There are several key facets to a successful basketball team. Obviously, an elite defense and high-scoring offense is a good place to start, but with those come one key, gritty, at times annoying aspect. Rebounding
Coaches have groaned about it since the first-ever game took place, and with good reason. Want a level-100 stat to prove so. Last year’s NCAA National Champion, the Florida Gators, notched 41.8 rebounds per game, which ranked third in the nation. The Gators ranked 6th and 7th in terms of offensive and defensive rebounds per game with 12.3 and 26.7 per game. Okay, that is enough talk about why rebounding is important.
Yet Kansas head coach Bill Self spoke about the importance of Kansas’ ability to rebound earlier this week after the Jayhawks’ 90-82 win over the No. 11 Louisville Cardinals.
“But I didn't think we' rebounded the ball worth a flip. So we got to get better at that,” marked the longtime Kansas head coach.
While the scoreline eventually painted a relatively comfortable Kansas win, which the momentum of the game showed, the Jayhawks were massively outrebounded to dangerous extents.
The Jayhawks totaled just eight offensive rebounds and 26 defensive rebounds. Louisville, on the flipside, notched a monster 21 offensive rebounds and 26 defensive rebounds.
Last season, Kansas ranked 12th-best in terms of defensive rebounds with 25.9. The Jayhawks’ 8.9 offensive rebounds were regarded as the nation’s 172nd-best, and the Jayhawks’ total numbers sat 18th-best in the country with 38.5.
Of course, different teams prioritize offensive rebounds in different ways; several teams opt for an all-in approach with crashing the boards, while most others tend to favor setting up their defense. Kansas’ numbers point to the latter. Yet allowing 21 offensive rebounds will cost Kansas this season if those numbers are not squished.
Tonight, Kansas will have its next opportunity to remedy the situation with its second exhibition game, this one against Fort Hays State, a Division-II opponent. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.
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