Texas Tech basketball: What Red Raiders must do to beat Duke

Do not let Duke dominate the glass

An underrated aspect of Duke’s game is its ability to rebound.  Sports Center doesn’t typically feature rebounds in its nightly top-10 so people yet to watch the Blue Devils this year many not understand how good they are on the glass.

The Devils grab 46.3 rebounds per game, most in the nation, and rank 10th overall in rebounding margin puling down 9.4 more boards than their opponents.  That is an often over-looked by-product of their elite athleticism and it certainly is a concern for the Red Raiders.

Tech has not been bad in its own respect on the glass.  Out-rebounding their opponents by 7.4 boards per game, the Red Raiders rank 25th in the nation but they are yet to see a team with the size and explosiveness of Duke.

Rebounds are another way that the Devils generate quick offense.  When they pull down a board, they want to push the ball immediately and get a dunk or layup before the defense is set. Tech must make a concerted effort to battle on the boards while also making certain not over-commit and leave their end of the court vulnerable to transition baskets.  It will be a delicate balance for Chris Beard’s team.

This is a game where Norense Odiase will be critical.  He will likely spend plenty of time on 6-foot-8, 280-pound freshman phenom Zion Williamson who owns the Duke vertical leap record at over 40.5 inches.

Odiase can’t contend with that type of athleticism in the air but he is strong enough and crafty enough to play excellent positional defense and be a presence on the glass.  He and Tariq Owens must be able to offset Duke’s work on the glass tonight because Tech can ill afford to give the Devils second-chance points and opportunities to get out in transition.