Andre Drummond - College Rebounding Question

[Hungry]

Don't need this to evolve into a discussion of whether Drummond is a good or bad player. Per bbreference, Drummond's college DRB% and TRB% were 17.0% and 15.6% respectively while his career NBA numbers are 33.25% and 24.53% which are both currently the career record. Not really a follower of college ball, but I recall him coming into the league with an NBA body, and his first two years in the NBA he had DRB% north of 27%. Obviously team defensive strategy and teammates can impact an individual's rate, but this still seems quite low. Can anyone who follows college more closely explain why his college rebounding numbers are so (relatively) low. Much appreciated

[Cavsfansince84]

Don't need this to evolve into a discussion of whether Drummond is a good or bad player. Per bbreference, Drummond's college DRB% and TRB% were 17.0% and 15.6% respectively while his career NBA numbers are 33.25% and 24.53% which are both currently the career record. Not really a follower of college ball, but I recall him coming into the league with an NBA body, and his first two years in the NBA he had DRB% north of 27%. Obviously team defensive strategy and teammates can impact an individual's rate, but this still seems quite low. Can anyone who follows college more closely explain why his college rebounding numbers are so (relatively) low. Much appreciated

He likely has gained a lot of weight/strength since then and also learned better rebounding technique. There is a lot guys can learn if they really want to dedicate themselves. Rodman used to study individual players just to get a better idea of where their misses would go.

[LivingLegend]

Don't need this to evolve into a discussion of whether Drummond is a good or bad player. Per bbreference, Drummond's college DRB% and TRB% were 17.0% and 15.6% respectively while his career NBA numbers are 33.25% and 24.53% which are both currently the career record. Not really a follower of college ball, but I recall him coming into the league with an NBA body, and his first two years in the NBA he had DRB% north of 27%. Obviously team defensive strategy and teammates can impact an individual's rate, but this still seems quite low. Can anyone who follows college more closely explain why his college rebounding numbers are so (relatively) low. Much appreciated

He likely has gained a lot of weight/strength since then and also learned better rebounding technique. There is a lot guys can learn if they really want to dedicate themselves. Rodman used to study individual players just to get a better idea of where their misses would go.

Rebounding is a lot about effort though too, its not nearly a science that some make it out to be. Try to watch the release of the ball and see if its going short/long/right/left and beat the offenseive player to the spot where its going to come off.

[Cavsfansince84]

Don't need this to evolve into a discussion of whether Drummond is a good or bad player. Per bbreference, Drummond's college DRB% and TRB% were 17.0% and 15.6% respectively while his career NBA numbers are 33.25% and 24.53% which are both currently the career record. Not really a follower of college ball, but I recall him coming into the league with an NBA body, and his first two years in the NBA he had DRB% north of 27%. Obviously team defensive strategy and teammates can impact an individual's rate, but this still seems quite low. Can anyone who follows college more closely explain why his college rebounding numbers are so (relatively) low. Much appreciated

He likely has gained a lot of weight/strength since then and also learned better rebounding technique. There is a lot guys can learn if they really want to dedicate themselves. Rodman used to study individual players just to get a better idea of where their misses would go.

Rebounding is a lot about effort though too, its not nearly a science that some make it out to be. Try to watch the release of the ball and see if its going short/long/right/left and beat the offenseive player to the spot where its going to come off.

There is technique involved. Obviously effort is also part of it. So we can assume he got better at all of these things as well as strength. He's widely considered one of the stronger guys in the league and has good length.

[scrabbarista]

Yeah, I don't follow college a ton either, but there were definitely character questions about Drummond, and he was seen as sliding on/near Draft Day. Some thought he had #1 pick talent/potential, IIRC. Perhaps the questions were about his love for the game. In other words, maybe he just didn't try as hard at UConn. I'm totally guessing, though.

[Duke4life831]

I remember the recruitment phase better than the actual college playing days of Drummond. I remember the Drummond vs Adams debates. All I really remember from college is the constant questioning of his motor.

[Hungry]

He likely has gained a lot of weight/strength since then and also learned better rebounding technique. There is a lot guys can learn if they really want to dedicate themselves. Rodman used to study individual players just to get a better idea of where their misses would go.

Rebounding is a lot about effort though too, its not nearly a science that some make it out to be. Try to watch the release of the ball and see if its going short/long/right/left and beat the offenseive player to the spot where its going to come off.

There is technique involved. Obviously effort is also part of it. So we can assume he got better at all of these things as well as strength. He's widely considered one of the stronger guys in the league and has good length.

You're both right, it's a combination effort as well as a feel/understanding for where the ball will go and how the play around you is unfolding. No doubt he is bigger and stronger than college and has improved his technique, but year 1 in the NBA against bigger and more athletic players his DRB% jumped from to 17% in college to 27.2% which is a career low.

[yitur]

Yeah, I don't follow college a ton either, but there were definitely character questions about Drummond, and he was seen as sliding on/near Draft Day. Some thought he had #1 pick talent/potential, IIRC. Perhaps the questions were about his love for the game. In other words, maybe he just didn't try as hard at UConn. I'm totally guessing, though.

Nope this was the case. His only downfall was motor questions in college. From talent standpoint he was on par with AD in highschool and was no.1 in most mocks.

[Wallace_Wallace]

The man is built like an unmovable tank. That along with some 7'6 wingspan and a decent instinct for the ball would net you some rebounding number (motor or not).

[Hungry]

The man is built like an unmovable tank. That along with some 7'6 wingspan and a decent instinct for the ball would net you some rebounding number (motor or not).

This is what I can't fully reconcile. I totally get the coasting/motor concerns, but those things are still said about him. With his physical skills as mentioned and against college players, I just can't wrap my head around it

[Dupp]

College rebounding is one of the few things that always translates the the nba so it is weird to see such a jump.

[Cavsfansince84]

College rebounding is one of the few things that always translates the the nba so it is weird to see such a jump.

I don't really agree with this much at all. There's lots of guys who put up huge rebounding numbers in college and who weren't very good rebounders in the nba. KD for instance averaged over 11rpg in college and was getting pushed around like a toothpick his first few years in the nba. Much easier to rebound in college for the most part.

[Dupp]

College rebounding is one of the few things that always translates the the nba so it is weird to see such a jump.

I don't really agree with this much at all. There's lots of guys who put up huge rebounding numbers in college and who weren't very good rebounders in the nba. KD for instance averaged over 11rpg in college and was getting pushed around like a toothpick his first few years in the nba. Much easier to rebound in college for the most part.

If you look at a larger sample size what I said is factually correct.

[Wallace_Wallace]

The man is built like an unmovable tank. That along with some 7'6 wingspan and a decent instinct for the ball would net you some rebounding number (motor or not).

This is what I can't fully reconcile. I totally get the coasting/motor concerns, but those things are still said about him. With his physical skills as mentioned and against college players, I just can't wrap my head around it

IIRC, Jim Calhoun likes to use a multiple big men rotations instead a dominant big to keep everyone fresh. Hasheem Thabeet, though relatively dominant in college, did not have great stats. So it probably was Coach Calhoun's system.

[whitehops]

one theory i have is block chasing. drummond's block % in college was 9.9, which is WAY higher than anything he's reached in the nba. but in the nba his block % has plummeted while his rebounding % is much higher than college. i didn't watch him in college but i've watched him a lot in the nba and on the pistons it seemed like he would rather not contest a shot so he could get the board if they missed.

[MrBigShot]

Simplest explanation I think is his lack of motor in college. Biggest reason why a guy at his age with his physical tools and athleticism dropped to 9. He's had motor issues in the NBA too, but when it comes to rebounding and hitting the offensive glass in particular he's been pretty consistent.

[LivingLegend]

He likely has gained a lot of weight/strength since then and also learned better rebounding technique. There is a lot guys can learn if they really want to dedicate themselves. Rodman used to study individual players just to get a better idea of where their misses would go.

Rebounding is a lot about effort though too, its not nearly a science that some make it out to be. Try to watch the release of the ball and see if its going short/long/right/left and beat the offenseive player to the spot where its going to come off.

There is technique involved. Obviously effort is also part of it. So we can assume he got better at all of these things as well as strength. He's widely considered one of the stronger guys in the league and has good length.

Yeah but is still side with effort, look at NBA players when a shot is taken--2/3 of them stand around and look at the shot. The players who get the rebound start running towards the hoop as soon as the shots taken and look for somebody to box out

[kodo]

He was pretty raw at UConn, with a questionable motor as people already said. His focus and maturity improved.

Also, a lot of college teams including UConn back then used two true bigs under the basket. In the NBA these days it's common for just 1 big to be under the basket while the other big is by the 3 point line. NBA centers can have better defensive rebounding than they did in college.

Towns at Kentucky played with WCS, and had a DRB of 22.3%.
In the NBA, he's mostly the only big man and his DRB was as high as 30.9%.

Adebayo had a similar jump.
Adebayo NCAA: 17.3% DRB
Adebayo 2020: 24.9% DRB

[Hungry]

He was pretty raw at UConn, with a questionable motor as people already said. His focus and maturity improved.

Also, a lot of college teams including UConn back then used two true bigs under the basket. In the NBA these days it's common for just 1 big to be under the basket while the other big is by the 3 point line. NBA centers can have better defensive rebounding than they did in college.

Towns at Kentucky played with WCS, and had a DRB of 22.3%.
In the NBA, he's mostly the only big man and his DRB was as high as 30.9%.

Adebayo had a similar jump.
Adebayo NCAA: 17.3% DRB
Adebayo 2020: 24.9% DRB

This is a terrific explanation, thanks

[DusterBuster]

While not relevant to this at all, I totally forgot that he's on the Cavs now.