Rebounding still a problem for Utah State
The Utah State men’s basketball team has struggled all season with rebounding due to its lack of size in the post, and Aggie head coach Stew Morrill knew they’d have a tough time rebounding against a quick, athletic Hawaii team Thursday night.
“When New Mexico State walks onto the floor, they just kind of shock you, and they did the same last year with their size and their bulk, their height and their strength,” Morrill said. “Nevada has somewhat the same effect. They are very athletic and big and strong, not maybe quite as strong, but lots of weapons. Hawaii is right there with both of them in all of those regards. I think that most of us in the league would say that that is a fair statement.”
Hawaii out-rebounded USU 48-28 on the night and two of the Warriors finished with double-figure rebounds. Forward Joston Thomas finished with 10 rebounds, and center Vander Joaquim led the Warriors with 14 rebounds.
“We just struggled out there with their size, — with about anyone that we play — trying to get rebounds,” Morrill said.
Hawaii pulled down 24 offensive rebounds on the night, which led to 24 second-chance points.
“They are a really big team. Their guards are big — all 6-foot-6 and taller,” sophomore guard Preston Medlin said. “They are just physical — more physical than Nevada or New Mexico State. It’s tough. We’re a little undersized at the post. We’ve just got to help the posts out as much as guards.”
Despite being undersized, a rebound margin of 20 is still a concern for USU.
“I think it’s a big concern for our team,” junior forward Kyisean Reed said. “We don’t have one dominant rebounder. All five guys have to go rebound. I think it’s a big concern.”
Defending senior Zane Johnson was another concern for USU. The Hawaii guard has always played well against USU and averages around 18 points per game in conference play.
USU held Johnson to nine points in 34 minutes of play.
“We tried to monster both posts, so he was getting monstered a lot — and double teamed,” Medlin said. “Ben (Clifford) and Kyisean, and all those guys, did a good job of defending him.”
Clifford, who scored a season-high 11 points, pulled down three rebounds and came up with four blocks on the night
“Ben has gained some confidence,” Morrill said. “He’s a redshirt freshman out there. He’s more confident shooting the ball each game. When I checked him in, he went and scored twice when we needed points. That was huge.”
Clifford said USU handled the physicality as well as it could.
“We knew that coming in they have huge people, it seems like, compared to us,” he said. “We just had to be physical, get them off the block and try to box out as best we could. I don’t know how good we did on that. We tried our best.”
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu