When you look at Miami this season, rebounding hasn’t exactly been their calling card. It’s something assistant coach Jai Lucas clearly wants to build into their identity, but so far, it hasn’t been a consistent strength. That could start to shift this weekend, though, as the Hurricanes face a California team that’s had real trouble holding their own on the boards.
Let’s break it down: Cal ranks near the bottom of the ACC in rebounding margin and sits tied for 244th nationally. That’s not just a rough patch - that’s a season-long trend. Mark Madsen’s squad has struggled to keep opponents off the glass, and against a Miami team that’s quietly become one of the best rebounding units in the country, that’s a recipe for trouble.
Miami currently sits in the top 10 nationally in rebounding margin, and they’re doing it with a frontcourt that’s both physical and disciplined. Ernest Udeh Jr. is leading the charge, pulling down 10 boards a game and anchoring the Hurricanes’ interior presence. Cal’s top rebounder, Lee Dort, is averaging 7.7 rebounds per contest - solid, but not quite enough to offset the gap when you look at the team numbers.
The advanced stats paint an even clearer picture. Cal ranks 337th in offensive rebounding - meaning they’re not generating many second-chance opportunities - while Miami ranks 49th in defensive rebounding, which tells you they’re doing a solid job cleaning up misses.
On the flip side, both teams sit at 81st in the nation in the other rebounding category (Cal on defense, Miami on offense), which suggests things might be more even on that end. But overall, the edge is clearly with the Hurricanes.
And that’s where this game could be won - not with highlight-reel plays or a barrage of threes, but with good old-fashioned rebounding. Miami doesn’t need to reinvent itself as a glass-eating powerhouse overnight. They just need to lean into the advantage they already have.
If Udeh Jr. and Malik Reneau come out with intensity and crash the boards every possession, Miami can control the tempo, limit Cal’s second-chance looks, and put pressure on the Bears from the opening tip. The Hurricanes have the size, the depth, and the numbers to dominate this matchup where it matters most - on the glass.
It’s not always the flashiest path to victory, but it’s often the most effective. And for Miami, Saturday offers a prime opportunity to make rebounding a real pillar of their game moving forward.