Rebounding Issue

[LoneStar_Brave]

First, get well soon DD!. I guess he drew the short straw on the BU player that must succumb to a serious injury. Terrible news.

Getting outrebounded by Idaho State by 8 (total) and by 9 (offensive) is a serious problem going forward. If this problem doesn't get fixed in a hurry, then a 6th place finish in the valley will be a bit optimistic. I know TB is out, but that should be no excuse to be out boarded by that large margin by a middle of the pack Big Sky team. What happens when UNI comes to town with their horses?

We were saved by hot (50%) 3-pt shooting tonight. If we shoot our normal percentage, we lose this game.

Also, Idaho St. shot 55% from 2-pt land and they took 18 more shots than BU. I didn't see the game, but how did they take 18 more shots? Did BU have that many turnovers and IDS have that many 2nd chance attempts? I guess we went to the FT line a few more times, so that accounts for some of it.

[Majik45]

We are going to continue to have rebounding problems until Coach Les stops playing his 4 guard offense. Andrew Warren and Chris Roberts can't rebound against guys 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier. I really hope we start playing Taylor Brown at the 4 along with Milo instead of Roberts and Warren.

[amckillip]

We are going to continue to have rebounding problems until Coach Les stops playing his 4 guard offense. Andrew Warren and Chris Roberts can't rebound against guys 4 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier. I really hope we start playing Taylor Brown at the 4 along with Milo instead of Roberts and Warren.

I think this will happen when TB is back, with our lack of depth right now this was a difficult proposition.

[AZ BU Fan]

It is a classic confrontation between a tricked up 3 point shooting offensive (pardon the pun) scheme and a more traditional scheme with a bigger line up that works inside out and crashes the boards...BU hopes to outscore their opponents.

What was discouraging tonight is BU was hitting 3's per plan and still couldn't control the game.

Are AT and MK in JL's dog house? Anyone know?

If WE/SS/AT are all head and shoulders better than JP, man, am I disappointed!

[LoneStar_Brave]

BU shot 50% from the floor including making 11 three pointers. BU only had 8 turnovers.

If you would have told me nothing more than those stats and that we played Idaho State, I would have guessed a 15-20 point BU win. Cummon' boys.. sharpen those elbows and go up strong. Own that gd board.

[electricmayhem]

I think the difference in shots was partly due to the fact that we shot 25 free throws to their 10.

Overall, not a great showing, but it's a win. It just shows how important a healthy TB is to this team.

[Big Mike]

TB is the teams best rebounder and will be back to help out!

[Braves4Life]

Are AT and MK in JL's dog house? Anyone know?

If WE/SS/AT are all head and shoulders better than JP, man, am I disappointed!

On your first question: It appeared that both of these players were definately not yet ready for prime time. Les wanted to win the game and went with the guys who gave him the best chance.

On your second statement: Agreed! Our bigs were very unimpressive tonight. Egolf looked OK, but SS and AT contributed virtually nothing. This will be a tough season if WE and SS don't show more.

On a positive note: Warren and Maniscalco seemed to really get going in the final 10 minutes of the game..... And DSE is MUCH better than I imagined!

[lefty]

Even with TB, rebounding is going to be an issue this year.....hopefully we make up for it in other areas.

[real fan]

Taylor is our best rebounder , Chris Roberts has had to guard the 4 so he is not getting as many boards as usual , we need to be more concerned about what happens if our 4 or 5 get into foul trouble.

[Da Coach]

Yes, rebounding was not good tonight. There were a number of long rebounds, and tipped rebounds, and nearly all of them seemed to fall into the hands of an Idaho State player. I know it can't all be random, but it sure seemed like a lot of it was.

And, there is nothing wrong with AT or MK. The coaches wanted to get them into the game, but with it so close, and with Idaho State's guards being very quick and athletic (as were the guards and small forwards at BYU), they didn't think AT and MK would be able to guard them as well as our guards could do.

[Out of Balance]

Before you all want to put all the blame for the rebound issues on SS,WE and AT, think about it first. We play 4 guards and 1 big. Of the 4 guards 2 are under 6' and the rest are 6'5 and less. In 2 games now we have a total of 14 Off. rebounds to our opponents 30 and we have 48 def. rebounds to our opponents 60! We play a bombs away Off. with bringing our only big out front to set screens so the bombers can let it fly or for using him for passing from the top of the key to a open guard! By the time the big turns to roll to the hoop the shot is on the way most of the time with the other team in position for blocking out, which leaves little chance for the big to get a Off. rebound! A good ? would be where are the other three guards when the ball is shot? On the def. end, one big can't do it alone! If we played 2 bigs there would be twice the block out area and twice the chance we would get the rebound. As it stands now with the four guards, most of their rebounds come from balls tipped out or balls bouncing way out to them. In the 4 guard Off.,our guards should be/must be, a lot better at helping out and hitting the boards! We have a couple that could do this a lot better than they have done to this point!
I hope TB will be the answer because JL is not going to play any other combination of bigs at the same time
One other thing, in our 2 games so far, our bigs have not been out played by the other teams bigs! Check the stats! Just about even up! Not saying they can not do better!

[SFP]

AW needs to step up sooner. I personally would like to see him touch the ball every time we have the ball!

[houstontxbrave]

This is my take from watching us. We do not put a body on people and we do not go after the basketball, like that rebound is the most important thing. Chris Roberts has no excuse to not rebound. I dont care that someone is 2 inches taller Chris Roberts, he is the best leaper every single night on the court. Theron Wilson, Matt Salley were always out sized yet they went and got the basketball. They wanted it, we dont have anyone on the court who wants the basketball.

But, we just have not made rebounding a prioriety for as long as I can recall. Find a man get a body on him and get him away from the rim. Our positioning is not good but our desire is worse.

Regardless, the shooting by Idaho State I think is a direct reflection of our lack of either one on one defending or absolutely no one going and helping on the ball side. How many times did they get past a defender with no one coming down and closing? Its almost like our guards often play soft because they expect a helpside defender.

Idaho State did a great job of getting to the block. I bet they shot close to 30% of their shots at or near the blocks. Thats to easy. We have to play tougher interior defense, not just the bigs but when a guard is posted up... as McCain had done to him in the first half, we have to play more physical and get that person off the block.

I just do not see a defensive idenity yet with this team. We look soft both on the boards and when we play defense.

[tornado]

We are going to continue to have rebounding problems until Coach Les stops playing his 4 guard offense....

it stops the instant Taylor Brown is eligible, which is now..
the 4-guards was out of necessity..