Why do some NCAA Basketball teams in the country seemingly only rebound on one side of the floor? Here’s an inside look at four teams who does it.
It goes without saying that some teams rebound better than others, but why? Height…athleticism….how skilled these players are at boxing out/getting position…These are all factors that contribute to how good a team is at rebounding.
For example, Duke is #3 in Offensive Rebounding Rate per KenPom. The 11th tallest team in the nation with the athleticism of Zion Williamson at the helm…This isn’t all that shocking, right?
But if Duke is so good at offensive rebounding, why are they only 222nd in defensive rebounding rate? Maybe it’s due to effort. Maybe it’s due to technique.
Or maybe the rebounding disparity is partially intentional. Obviously, teams want to grab every rebound, whether it be offensive or defensive. But some teams seem to put more of an emphasis on one over the other.
I chose four teams with among the largest rebounding disparities in college basketball. Auburn and Washington are strong at offensive rebounding but poor at defensive rebounding. Loyola Chicago and Wisconsin are the opposite (Loyola’s rebounding difference is particularly notable).
