BYU Basketball: Shot defense and two more keys to beating Rice
By Shaun Gordon
2 – Dominate the Boards
Through five games, Rice has the exact same number of rebounds and rebounds allowed (183). That averages out to 36.6 rebounds per game, which means that the Owls aren’t a particularly good rebounding team. But on the flip side their efficient scoring cuts down on the number of boarding opportunities the opponent gets.
For comparison, BYU is currently averaging 46.2 boards per game, nearly 10 more than Rice, and giving up 40 per game.
Based on those stats, BYU should have a marked advantage in hauling in rebounds against the Owls, but they have to take advantage of that.
Neither team is good on the offensive glass, but Rice will make the Cougars pay if they get more than one offensive look each time down the court.
The fewer scoring opportunities that BYU allows the better, and giving the Owls second-chance opportunities certainly doesn’t do that.
On the other side of the court the Cougars should take advantage of Rice’s weak rebounding and create second-chance opportunities for themselves. BYU averages just under 10 offensive rebounds per game, but should be able to pull down more on Wednesday night.
If Rice is able to hang with BYU on the boards, the Cougars will be in a dangerous situation.