (972) ; FAX (972) Jaime Aron, southwest regional sports editor TELEVISION KPRC-TV, Channel 2 (NBC) PO Box 2222, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Randy McIlvoy, SD Keith Norton Winston Dutchin KHOU-TV, Channel 11 (CBS) PO Box 11, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Gifford Nielsen, SD Matt Musil Carlton Cole, SP Butch Alsandor KTRK-TV, Channel 13 (ABC) PO Box 13, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Bob Allen, SD Tim Melton Robert Leake, SP Bob Slovak KRIV-TV, Channel 26 (Fox) PO Box 22810, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Mark Berman, SD Keith Calkins Matt Sampsell Scott Buchman, SP KHCW-TV, Channel 39 (WB) 7700 Westpark Drive, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Jorge Vargas Ray Fisher KNWS-TV, Channel 51 (Independent) 8440 Westpark, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) KTBU-TV, Channel 55 (Independent) 7026 Old Katy R, Suite 201, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Fox Sports Net Houston 5251 Gulfton, Houston, TX (713) ; FAX (713) Bart Enis Patti Smith 188 R i c e B a s k e t b a l l

3 MEDIA INFORMATION INTERNET For complete coverage of Rice basketball and the entire 16-sport intercollegiate athletic department on the Internet visit: The official site of Rice athletics features the latest technology, plus in-depth coverage of Rice student-athletes, coaches and staff. CREDENTIALS All requests for working credentials at Autry Court should be made to media relations office at least two weeks in advance of the game to be covered. All requests should come from sports editors or directors on company letterhead and will be carefully screened to ensure good working conditions. Credentials will be issued based on the following priority schedule: (1) Media agencies which cover Rice and/ or its opponent on a regular basis; (2) Media agencies which cover the Conference USA regulary; (3) National media agencies; (4) Other daily newspapers with Sunday publication and a minimum circulation of 100,000; (5) Other daily newspapers with Sunday publication and a minimum circulation of 50,000; (6) Television stations with a full-time sports director; (7) Radio stations with a full-time sports director conducting daily talk shows; (8) Student publications or departments representing the competing schools only. Student publications of non-competing schools will not be accredited. A maximum of two press row seats and two photo passes are available for visiting all student publications; and (9) Other credential requests considered on the basis of circulation, publication dates, and space. Spouses, dates, minors and non-working media will not be permitted in the press areas. Credentials will be available at the media will call window outside the Autry Court lobby. No credentials will be mailed. Photo credentials will be granted on the same priority schedule as general media credentials. PARKING A very limited number of special media parking passes will be available, based on need, for those covering Rice on a regular basis. Rice does not issue parking passes for media members of visiting teams. There is plenty of free parking available in Lot 4. TICKETS Call the Rice athletic ticket office at OWLS to order game tickets. Most major credit cards are accepted for advance orders. Individual game tickets are also available through Ticketmaster locations. TELEPHONES A limited number of telephones are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but it is strongly recommended that visiting media order their own telephone lines directly from ATT at Specify the Rice Telecommunications Department as the Rice contact. Their number is Media should provide telephone instruments for private lines. STATISTICS/SERVICES Rice sports information provides full game statistics and summaries as specified by Conference USA. A pregame meal will be served and refreshments will be available throughout the game in the upper west press area. FAX SERVICE Fax service is available from the sports information office to send information to media agencies at the conclusion of the game. A member of the Rice athletic news bureau will coordinate this service. Rice charges no fee for this service. PROFESSIONAL SCOUTS Requests should be made by directors of scouting/college personnel and should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the game to the Rice athletic media relations office. Credentials will never be mailed and should be picked up at the media will call. POSTGAME INTERVIEWS Rice sports information will assist writers and broadcasters wishing to interview players and coaches after the game. Following a cooling-off period, requested Rice players and coaches will be brought to the media room. The Rice locker room and training room is closed to all media. On the Air The radio broadcasts of Rice basketball will be on ESPN 97.5 The Ticket, Houston s only FM sports station. ESPN 97.5 The Ticket is a 100,00 watt fullpower FM station that is the exclusive home to Rice basketball and football broadcasts, local sports programming, and nationally syndicated ESPN Radio personalities. This year s broadcasts features a 30- minute pre-game show and 30-minute post-game show. In his first season as the Owls basketball play-by-play voice is David Saltzman. Joining Saltzman on the basketball broadcasts is Jay Jameson, Rice s director of basketball operations. Stations wishing to join the Rice Owls Radio Network for all sports should contact Dale Busic at R i c e B a s k e t b a l l 189

4 DIRECTIONS TO RICE UNIVERSITY William P. Hobby Airport is Houston s second major commercial aviation facility, owned and operated by the City of Houston, it is located approximately seven miles from the central business district. The airport is readily accessible via major thoroughfares and freeways to the entire metropolitan area. Interstate Highway 45 borders Hobby and integrates into the sophisticated road network that serves the entire Gulf Coast industrial complex. Hobby Airport also serves the metropolitan areas of Baytown, Freeport, Galena Park, Galveston and Pasadena. It is proximate to major shopping centers, the world-famous Texas Medical Center, the Astrodome, NASA, and residential areas of the community. Because of its location, Hobby Airport can be conveniently utilized by a large portion of the population of the Houston-Clear Lake-Galveston area. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is located 23 miles north of downtown Houston, the nation s fourth largest city. The airport is situated on more than 9,000 acres. Convenient access to the airport is provided by Interstate 45, U.S. Highway 59, the Hardy Toll Road, and the Sam Houston Toll Road (Beltway 8). There are two main entrances to the airport terminal complex via John F. Kennedy Boulevard from the Sam Houston Toll Road (Beltway 8) and Will Clayton Parkway from U.S. Highway 59. For more information about IAH and HOU, including terminal maps, airport accomodations, flight informationand car rentals, please visit... GETTING TO RICE... From George Bush/Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH): Exit the airport to U.S. 59 South. Travel past downtown Houston to the Shepherd/Greenbriar exit. Turn left/south on Greenbriar (oneway street) to University Blvd. Turn left/east on University to entrance eight (Stockton Street). From Houston Hobby Airport (HOU): Turn right from the airport onto Airport Blvd. Travel north on IH-45. Exit on U.S. 59 South. Exit Shepherd/Greenbriar. Turn left/south on Greenbriar (one-way street) to University Blvd. Turn left/east on University to entrance eight (Stockton Street). 190 R i c e B a s k e t b a l l

5 MAPS RELIANT ARENA ( From the Galleria IH 610 East Bound Exit Beechnut Left on Beechnut to Kirby Right on Kirby Left on McNee From Gulf Freeway IH 610 West Bound IH 610 to 288 South Exit Old Spanish Trail Right on Old Spanish Trail to Main Street Enter into Gate 16 Yellow Lot 59 North Exit Buffalo Speedway Right on Buffalo Speedway Left on Murworth Left on Main Street to Gate 16 Yellow Lot or right on Main Street to Westridge left to Gate 9 Blue Lot 59 South Exit Buffalo Speedway Left on Buffalo Speedway Left on Murworth Left on Main Street to Gate 16 Yellow Lot or right on Main Street to Westridge left to Gate 9 Blue Lot From Pearland SR 288 North Exit Old Spanish Trail Left on Old Spanish Trail to Main Street Enter into Gate 16 Yellow Lot or ahead to Westridge left to enter Gate 9 Blue Lot From Downtown SR 288 South Exit Old Spanish Trail Right on Old Spanish Trail to Main Street Enter into Gate 16 Yellow Lot or ahead to Westridge left to enter Gate 9 Blue Lot MERRELL CENTER ( When going west on Interstate 10 from Houston, take the Pin Oak Road exit onto the feeder road. Stay on the feeder and go through Pin Oak Road intersection. Turn right on FM 1463 and Merrell Center will be one block on the left. R i c e B a s k e t b a l l 191

6 WHY RICE? Working from a simple outline, former Rice Owl basketball star Morris Almond delivered this speech on April 11, 2007, during the Rice Athletics Awards Banquet. Almond finished 2007, as the nation s third-leading scorer (26.4 ppg) and concluded his career at Rice with 1,825 points, fourth all-time. He graduated in May 2007 and was an NBA first round choice by the Utah Jazz. Photo: Pam Francis Throughout my four years here at Rice, there has been one particular question that has followed me from the time I committed here as a high school senior to this very day. Why did you choose to come to Rice University? I accepted a basketball scholarship to come here for the same reason many of you came here for your respective sports. I felt that Rice offered me the best combination of academics and athletics. I had never heard of Rice when they first started recruiting me, but Rice s academic reputation, location, and Coach Willis Wilson grew on me over time. I signed my national letter of intent to attend Rice on August 22nd, 2002 following my senior year, and on that day, the question was born. When I made my decision public, the question took on a life of its own. Family and friends from my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia came first, Why Rice? Where is it? My high school and AAU teammates who were signed to play at places like Stanford, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech followed, Why Rice? Are they even D-I? My high school coach was next, Why Rice? You had offers from Indiana, Virginia, and Georgia. Where did Rice come from? Nevertheless, I followed through with my commitment and began my career in the fall of When I began my freshman season, sitting entire games on the end of the bench, the question reared its ugly head again. Why did you choose to go to Rice? You can t get any playing time at Rice? You don t fit in there. When I went through bouts of homesickness after the first couple of months, Why did you go to Rice? You should have went somewhere closer to home." When I ended the first semester on academic probation for below average grades, Why did you choose Rice? You need to transfer. The question never died. Even worse, during those trying times I didn t have an answer for it. As I continued my time here, circumstances changed, but the question continued to follow my every move. I finished my senior season a couple of weeks ago. During my four years here a lot around me has changed. Even though my situation is a little different now, the question still remains the same. It s a little reworded, but the same nonetheless. If you could do it all over again, knowing what you know now and seeing how everything turned out, would you still have chosen Rice? I get asked that one all the time. I laugh to myself sometimes when I reflect on my four years here. Like everybody, it s been filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. But when I look past all those old trials and tribulations and look at my current situation something kind of hits me. I realized that, despite the countless number of people who questioned my decision to come here, despite my humble beginnings as a confused freshman, that despite all of that and maybe because of all that, at this point in my life I m right where I want to be. I ll graduate on May 12, about 31 days, 12 hours, 46 minutes, and nine seconds from now. I m considered a top prospect for this year s upcoming NBA draft. Coming out of high school, those are the things I really wanted to get a chance to do: get a meaningful degree and play in the NBA. Most people said you couldn t do both, but Rice gave me that opportunity. Would I have been in the same situation had I gone to a different school or a bigger school? Who knows? All I know is that my experience here has taught me how to persevere and remain true to myself regardless of what others around me say. Rice has given me the avenue I needed to achieve all of my goals and dreams. The question that has followed me since my days, as a high school senior hasn t died, and it probably never will. Wherever I end up when my time here has passed, I ll represent the university from now until forever. Whenever someone asks me why I chose to come to Rice University, I ll be able to answer with pride, I m just fortunate Rice University chose me.