Buying a rebounding ring that prevents shots from going in the hoop will only cost you about $15. Actually using it to improve your rebounding will cost you dozens of bumps and bruises.
So far, for the University of Virginia women's basketball team, the benefits of being a good rebounding team have made all the practice pay off.
The Cavaliers finished the non-conference schedule 11-1 and are 2-3 in ACC play.
The team served notice to the rest of the country that it would be ferocious on the boards in its season-opener against George Washington. The Cavaliers outrebounded the Colonials 43-34, and Tiffany Sardin pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds.
In 17 games, Virginia has hauled in nearly five more boards per game than its opponents, posting a 38.2-33.5 advantage.
Five rebounds per game may not seem like a lot, but, in close games where each possession matters down the stretch, it is crucial. Giving the opponent only one chance to score each trip down the floor and getting two or three chances during each offensive possession has helped the Cavs win the close games.
As it stands, the team's work on the offensive glass has helped it avoid close games altogether. The Cavaliers have 77 more offensive rebounds than their opponents this year, which has led to an average margin of victory of 14 points.
But it was not a foregone conclusion that this team would be such a force down low. The players are young and small
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