There’s nothing revolutionary in the idea that rebounding is important once the college basketball postseason comes around.
A team needs to win six straight games to cut down the nets, often needing to survive at least one nailbiter in the process. An extra two or three possessions, or stopping the other team from an extra two or three possessions, can be the difference between a trip to the Final Four and an opening weekend exit.
It wouldn’t take a mad scientist to tell you Duke’s best rounder is the 7-foot sophomore Kyle Filipowski. The potential All-American leads the Blue Devils with 8.2 rebounds per game, and the Blue Devils are a top 20 team in the nation in defensive rebounding by KenPom’s metrics.
However, there’s a less expected name who demands attention when you break down Duke’s prowess on the glass, and he might be the difference in the biggest games: freshman Jared McCain.
The 6-foot-3 first-year Blue Devil weighs less than 200 pounds, according to the official team site, so one would be forgiven for overlooking him at first glance. He’s also a sharpshooter, averaging more than 38% from beyond the arc.
However, he’s grabbed at least 10 rebounds in three of Duke’s last four games, including double-doubles against North Carolina and Boston College. He’s finished with double-digit rebounds in five college games so far, and his 4.7 boards per game are the third-most on the team.
Even when you dig into KenPom’s advanced rebounding metrics, McCain’s 15.4% defensive rebounding rate is behind only Filipowski and sophomore Mark Mitchell among Duke players averaging more than 15 minutes per game.
The answer to his production on the glass is simple: effort.
Head coach Jon Scheyer praised McCain’s hustle after Duke’s loss to North Carolina, saying the freshman impressed him with his dedication and routine. If a ball gets tipped out of the paint during a Duke game, there’s a high chance McCain is racing after it a little harder than anyone else.
No, the Blue Devils probably can’t rely upon a 6-foot-3 guard averaging 4.7 rebounds per game as a primary board-getter during March Madness. However, as we discussed off the top, the difference between a win and a loss in the postseason can often come down to a possession or two, and McCain gets one or two more rebounds than most guards his size.
He can’t replace Filipowski if the 7-foot star has a truly off night, but if Duke needs an extra surge to flip a one-score game, the freshman has proven himself to be reliable.