Can we stay with WVU on the boards?

[InSeanITrust]

IN SEAN I TRUST to get our boys ready for one of the biggest games of their life.

[Xman95]

I would also guess - though I haven't seen the numbers - that Duke's poor shooting helped with the lopsided rebounding totals. If the Blue Devils were missing a ton of shots, it would naturally lead to more easy chances for WVU being that A.) defensive boards are easier to grab than offensive and B.) Duke's love for having 3-4 guys on the perimeter leaving the middle fairly unoccupied and not putting up much of a fight on the glass.

If we knock down a good amount of our shots, unlike Duke, it should narrow the rebounding margin. Add in the fact that we have guys like Love, Anderson and Brown - players who make a living in the paint - and it should narrow that gap even more.

Basically, hit the open shots and the rebounding margin shouldn't be a huge issue.

Plus, a large chunk of rebounding is simply wanting it more. If our guys are hungry and aggressive, it will lead to rebounds.

[xavierj]

Not worried about the rebounding. At this point you are who you are and Xavier out rebounds the opponent by 6 a game, WVU does by 2 per game. On paper both Georgia and Purdue were as good if not better then X on the boards and they both are better then WVU. The only way Xavier gets killed on the boards is if they can't find the basket and if that is the case it is not going to matter much anyway.

[xavierj]

Xavier & WVU played 4 common opponents, Tenn. Aub, Duq & UC. Xavier went 3-1 in those games, WVU 2-2. Here is how they each fared rebounding the ball in each game.

Tenn: Xav + 12 WVU +7
Aub: Xav + 10 WVU -3
Duq: Xav + 8 WVU +14
UC: XAV -1 WVU -15

[XUPRIDE]

Agree the rebounding needs to improve against a very physical team like WVa. I think we can and will be up to the rebounding challenge, but the boxing out efforts will need to improve

Xavier needs to do what we do best; play lock down defense, create fast break points, pound the ball inside the paint and take and make open three's.

Finally, let's not spot WVa 9-12 points in the first three minutes.

[X-84]

xavierj, love the common opponent rebounding stats!

Mr. Neutral, I guess I would be worried if I were worried (that is thought there was a real chance) about getting killed on the boards. I just don't think we'll get drilled there. We match up favorably size-wise with WVU, from there rebounding's about desire. I do share your concern about opponents offensive rebounding, it hasn't been our best stat of the tourney. There were a few we gave to Purdue that they just shouldn't have pulled down.

[newtsac]

I just read an article on ESPN's mobile website (for cell phone browser), so I don't know if it also appears on the normal site - I am sure it does, just too lazy.

WVU is 222nd in the NCAA for Opponent Free Throw Rate (FTA vs. FGA). That obviously bodes well for X considering their number of And-1's and their ability to attack the paint an draw fouls.

Onto the rebounding situation - I know that X has been out rebounded and certainly out rebounded on the offensive boards. But X limits their own chances for offensive boards with the high number of fouls drawn on shots... you can't rebound a foul.