Rebounding Showdown: Alabama vs Texas Tech

0:00On March 22nd, both Alabama and Texas Tech enter Sunday's tournament matchup with major rebounding woes that could decide the game. Alabama coach Nate Oates has called out his team's poor boardwork all season, leading to several losses. Texas Tech has it even worse after losing star rebounder JT Toppen to a season ending injury in mid-February. Toppen, a 6-foot-9-force, averaging 10.8 rebounds per game, left the Red Raiders outrebounded by 31 over their last three. Losses before the tournament. Now they run a small lineup with no one over 6-foot-8 getting big minutes, forcing guards like Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell to crash. The glass hard. Coaches on both sides, see revounding as the key battle. Texas Tech's Grant McCaslin says his team lacks physicality without Toppen and needs guards grabbing five or more each. Alabama's Oates warns his guards must mash that hustle, as the tide off to lose rebounding edges they should win.

1:00Alabama has more size inside, with Aiden Cheryl fresh off 15 rebounds against Hofstra and Mark Sears looking to rebound better himself. Still, the Crimson Tides big man have been inconsistent, carrying the load unevenly lately. This shared weakness sets up a gritty fight on the boards, where extra possessions could swing everything Sunday.