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Doc, clearly CU tries to make up for lack of rebounding by winning the points off turnover and fast break points battle.
For example:
2nd chance points: MWSU 22, CU 10
Points off turnovers: MWSU 9, CU 34
Fast break points: MWSU 10, CU 21
This, however, is precisely why I've said that CU will suffer from the loss of Dotzler and Woodfox, who combined for 92 steals and only 69 turnovers. Clearly CU can still cause turnovers (at least against inferior guard play), but Dotzler was the only player on CU last year to have more steals than turnovers (70 to 35).
Dana is clearly good at coaching this, but I have a hard time believing that you can lose a guy that has twice as many steals as turnovers and a 3.5:1 assist to turnover ratio and be as good at creating the kind of margin in the turnover game that they need to makeup for the lack of rebounding. They will probably still win the turnover battle most nights, but I'm not convinced it will be by enough to make up for losing on the boards.
I believe this is also why CU has trouble winning in the NCAAs. It becomes a lot more difficult to create those turnovers against NCAA teams. Even in the NIT last year, they only had a +1 turnover edge in each of their two games.
Don't get me wrong, CU shoots the ball great and covers the lack of rebounding better than most teams could, but there is a reason that WSU, SIU and Bradley have been the Valley teams to make the Sweet Sixteen. They could all control the paint, and come March, it matters.
For example:
2nd chance points: MWSU 22, CU 10
Points off turnovers: MWSU 9, CU 34
Fast break points: MWSU 10, CU 21
This, however, is precisely why I've said that CU will suffer from the loss of Dotzler and Woodfox, who combined for 92 steals and only 69 turnovers. Clearly CU can still cause turnovers (at least against inferior guard play), but Dotzler was the only player on CU last year to have more steals than turnovers (70 to 35).
Dana is clearly good at coaching this, but I have a hard time believing that you can lose a guy that has twice as many steals as turnovers and a 3.5:1 assist to turnover ratio and be as good at creating the kind of margin in the turnover game that they need to makeup for the lack of rebounding. They will probably still win the turnover battle most nights, but I'm not convinced it will be by enough to make up for losing on the boards.
I believe this is also why CU has trouble winning in the NCAAs. It becomes a lot more difficult to create those turnovers against NCAA teams. Even in the NIT last year, they only had a +1 turnover edge in each of their two games.
Don't get me wrong, CU shoots the ball great and covers the lack of rebounding better than most teams could, but there is a reason that WSU, SIU and Bradley have been the Valley teams to make the Sweet Sixteen. They could all control the paint, and come March, it matters.
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