Rebounding issues

[spierceisu]

The past few games our rebounding has been a weakness to say the least. It seems like opponents are constantly getting 2 or 3 shots from offensive boards and it is getting maddening. I think in the Houston game there was a time that Houston got 4 shots in a row against us and luckily it none of them went it. It seemed like Tech had super large number of them that led to open threes that they nailed. When I watch it appears to my untrained eye that our guys seem like they are stuck in the mud and just watch the ball rather than going after it. I know after long shot misses that leads to longer rebounds but it looks like our bigs are crowded under the basket and watching as the other team's guards come flying in for tip outs or boards. I get offensive boards happen a lot on three point shots but it sure seems like we are not being as agressive going after the ball as we should and we wait for the ball to fall in our laps.

 

[cycopath25]

 

[Cyhig]

We have been getting a fair amount of our own offensive rebounds as well. In the Tech game, Tech had 9 offensive rebounds vs 14 ISU defensive rebounds. This equates to a 39.1% offensive rebounding rate for Tech

But ISU had 14 offensive rebounds to Tech's 26 defensive rebounds, which is a 35.0% offensive rebounding rate for ISU

The issue though was Tech was shooting 58% from the field vs ISU's 39%. So Tech was coming away with points on the vast majority of the possessions. Can the defensive rebounding improve? Of course. But the bigger issue in the Tech game was Tech's high shooting percentage. This was the same story in the BYU game as well

 

[hoosman]

Maybe conditioning is an issue? Can’t go 30 minutes full speed on offense, defense, and rebounding. In particular, Lipsey looks like he is pacing himself (moving at 3/4 speed).

 

[AuH2O]

The past few games our rebounding has been a weakness to say the least. It seems like opponents are constantly getting 2 or 3 shots from offensive boards and it is getting maddening. I think in the Houston game there was a time that Houston got 4 shots in a row against us and luckily it none of them went it. It seemed like Tech had super large number of them that led to open threes that they nailed. When I watch it appears to my untrained eye that our guys seem like they are stuck in the mud and just watch the ball rather than going after it. I know after long shot misses that leads to longer rebounds but it looks like our bigs are crowded under the basket and watching as the other team's guards come flying in for tip outs or boards. I get offensive boards happen a lot on three point shots but it sure seems like we are not being as agressive going after the ball as we should and we wait for the ball to fall in our laps.

When there is going to be double-teaming and trapping, especially by the bigs 30 feet from the basket, it's going to be a challenge to get in good position and get a body on a body consistently.

Probably as much as anything what looks like lack of aggression or effort is a lot more that ISU is one of the least athletic teams in the Big 12.

 

[Drew0311]

I don't think it's any lack of effort. I just feel like we are out of position. Tech and BYU felt like they were always in the exact right spot. I am not a basketball coach so I have no solution. Sometimes it just feels like they have three guys going for the rebound and we have Blake and maybe one other. Not sure if that is coaching or just our scheme.

 

[CaptainClutch]

It’s the long rebounds where we are getting hurt. The more 3’s teams take the more long rebounds there will be. I really like the matchup tonight with Arizona not being great from 3

 

[Cyclonepride]

Just saw that we're 46th in rebound margin, which isn't great but isn't terrible. Tonight is going to be a tall task since Arizona has some monsters in that regard. Really just need to try our best to hold our own in that category and be efficient in everything else.

 

[SCNCY]

We have been getting a fair amount of our own offensive rebounds as well. In the Tech game, Tech had 9 offensive rebounds vs 14 ISU defensive rebounds. This equates to a 39.1% offensive rebounding rate for Tech

But ISU had 14 offensive rebounds to Tech's 26 defensive rebounds, which is a 35.0% offensive rebounding rate for ISU

The issue though was Tech was shooting 58% from the field vs ISU's 39%. So Tech was coming away with points on the vast majority of the possessions. Can the defensive rebounding improve? Of course. But the bigger issue in the Tech game was Tech's high shooting percentage. This was the same story in the BYU game as well

Also, tech made 14 3’s in the game at a 48% rate accounting for 42 points. 51% of their points came from made 3 pointers. I don’t know what a typical game is, but 51% of your points coming from three pointers seems really high.

 

[CyNews]

Also, tech made 14 3’s in the game at a 48% rate accounting for 42 points. 51% of their points came from made 3 pointers. I don’t know what a typical game is, but 51% of your points coming from three pointers seems really high.

And they came with 5 secs on the shot clock.

 

[MJ271]

When there is going to be double-teaming and trapping, especially by the bigs 30 feet from the basket, it's going to be a challenge to get in good position and get a body on a body consistently.

Probably as much as anything what looks like lack of aggression or effort is a lot more that ISU is one of the least athletic teams in the Big 12.

I think the first sentence is spot on in that Iowa State's defensive system generally makes defensive rebounding more difficult. Not just with not being in great position, but we often have smaller guys tagging rolling big men, or fully switching on to them. The guards do battle when they have to box out an opposing big man, but there is also only so much they can do.

Barttorvik notes that the defensive rebounding this season is similar to last year and Otz's second year, and significantly better than his first and third years. In conference play, Iowa State is currently 5th in the Big 12 in defensive rebounding rate. (Interestingly, that 2023 team was first in conference play in defensive rebounding rate after being pretty bad in the non-conference.)

 

[Drew0311]

Just saw that we're 46th in rebound margin, which isn't great but isn't terrible. Tonight is going to be a tall task since Arizona has some monsters in that regard. Really just need to try our best to hold our own in that category and be efficient in everything else.

The question with those stats are they including all the crap teams we played early in the year? Honest question. I would like to see the stats while in big 12 play. Seems like we are getting beat pretty regular on rebounding

 

[Cyhig]

Also, tech made 14 3’s in the game at a 48% rate accounting for 42 points. 51% of their points came from made 3 pointers. I don’t know what a typical game is, but 51% of your points coming from three pointers seems really high.

Agreed. The Tech game seemed to remind me of last year's K State home loss where it seemed they couldn't miss from anywhere behind the arc.

 

[MJ271]

The question with those stats are they including all the crap teams we played early in the year? Honest question. I would like to see the stats while in big 12 play. Seems like we are getting beat pretty regular on rebounding

Here's Barttorvik's data from conference play, sorted by defensive rebounding rate. Iowa State is fifth, with the third-best offensive rebounding rate.


I think one issue with fans' perception of rebounding is that opponents' offensive rebounds just feel especially painful. The BYU and Tech games were legitimately bad in terms of defensive rebounding, but the Houston game was actually better than our conference average, and we held them well below their average offensive rebounding rate (28% in that game vs. 34.7% for Houston in conference play). But the 4-shot possession that the OP mentioned was truly frustrating and sticks out, even though Houston was largely held in check the rest of the game.

 

[Drew0311]

Here's Barttorvik's data from conference play, sorted by defensive rebounding rate. Iowa State is fifth, with the third-best offensive rebounding rate.
View attachment 168364

I think one issue with fans' perception of rebounding is that opponents' offensive rebounds just feel especially painful. The BYU and Tech games were legitimately bad in terms of defensive rebounding, but the Houston game was actually better than our conference average, and we held them well below their average offensive rebounding rate (28% in that game vs. 34.7% for Houston in conference play). But the 4-shot possession that the OP mentioned was truly frustrating and sticks out, even though Houston was largely held in check the rest of the game.

Kind of surprised Houston is below us on rebounding.

 

[Cyclonepride]

The question with those stats are they including all the crap teams we played early in the year? Honest question. I would like to see the stats while in big 12 play. Seems like we are getting beat pretty regular on rebounding

That is the stat for all games, I haven't located a site that shows Big 12 games only

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

When there is going to be double-teaming and trapping, especially by the bigs 30 feet from the basket, it's going to be a challenge to get in good position and get a body on a body consistently.

Probably as much as anything what looks like lack of aggression or effort is a lot more that ISU is one of the least athletic teams in the Big 12.

Long rebounds are the kryptonite of our defensive scheme.

 

[Clonefan32]

It's a byproduct of our trapping defense. Boxing out is predicated on being on the inside and squared up to the offensive player. That very, very rarely happens when you are in constant rotation like we are on defense. I have no doubt the guys are trying very hard to rebound, but they are already limited in size/athleticism and they are now out of position as well as they scramble to guard once teams pass out of our traps.

 

[cyclones500]

It's a byproduct of our trapping defense. Boxing out is predicated on being on the inside and squared up to the offensive player. That very, very rarely happens when you are in constant rotation like we are on defense. I have no doubt the guys are trying very hard to rebound, but they are already limited in size/athleticism and they are now out of position as well as they scramble to guard once teams pass out of our traps.

ISU needs to apply the trap strategy more selectively. Numerous people have mentioned it many times throughout the season, so it's not like I'm offering new insight.

Of course, the when-and-how-much question isn't simple to determine, and can depend on opponent tendency, game situation and other stuff.

 

[ISUATC]

Rebounding at times and especially finishing at the rim, it seems like our guys need to have stronger hands.