I've talked for months about the relative level of impressive rebounding with this ECU team. At 106th in Rebound rate nationally out of 363 teams, it's the calling card and the only thing this ECU team does above averge in the rankings. Particularly offensive rebounding (46th). Houston is 6th nationally and it's much of what drives their success as the number 1 team in the nation.
Today ECU held its own on the boards with them. Not only that, they dominated int the first half. In the first half, the total was 24 to 14 on the boards. That's mostly because ECU couldn't hit a shot, only shooting 13% from three in the half. Yet the rebounding kept them within 2 points.
Some of that rebounding was manufactured by Schwartz playing a big lineup with Debut, Ausar, and Johnson. They have deployed it at times this year and some yesterday for a few minutes. It was less than most would think despite starting it, they played just 6 minutes together. Thats why I didn't even make a big deal of it yesterday. Today they played it 10 minutes of the 1st half together.
I'm just amazed it works at all, but if you told me they could play with that front line vs Houston I would have thought get the **** out of here. Ausar's ballhandling and Johnson's shooting allow it to work just well enough on offense it seems to be getting by, but it's still amazing Schwartz can get it to work at all vs the #1 team in the nation much less be the primary lineup while keeping it close.
ECU is giving up a lot on offense playing like that, but it's worked for what was needed to keep it close. The passing, turnovers and lack of shooting is rough with that lineup. 21 first half points.
Back when Schwartz was benching Ausar and riding him for rebounding I thought it was a bit overboard, considering how well the team rebounded. At the time some of it would have just been competing with his teammates for boards. Ausar has a different gear that he can get after rebounds and that's what he was trying to get out of him, and he brought it today. 19 rebounds vs that team built on rebounds is big time.
In the 2nd half Houston started on an 8-0 run in the first 3 minutes. Schwartz countered by going small to try to get some offense. Ultimately what doomed ECU was the complete lack of three-point shooting at all. 15%. ECU needed at least a normal night. Houston shot pretty well from three, but ECU's interior defense on Houston was awesome. 8-33 (24%) from 2 point range.
I liked the effort. The effort has been strong all year. ECU is playing well enough they should totally do the CBI. I think they could win it.
Let's hope this wasn't a P6 audition for Ausar. Houston seems to like recruiting our players, if he went I bet the are near first in line after today. If teams weren't already noticing, a game like this vs the #1 team will get their attention.
