Rueben Chinyelu isn’t Oscar Tshiebwe - but he’s doing a pretty convincing impression on the boards.
Florida’s 6-foot-10, 260-pound senior has been a force of nature in the paint this season, and his rebounding numbers are turning heads across the country. He currently ranks second nationally in rebounding and leads the SEC by a wide margin, pulling down nearly 11.8 boards per game overall - and an even more impressive 13.0 per contest in conference play. Those are elite numbers, no matter how you slice them.
Chinyelu’s recent performances have been nothing short of dominant. He grabbed 20 rebounds in Florida’s road win at Georgia, following up a 16-board night at Texas A&M and a 17-rebound showing against Alabama.
He’s also posted two separate 21-rebound games this season. That kind of production isn’t just rare - it’s historic.
If he keeps this pace, he’ll become the first Gator in 50 years to average double-digit rebounds over a season.
And this isn’t just about raw totals. The advanced metrics back it up.
Chinyelu owns an offensive rebounding percentage of 18.2 and a defensive rebounding percentage of 31.8. For context, Oscar Tshiebwe - the gold standard for college rebounders in recent memory - posted 19.6 and 28.0 in those same categories.
That’s strikingly close, and it speaks to the kind of presence Chinyelu has become on the interior.
But rebounding is only part of the story. Chinyelu is also a consistent double-double threat, with 14 in 23 games so far.
Even more telling? Florida is undefeated in every game where he records one.
That’s not a coincidence - it’s a reflection of how central his production is to the Gators’ success.
Now, for Kentucky fans, this all probably sounds familiar - maybe a little too familiar. Big Blue Nation knows exactly how frustrating it is to go up against a guy who just refuses to let possessions end.
For two seasons, Oscar Tshiebwe turned rebounding into a weapon, snatching boards like they belonged to him by birthright. He didn’t just clean the glass - he made it a second home.
And now, Florida has a guy who’s doing a lot of the same things.
Saturday’s matchup is going to be a test, especially for Kentucky’s frontcourt. The assignment is simple, but not easy: box out, secure the rebound, and limit second-chance opportunities. Because if you let Chinyelu get comfortable, he’ll do what he’s been doing all season - control the glass, control the tempo, and give Florida the edge they need.
This isn’t just about one player’s stats. It’s about how a dominant rebounder can reshape a game.
Chinyelu is proving that every night. And if Kentucky wants to come out on top, they’ll need to match his energy on the boards - or risk watching him take over.