Ball State coach Billy Taylor hesitated in Monday’s press conference before trying to answer which of his junior forwards is the bigger threat on the glass.
Majok Majok, the Mid-American Conference’s leading rebounder at 10.1 rpg, or Matt Kamieniecki, the Cardinals’ high-energy big who averages a whopping 12.8 boards per 40 minutes.
“They are very different in their rebounding styles,” Taylor said. “Majok uses more power and Kammy is more speed to get around you and pursue the ball.”
Taylor wouldn’t say who was better, but luckily for him, Ball State’s opponents are the ones who must decide which interior player to block out.
In Saturday’s 82-62 win at Miami, Majok and Kamieniecki combined for 15 of Ball State’s 37 rebounds in a game the Cardinals dominated on the glass. They finished with a +20 rebounding margin.
“There were definitely times during the Miami game when there were rebounds that Majok usually gets where Kammy came in and took them,” Taylor said. “Majok’s rebounding numbers have actually been down since Kammy has been back [healthy]. It’s just nice to have guys that can really fly in there and come up with the ball.”
Keeping the MAC West Division Player of the Week, and the only one who can seemingly outrebound him, Kamieniecki, off the glass is arguably the biggest problem Toledo (7-10, 3-3 MAC) faces when the team plays Ball State (8-10, 2-4 MAC) on Wednesday.
The Cardinals are top-four in the league in both rebounding offense and rebounding defense largely because of the duo inside, but Taylor said support from another frontcourt player makes his team even more dangerous.
“When you add in Chris Bond, who can get those long, out-of-area rebounds, it makes us very formidable on the glass,” Taylor said.
Ball State will need to control the backboards to prevent Toledo’s lethal backcourt from getting out in transition.
Guard’s Rian Pearson (18.2 points per game) and Julius Brown (13.4) are first and ninth, respectively, in the MAC in scoring this season.
“Toledo is probably one of the top offensive teams in the league,” Taylor said. “We’re going to have to find ways to get stops on these guys and not allow them to feel comfortable and in rhythm.”
After losing four straight MAC games, Ball State found some rhythm against Miami on Saturday.
Four players scored in double-figures and the 20-point winning margin was Ball State’s largest since the team’s season-opening victory over Grambling State, 78-51.
“It was nice to see us back on track,” Taylor said. “We’re right back in the thick of things. It keeps our guys really engaged and energized because we’re right there. We still have ground to make up, but we certainly don’t think it’s insurmountable at this point.”
