Post by hchoops on Nov 14, 2022 17:51:21 GMT -5
For a lack of offensive boards
Statistical oddity
• Finally, leave it to Ken Pomeroy to come up with most wonderful statistical oddities. At the conclusion of last season, Pomeroy revealed in a tweet that Bucknell guard Andrew Funk had set an NCAA record by grabbing the most rebounds in a season (116) without a single offensive rebound. Funk didn’t even know until that point that he had done something unusual, but he heard about it throughout the off-season — including from his current coaches at Penn State, who mentioned it when they were recruiting Funk out of the transfer portal, and have since reminded him of it often.
I’m happy to report that Funk’s record will not be broken this season, at least not by him. That’s because with 2:20 to play in the first half of Penn State’s win over Loyola Maryland on Thursday, Funk, a 6-5 super senior, grabbed an offensive rebound. It wasn’t the greatest rebound ever recorded — he chased down a long 3-point miss from behind the top of the key. But it counted all the same, and Pomeroy recognized the feat by tweeting, “Great win and first offensive rebound in 648 days for @andrewfunk11.”
Funk told me that he had been looking to break the streak, if only so he could stop taking grief from the Penn State staff. “The ball just bounced to me. I can’t even take credit for doing anything special,” he said. “When I got the rebound and subbed out, I gave coach (Mike) Farrelly a fist bump. It was a funny little ongoing thing between us.”
As to why he is so lacking in this area of the game, Funk quipped, “I’m a big transition defender, is what I like to say.” The question now is, how far will Funk run up this number? One more offensive rebound, and he’s doubled his total. Can he reach double digits? A baker’s dozen? “I certainly hope so,” Funk said. “I’m glad I got this one out of the way, but I’m not sure a whole lot is going to change. I don’t think I’m going to be an offensive rebounder on anybody’s scout report.”
Statistical oddity
• Finally, leave it to Ken Pomeroy to come up with most wonderful statistical oddities. At the conclusion of last season, Pomeroy revealed in a tweet that Bucknell guard Andrew Funk had set an NCAA record by grabbing the most rebounds in a season (116) without a single offensive rebound. Funk didn’t even know until that point that he had done something unusual, but he heard about it throughout the off-season — including from his current coaches at Penn State, who mentioned it when they were recruiting Funk out of the transfer portal, and have since reminded him of it often.
I’m happy to report that Funk’s record will not be broken this season, at least not by him. That’s because with 2:20 to play in the first half of Penn State’s win over Loyola Maryland on Thursday, Funk, a 6-5 super senior, grabbed an offensive rebound. It wasn’t the greatest rebound ever recorded — he chased down a long 3-point miss from behind the top of the key. But it counted all the same, and Pomeroy recognized the feat by tweeting, “Great win and first offensive rebound in 648 days for @andrewfunk11.”
Funk told me that he had been looking to break the streak, if only so he could stop taking grief from the Penn State staff. “The ball just bounced to me. I can’t even take credit for doing anything special,” he said. “When I got the rebound and subbed out, I gave coach (Mike) Farrelly a fist bump. It was a funny little ongoing thing between us.”
As to why he is so lacking in this area of the game, Funk quipped, “I’m a big transition defender, is what I like to say.” The question now is, how far will Funk run up this number? One more offensive rebound, and he’s doubled his total. Can he reach double digits? A baker’s dozen? “I certainly hope so,” Funk said. “I’m glad I got this one out of the way, but I’m not sure a whole lot is going to change. I don’t think I’m going to be an offensive rebounder on anybody’s scout report.”
