Rebounding

[wadesworld]

Fundamentals are terrible and we have a bunch of guys who look like they're still 18 and haven't found a weight room. Your defense can only be so good if you can't finish possessions. Part of it is the helter skelter defense we play, leaving everyone scrambling and nobody in a spot to box out. But there are a lot of times where our team is the first to get our hands on the ball and wind up having it taken away.

[Uncle Rico]

Fundamentals are terrible and we have a bunch of guys who look like they're still 18 and haven't found a weight room. Your defense can only be so good if you can't finish possessions. Part of it is the helter skelter defense we play, leaving everyone scrambling and nobody in a spot to box out. But there are a lot of times where our team is the first to get our hands on the ball and wind up having it taken away.

Where's Todd Smith

[Newsdreams]

Where's Todd Smith

Gowne

[Lennys Tap]

Fundamentals are terrible and we have a bunch of guys who look like they're still 18 and haven't found a weight room. Your defense can only be so good if you can't finish possessions. Part of it is the helter skelter defense we play, leaving everyone scrambling and nobody in a spot to box out. But there are a lot of times where our team is the first to get our hands on the ball and wind up having it taken away.

Agree with this analysis. Out rebounded 25 - 19 in the first half tonight against New Hampshire. Second straight game against weak competition where Kuath has been MIA.

[Hards Alumni]

Agree with this analysis. Out rebounded 25 - 19 in the first half tonight against New Hampshire. Second straight game against weak competition where Kuath has been MIA.

He's never been a rebounder.  As I'm sure you know, rebounding is about positioning and reading the ball.  I'm not sure he is that guy or ever will be.

[tower912]

It improved in the second half.   

[MuggsyB]

We need OMP to defend and rebound from the 3.  I think we will learn a lot Mon vs Illinois.

[MU82]

It improved in the second half.

Thank goodness.

[Lennys Tap]

He's never been a rebounder.  As I'm sure you know, rebounding is about positioning and reading the ball.  I'm not sure he is that guy or ever will be.

You're right re rebounding. I don't remember seeing Kuath play before this year, but I haven't seen any indication yet of basketball skills or instincts. Hope he proves me wrong going forward.

[mileskishnish72]

there are a lot of times where our team is the first to get our hands on the ball and wind up having it taken away.

True, so true. Positioning is a problem but so is strength/hands. I think a lot of how we develop as a team this year will involve this issue and how/if Kuath & OMax progress. So far they've been a tad disappointing and the schedule is not going to get more favorable. Hoping that young bodies and minds will address the problem.

[tower912]

I disagree with the idea that Kur and OMP have been disappointing.   Look at their numbers from last year.  OMP averaged under 10 minutes per game at Clemson.  Kur averaged 17 minutes per game as a back up big at Oklahoma.  Their play this year is consistent with their past.

[MuggsyB]

I disagree with the idea that Kur and OMP have been disappointing.   Look at their numbers from last year.  OMP averaged under 10 minutes per game at Clemson.  Kur averaged 17 minutes per game as a back up big at Oklahoma.  Their play this year is consistent with their past.

Don't  players usually improve  year to year?  Lots of guys step-up their game  with extended mins and from Freshman to Soph or Soph to Junior seasons. It's only two games, hopefully they bring it Monday.

[MU82]

I disagree with the idea that Kur and OMP have been disappointing.   Look at their numbers from last year.  OMP averaged under 10 minutes per game at Clemson.  Kur averaged 17 minutes per game as a back up big at Oklahoma.  Their play this year is consistent with their past.

Those who disavowed all things Wojo and/or who were bugged by Theo's off-the-court persona confidently proclaimed that Kuath would be an improvement over Theo.

I'd have loved those folks to have been correct. Unfortunately, it looks like Kuath doesn't know how to play basketball very well. I certainly would never ask Kuath to make a post move on offense, and he seems pretty lost on D too. I'm holding out hope that we'll see better from him on the defensive end. In each of the first two games, we were vastly better with Oso on the floor.

And so far, Cain is miles better than OMP, too ... but Cain is a few years older, so there's time.

[Hards Alumni]

You're right re rebounding. I don't remember seeing Kuath play before this year, but I haven't seen any indication yet of basketball skills or instincts. Hope he proves me wrong going forward.

I had to look it up... but I thought I remember someone bringing it up in his transfer thread.

[tower912]

Don't  players usually improve  year to year?  Lots of guys step-up their game  with extended mins and from Freshman to Soph or Soph to Junior seasons. It's only two games, hopefully they bring it Monday.

You hope they do.  And OMP has.  It is incremental, not extreme.

[bilsu]

Most young players need to get stronger and that should happen if they work hard in the weight room.

I have already expressed my concerns about how we seen to be only recruiting guards. I do not think the transfer portal will resolve this issue. The very good big men in the the portal are likely to pick the top programs.

[Herman Cain]

I am happy with our rebounding . Last night one guy got 12 rebounds and another got 11. That is a nice combination .

[BrewCity83]

I am happy with our rebounding . Last night one guy got 12 rebounds and another got 11. That is a nice combination .

I hope you weren't happy with the way we got destroyed on the boards in the first half by New Hampshire.  The 2nd half was better, but that's GOT to improve.

[GoldenDieners32]

Where's Todd Smith

He is? I swore I saw him on TV behind the scorers table

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

[wadesworld]

Bump. Can't be giving up second chance points every possession when you're down double digits.

[Stretchdeltsig]

We have no rim defense. We watch flat footed as they rebound and shoot underneath.

[fjm]

Rebounding is optional with this defense.

[We R Final Four]

Yes BLM....I fear we struggle with this all year.
I have listened to SS's pressers after each game and I have yet to hear him mention it. The fumbling, the poor positioning, the subsequent fouls, etc. which lead to open look 3s will kill us. It must be addressed. 

[Goose]

Couple things caught my eye sitting courtside last night, #1 the UCLA guys were bigger abd stronger than our guys by a wide margin, and #2 our guys get way too antsy and often take themselves out of rebounding position.

I think they are expecting someone to get the rebound and are getting ready to move the ball up court. At the moment, they are a very poor rebounding team and it has hurt them in almost every game.

One other observation, Kur and Omax are big time athletes for their size. They are going to carry a team but think they will have more and more impact in the upcoming games.