The perfectionist tendencies of a coach dictate that UAB's Mike Anderson fret over the way his team has rebounded the basketball in the first 14 games.
"I'm going to be the worst critic and that's something that I get a chance to talk about," said Anderson, whose team continues Conference USA when the Blazers play Marshall today at 6 p.m. at Cam Henderson Center.
UAB averages 31.2 rebounds per game, which is the least in Conference USA and 12 rebounds per contest less than conference-leading Memphis. The only time UAB outrebounded an opponent this year was during a victory over Alcorn State.
A lack of overall size contributes to UAB's problems on the board. But sophomore Paul Delaney said that shouldn't be used as an excuse.
"I really don't think we should limit ourselves because we're a smaller team," Delaney said. "When you get good teams that are bigger than you, rebounds can't be a factor. It's about us having toughness and heart and just wanting to get the ball."
For UAB it's also about limiting an opponent's possessions and creating turnovers. A perfect example, according to Anderson, came in Wednesday's lopsided victory over Tulsa.
The Golden Hurricane had a 19-8 advantage in rebounds in the first half yet trailed by 24 points at halftime. Anderson said the primary reason for the advantage on the scoreboard was a UAB defense which forced 24 first-half turnovers, including 10 steals.
"In the first half, they had nine field goals," Anderson said. "You take the number of shots they took (18) and they also had 24 turnovers. So there's not a whole lot of rebounds. You look at the possessions we got, we probably got four or five turnovers that led to dunks. So sometimes those (rebound) stats can be misleading."
However, Anderson added that "we are not going to steal or create turnovers every night."
Rebounding could be a key component tonight when UAB (11-3 overall, 1-0 C-USA) plays a Marshall team which gave the Blazers fits the past two seasons. Marshall beat UAB 68-66 at Bartow Arena two seasons ago and the Blazers squeezed out a 81-78 win in Huntington last season.
"One thing we know is our two games against them the last two years have been battles," Anderson said.
This is the first time the pair will play as C-USA foes. Marshall (7-6, 1-0) beat UCF 73-69 on Wednesday night at Orlando in both teams' C-USA debut.
Marshall is led by 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Mark Patton, who averages 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. Guard Travis Aikens averages 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and reserve guard Joe Miles averages 11.0 points.
UAB's Marvett McDonald leads UAB in scoring with 14.4 points per game and Squeaky Johnson averages 8.6 points, 6.2 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game. McDonald has a team-high 45 3-pointers while Johnson is 20-of-34, which is a team-high 59 percent, from outside the 3-point line.
"I'm going to be the worst critic and that's something that I get a chance to talk about," said Anderson, whose team continues Conference USA when the Blazers play Marshall today at 6 p.m. at Cam Henderson Center.
UAB averages 31.2 rebounds per game, which is the least in Conference USA and 12 rebounds per contest less than conference-leading Memphis. The only time UAB outrebounded an opponent this year was during a victory over Alcorn State.
A lack of overall size contributes to UAB's problems on the board. But sophomore Paul Delaney said that shouldn't be used as an excuse.
"I really don't think we should limit ourselves because we're a smaller team," Delaney said. "When you get good teams that are bigger than you, rebounds can't be a factor. It's about us having toughness and heart and just wanting to get the ball."
For UAB it's also about limiting an opponent's possessions and creating turnovers. A perfect example, according to Anderson, came in Wednesday's lopsided victory over Tulsa.
The Golden Hurricane had a 19-8 advantage in rebounds in the first half yet trailed by 24 points at halftime. Anderson said the primary reason for the advantage on the scoreboard was a UAB defense which forced 24 first-half turnovers, including 10 steals.
"In the first half, they had nine field goals," Anderson said. "You take the number of shots they took (18) and they also had 24 turnovers. So there's not a whole lot of rebounds. You look at the possessions we got, we probably got four or five turnovers that led to dunks. So sometimes those (rebound) stats can be misleading."
However, Anderson added that "we are not going to steal or create turnovers every night."
Rebounding could be a key component tonight when UAB (11-3 overall, 1-0 C-USA) plays a Marshall team which gave the Blazers fits the past two seasons. Marshall beat UAB 68-66 at Bartow Arena two seasons ago and the Blazers squeezed out a 81-78 win in Huntington last season.
"One thing we know is our two games against them the last two years have been battles," Anderson said.
This is the first time the pair will play as C-USA foes. Marshall (7-6, 1-0) beat UCF 73-69 on Wednesday night at Orlando in both teams' C-USA debut.
Marshall is led by 6-foot-9, 250-pound center Mark Patton, who averages 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. Guard Travis Aikens averages 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and reserve guard Joe Miles averages 11.0 points.
UAB's Marvett McDonald leads UAB in scoring with 14.4 points per game and Squeaky Johnson averages 8.6 points, 6.2 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game. McDonald has a team-high 45 3-pointers while Johnson is 20-of-34, which is a team-high 59 percent, from outside the 3-point line.
