Who would have figured rebounding would end up being one the strengths of this University of Cincinnati basketball team?

        Junior center Donald Little, last year's leading rebounder, wasn't even a member of the program from May — when he was dismissed for conduct detrimental to the team — until September, when he was reinstated.

        Another junior center, B.J. Grove, left the program in October for personal and family reasons; he returned in December as a walk-on.

        First-year junior center Derek Hollman had shoulder surgery in November and has yet to play a game. Senior power forward Jamaal Davis left the team after a season-opening loss to Oklahoma State, only to return two days later.

        All that, and the fourth-ranked Bearcats (26-2) are averaging 39.5 rebounds — the most for a UC team since 1997-98. They are outrebounding opponents by 6.2 a game, second in Conference USA (behind Memphis plus-7.2).

        The 2000-01 Bearcats were the first Bob Huggins' coached UC team to get outrebounded for a season, and they finished 11th among 12 C-USA teams (-0.8).

        The improved rebounding is one of the most noticeable differences from last year.

        And there is plenty of credit to spread around.

        The players are physically stronger and a year more experienced. Huggins called last year's team his weakest.

        The wings — Immanuel McElroy and Leonard Stokes — have increased their rebounding totals, from a combined 7.2 last season to 9.6 this season.

        The main inside players — Little, Davis and freshman reserve Jason Maxiell — combine for 19 rpg. Last season's top three — Little, Davis and Grove — averaged 13.6.

        Little has learned not to try to block every shot, has played smarter and is in foul trouble less often. Davis is in position more.

        And, of course, the addition of Maxiell (6.7 rpg) has been significant.

        “Even when he doesn't know what's going on all the time, he knows when that ball comes off the rim to go get it,” Davis said. “If he ever had anything planted in his head, that's one of them. It's always better to have Maxiell on your team than the opposing team.”

        Another big change has been an adjustment UC made with its defense, assistant coach Dan Peters said.

        Instead of extending its defense and having inside players help out farther from the basket, the No.4-ranked Bearcats (26-2) are not extending as much, which keeps the big men closer to their men and in better rebounding position.

        Cincinnati's defense doesn't take many chances. It averages just 5.11 steals a game, which ranks last among the 14 C-USA teams. But it's because of the tighter defense that UC is tops in field goal percentage defense (.370) and second in rebounding defense (33.2).

        “I just think we've had a good group of guys who have tried do what we've asked them to do,” Peters said. “I think JD's had a great year. A lot of it doesn't show up in the stats. He reminds me of Jermaine Tate; he doesn't rebound like Tate, but he has that understanding of how to play. He does some of the dirty work.”

        UC, which plays at Louisville on Wednesday night, has been outrebounded seven times and been even four times this season. It was outrebounded in its only two losses.

        The last three games, the Bearcats have outrebounded Southern Mississippi, DePaul and Marquette by a combined 125-100.

        “I think the key to our rebounding this year is we've got four guys going to the basket,” Davis said. “They have to box out me, Donald, Mac and Lenny. As far as the big guys go, we took a lot of flak for it last year. And, I think the addition of Maxiell helps us a lot.

        “We're more active on offense and defense than we were last year. We tend to know where the ball's going to go.”

Bearcats passing the boards

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