Texas Basketball: 3 reasons why the Longhorns will dominate Stanford
Tre Mitchell can help Texas outmatch Stanford in the frontcourt
Another area where Stanford has struggled at times this season is on the defensive glass. When Stanford faces teams that have more capable and active rebounders on the glass offensively, like Texas does, they’ve given up some valuable extra possessions. Stanford is not the worst team on the defensive glass in the PAC-12, but they’re not one of the best either.
Stanford is averaging around 25 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks outside of the top 225 in Division 1.
This is where Texas can utilize the likes of junior big man Tre Mitchell, and senior forwards Timmy Allen and Christian Bishop to control the offensive boards. Texas has three of the better offensive rebounders in the Big 12 this season in Mitchell, Allen, and Bishop.
Allen and Bishop will be the forward duo that can do most of the damage just hitting the offensive glass. Meanwhile, Mitchell is one of the most versatile and efficient big men in the Big 12 (if not the entire country) on the offensive end of the floor this season.
Mitchell’s shooting efficiency and vision from the paint to assist the ball combined with the ability of Allen and Bishop to hit the offensive glass could be quite the potent duo for Texas in this game.
Allen actually leads the Big 12 in offensive rebounding percentage so far this season (15.9). Mitchell (10.8) and Bishop (11.9) also rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding percentage so far this season.
Stanford will need their forward duo of Jaiden Delaire and Harrison Ingram to improve on the defensive glass. Delaire barely has a defensive rebounding percentage above 12 and Ingram is around 18. Considering most of Texas’ big men/forwards have offensive rebounding percentages in the double digits, Stanford will need to show some more signs of life on the defensive glass from the likes of Delaire and Ingram, among others.
All of these factors combined should be enough for Texas to outmatch the Cardinal in the frontcourt in this game. Mitchell will be the highlighting force to watch for the Longhorns.