Saturday’s match between Alabama basketball and Texas A&M will be won on the glass.
Aggies coach Buzz Williams told the media on Friday that he believes rebounding will draw the “line” between winners and losers this weekend.
“They’re 18th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage,” Williams said. “And because they shoot so many threes, three of those guys will rush to the rim from the perimeter depending on who’s shooting it. Sometimes it’s four.”
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A&M (13-2) is averaging 16.6 offensive boards per game, while holding the opposition to just 10.
“I think every year that goes by, it seems like from a coaching standpoint, they’ve become more committed to the value of offensive rebounding,” Williams said of Alabama (13-2).
UA outscored common opponent Oklahoma, 51-26, with 22 offensive boards to the Sooners’ eight in a 107-79 win. For a two-point victory Wednesday, A&M narrowly edged Oklahoma, 32-27, with 17 offensive rebounds compared to another eight again for Oklahoma.
Can Alabama basketball’s top-ranked rebounders stop Texas A&M?
Shooting just over 38% from the field and 21.3% from three-point range, A&M’s vaunted defense is what has the program ranked ninth in the nation.
The Aggies are built to handle big men like 6-foot-11 Grant Nelson and Clifford Omoruyi around the rim.
“The NBA players they have, the NBA athlete, the NBA length is part of why they’re so good,” Williams said.
no. 5 The Crimson Tide have flown under the radar defensively, however.
Alabama ranks third in the nation with an average of 30.27 defensive boards per game. Its punt return margin of 8 ranks fourth in the SEC behind Georgia (9), A&M (11) and Florida (12).
Nelson leads the team in total rebounds with an average of 8.7, followed by 6.1 for Omoruyi and then 5.1 per contest for sophomore Mouhamed Dioubate.
“When you look at the experience of that roster, the talent of that roster, I don’t know that they change the way they play whether they’re at home or on the road,” Williams said. “The way they play and who they play with is not only superlative in the SEC, it’s superlative nationally.”
Alabama and Texas A&M tip off at 7pm CT at Reed Arena. The event will be broadcast on ESPN, which can be streamed via ESPN+ and Fubo.
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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Texas A&M HC Buzz Williams praises Alabama basketball’s ‘NBA athleticism’
