Four Factor Friday: Nov. 25, 2016
In this edition of Four Factor Friday, we’ll take a closer look at how the Tar Heels are measuring up in offensive rebounding percentage.
OR%
A team’s ability to increase its number of possessions, gives it a greater chance to score points and win games. Offensive rebounding is the main factor for a team to gain possessions.
It’s calculated by taking a team’s total offensive rebounds and comparing it to its opponents’ defensive rebounds.
OFFENSIVE OR%
UNC has grabbed 113 total offensive rebounds to its opponents 127 defensive rebounds this season. KenPom.com rates UNC second in the country with a 46.6% offensive rebounding rate.
This means on a Carolina missed shot or free throw, the team is rebounding the ball about 47% of the time.
In the last 4 games, UNC has outscored its opponents 85–32 in second chance points.
Freshman Tony Bradley (24.4) and senior Kennedy Meeks (22.6) rank 1 and 2 nationally in individual offensive rebounding percentage according to KenPom.com.
This isn’t all that of surprise for folks that have followed the Tar Heels over the years. In the previous 2 seasons, Carolina has rated in the top-5 in the country in offensive OR%.
DEFENSIVE OR%
What is coming as a surprise is UNC showing the ability to prevent their opponents from snagging offensive rebounds.
The Tar Heels post a 29.9% defensive rebounding percentage through 7 games this season. Opponents are getting the rebound about 30% of the time on their missed shots or free throws.
However, Carolina turned in one of its best defensive rebounding efforts in a 71–56 win over Wisconsin in the Maui Invitational final.
As Brian Barbour revealed, UNC didn’t allow a single offensive rebound in the first half against Wisconsin. The Badgers only finished with 4 total offensive rebounds.
Wisconsin came in with an offensive rebounding rate of 45.5%. It was 0% in the first half.
— Brian Barbour (@briancbarbour) November 24, 2016
Kennedy Meeks was a big reason why. The senior corralled a career-high 13 defensive rebounds in the win over Wisconsin as shown in Jim Hawkins’ photo (Inside Carolina).
Meeks grabbed 116 total defensive rebounds in 33 games a year ago. He’s already recorded 43 defensive rebounds in 7 games this year.
Defensive rebounding is one of the biggest voids to fill from a year ago with the departure of Brice Johnson. While the numbers will change with more stiff competition looming, it’s encouraging to see the the Tar Heels limiting second chance points and their opponents’ possessions thus far this year.
Carolina is back in action Wednesday, November 30 at Indiana. It’s a true road game and the start of quite the stretch for UNC as 20 of the Tar Heels remaining 25 games are against Top-100 opponents according to KenPom.com.