Rebounding Numbers Show Why MSU Basketball is Elite
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Rebounding has always been one of the pillars of what Michigan State basketball has done under Tom Izzo.
"Defend, rebound, run" are the words Izzo says constantly about what he wants out of his team. This year's squad has the chance to be one of the best at pillar number two.
Through 12 games this year, MSU has an average rebounding margin of plus-13.8, only trailing Florida and Arizona. The Spartans have grabbed 59.7% of all possible rebounds.
On the offensive glass, Michigan State is getting 41.1% of all possible offensive rebounds. That's the eighth-best percentage in the country, according to KenPom. On the other side, MSU is grabbing 77.3% of possible defensive rebounds. That's the best percentage in college basketball.
More Rebounding Numbers
The huge rebounding differential is bound to shrink a little bit once Big Ten play starts. Last year's team that won the Big Ten by three games and reached the Elite Eight was fifth in the country in rebounding margin at plus-8.9 per game.
Glancing at Michigan State's premier non-conference games and two Big Ten games might be the most revealing about where the Spartans stand. In the second game of the season against Arkansas, MSU finished plus-12 on the glass, which is a huge reason why it eked out a three-point victory. Against Kentucky, the Spartans were plus-14 in their rout of the Wildcats. They were also plus-7 against North Carolina, but minus-1 against Duke.
During MSU's two conference games, it finished plus-19 against Iowa and plus-13 at Penn State. Altogether, Michigan State is averaging a rebounding margin of plus-10.7 against its toughest opponents so far. That is still really good and nearly two rebounds better per game than last year. That margin would have been No. 1 in the country last season.
The top individual rebounder for the Spartans is Jaxon Kohler, who is averaging a double-double with 10.3 rebounds per game. Kohler is a top-100 offensive and defensive rebounder, according to KenPom, which was also the case last season.
He was just as good a rebounder last year, statistically. Kohler averaged nearly three fewer rebounds per game, but he's playing more minutes this season. Per 40 minutes, Kohler has grabbed 14.3 rebounds both this season and last.
In second on the team is starting center Carson Cooper, who has developed alongside Kohler at Michigan State for four years. He's averaging 7.0 boards per game. He, too, is averaging more rebounds than last season, but is actually averaging fewer on a per-40-minute basis.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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