re: This team just can’t rebound

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I’m fortunate enough to attend practice when I want to. Blocking out and being aggressive to the ball is harped on over and over again. The biggest drawback is Duop and Epps are very slow afoot. Rebounding is all about positioning and strength and they can’t get there and they’re both weak. The fact that you only have 2 players over 6’6” and they’re deficiencies are obvious spells doom and gloom along w extra shots...... Kir shows flashes but brings nothing to offensive output....

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Yep. Reath just isn't an instinctual basketball player. You can tell he is an athletic kid who accepts coaching and has really worked to make himself a good offensive player. He just doesn't have that natural instinct developed from years of playing from a young age as to when and where the ball will bounce after a miss. He also isn't a particularly "tough" player. That's just not who he his.

Epps is largely the same way. Despite his height, he just doesn't like the contact and have that aggressive mentality (on a regular basis) to fight inside for tough rebounds. He's good at swooping in from the wing for occasional follow-ups, but not a guy that is going to body some one up and out fight him. Physical post guys eat him alive.

Unfortunately, after Reath and Epps LSU really has no size. That will change next year with Bigby-Williams and Emmett Williams along with Reid. Hopefully Kiir can develop enough to at least give you some good minutes rebounding. Also, Rachal will probably still get some minutes because he has that "tough" mentality Wade likes. With legitimate rebounders around him for teams to worry about Rachal may be able to out-tough smaller player for the 50/50 balls.

Everyone knew rebounding would be a problem all season. We can get mad all we want, but there just not much LSU can do to change the narrative at this point. It is what it is.