Notebook: Gophers still attempting to solve recent rebounding issues

MINNEAPOLIS -- Rebounding, or lack thereof, has been a source of ire lately for Gophers coach Tubby Smith, and rightfully so.

Opponents are hauling in an average of 31.7 rebounds against the Gophers -- the fourth highest among Big Ten teams. Those numbers have swollen in the last week, as they have been out-rebounded in three straight games, surrendering 39 or more on two occasions. Not coincidentally, they have posted a 1-2 record in that stretch.

"That's been the difference in every loss we've had," Smith said of his team's rebounding woes.

Their struggles on the boards were glaringly obvious in Wednesday's losing debacle at Iowa. Caught out of position repeatedly, the Gophers could not match the Hawkeyes' physicality near the basket, allowing them to haul in 39 rebounds -- 16 of which came on the offensive end -- and letting a winnable game slip away in the final minutes

At the root of their issues is the recent ineffectiveness of the team's leading rebounders -- forward Rodney Williams and center Ralph Sampson III. The duo has combined for 10 total boards in the last the two games, with Williams bringing in only two against Iowa and Illinois.

"When you get out-rebounded in the frontlines like that it's a real problem," Smith said. "Rebounding shouldn't be a weakness but it is. So that is a big concern. That is why you need other guys to step up and rebound the ball as well."

With opponents keying in on him at higher frequency, Williams, who is well-aware of where his problems stem from, has found himself at times reverting back to his previous cautious tendencies.

"Guys are hitting me a lot earlier for the rebounds, so once I get hit I'm kind of stopping," Williams said. "After I get hit, I've got to keep moving and trying to get the rebound."

"These past few games I've just been sitting back and not being aggressive. I have to be aggressive, because when I'm aggressive that opens it up for my teammates."

While Williams and Sampson have worked to find a remedy, help has had to come from elsewhere. The bulk of the rebounds have been spread throughout the team. Elliott Eliason, Joe Coleman, Julian Welch, Austin Hollins and Chip Armelin have all seen sporadic upticks in their numbers.

Still, the Gophers have gone through phases where their waning aggression when going for rebounds has resulted in opponents being able to dictate the tempo of the game.

"We've got to play tough for the whole game," Williams said. "We do it for stretches and that kind of bites us in the butt in the end. We've got to hit them first, because in the Iowa game we let them initiate the contact the whole game."

Preparing for the stretch run

Consistency has been hard to come by for the Gophers in a season of ups and downs. Periods of inspired, solid play have been clouded by several letdowns, with the most recent one coming in Iowa City

At 4-6 in the Big Ten, the Gophers' long-term aspirations this season are already teetering. With eight games left in the regular season, a strong finish -- likely at least four more wins -- would be needed for their name to be called come Selection Sunday.

"If we expect to have any chance to compete for anything we have to get going and play well," Smith said.

The loss to Iowa puts an increased emphasis on finding a way to avoid a letdown and grasp a victory in Sunday's match-up against Nebraska (11-10, 3-7), who sits in 11th place in the Big Ten.

Smith commented that road games such as these always make him uncertain of what to expect.

"You never know how your team is going to respond," Smith said.

Sunday will mark the Gophers' (16-7, 4-6)  first meeting with the Cornhuskers since they joined the Big Ten last summer.

Eliason on the mend

Redshirt freshman Elliott Eliason continues to nurse a sprained ankle he tweaked in practice last Monday.

Concerns were that the injury would possibly sideline him against Iowa, but he was given the go-ahead to play. He ended up logging 18 minutes and tied Joe Coleman with a team-high six rebounds, though it was apparent his ankle was not at full strength.

"It was bothering me quite a bit, honestly," Eliason said. "It's just a pain issue basically -- not being able to get off the ground. You can't do things you normally can do. That's frustrating as a player, but it's healing up."

Eliason said he has not been limited in practice and expects to be fine versus Nebraska, which is a welcomed relief for the native of Chardon, Neb. Several of his family members plan to be in the stands on Sunday as he makes his first collegiate visit to his home state.

Nate Sandell is a contributor to 1500ESPN.com.
Email Nate | @nsandell