All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: One Oklahoma Stat Should Be Warning to Tar Heels

Oklahoma's average rebounding margin equals UNC basketball's deficit on the boards in each of its past two losses.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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After losing the rebounding battle, 43-33, in an 87-76 defeat at the hands of a veteran squad in fifth-ranked UConn on Dec. 5, UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis said improvement on the boards would be a top priority. He emphasized the need for more effort over any changes in coaching style or technique.

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On Saturday evening, the No. 9 Tar Heels took the floor for the first time since that loss to the Huskies. They had almost an identical result in the rebounding department, this time a 42-32 deficit — 18-6 on the offensive glass — against a freshman-powered bunch in No. 14 Kentucky at the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta.

And UNC fell, 87-83, marking the team's second straight loss and third overall.

"Kentucky was tougher than us in the trenches," Davis explained to the media afterward. "And in order to win games like that, you have to win the battle in the paint. Whether it's rebounding, loose balls, finishing around the basket, you have to win those battles. And we did not in terms of rebounding, and that's why we lost the game."

With a matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma on tap for 9 p.m. ET Wednesday at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte's Spectrum Center, the Tar Heels (7-3, 1-0 ACC) are now in danger of tallying as many pre-Christmas losses as in their infamously unpleasant 2022-23 campaign.

The undefeated Sooners (10-0, 0-0 Big 12) are outrebounding their opponents by an average of 10.0 per outing — yes, same as UNC's rebounding deficit in each of its past two games.

They're not big. There's no one big-time rebounder. Rather, Oklahoma employs an all-out team effort, as eight Oklahoma players average between two and six boards per contest.

Some would say it's time for the UNC basketball players to answer Davis' challenge to simply be tougher on the boards. That would probably have to start with graduate center Armando Bacot, who recorded as many turnovers (six) as rebounds against the Wildcats in what was one of the most lackluster performances of his career.

Others might opine that Davis and his staff should consider the possibility that their apparent dismissal of any more complex rebounding solutions is to blame.

Either way, something needs to change.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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