A few weeks ago, Minnesota coach Richard Pitino shook his head, frustrated with the team's rebounding effort.

He wanted to avoid putting his players through basic box-out drills if he could, he warned, but he would do it if he had to.

On Christmas Day, Pitino implemented the drills for the first time since preseason practices.

With just one game between the Gophers and the hearty Big Ten schedule, Minnesota's biggest weakness is still rebounding, and Pitino has zoned in on that aspect in full force, even if it means reinstating menial box-out drills.

"You do that stuff in the preseason," Pitino said. "I like to do them in the preseason. But my big thing [in the regular season] is let's focus on the next opponent, let's focus on ourselves ... When you're on the court during the season, that time is valuable, you don't want to waste any time because the most important thing in my opinion is being prepared but also being well-rested.

"But we did [box out drills] yesterday, we'll continue to do a little bit today because that message is not sinking in well enough."

Pitino pointed to backup center Elliott Eliason as the only player he's pleased with when it comes to his efforts on the glass. Eliason, who is averaging 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.2 minutes a game, is the only real natural rebounder on the team. Last season, Eliason started for most of the year and grabbed 24.7 percent of available rebounds according to kenpom.com, 39th best in the nation. This year, starting center Mo Walker has been the best defensive rebounder statistically, pulling down 22.4 percent of available boards, 97th best nationally, but is posting an average of just 5.5 rebounds a game.

The Gophers are one of just three Big Ten teams to have four guards averaging 2.8 rebounds or more, but besides Walker and Eliason, no one else on the team is grabbing more than 3.8 a game.

All the way around, it isn't enough. Minnesota is ranked second-to-last in the Big Ten with a .662 defensive rebounding percentage.

"We chase down rebounds pretty well but it all comes down to the block outs," said forward Joey King, who is averaging 3.8 rebounds a game as the starting power forward. "That's where we let rebounding get away from us a little bit. So its important we make a hit first before we go chase it down."

That's where the new drills come in. Pitino likes to compare rebounding to a car crash: when the shot goes up, players should crash into each other to fight for good positioning to grab it.

"I mean, there are fender benders going on right now," the coach said. "There are no car crashes."

He added: "I'm not happy with any of them ... I think we are getting better, but that's an issue and I don't like where it stands right now, top to bottom."

The coach has insisted his team has the ability to improve, despite the personnel appearing to be not very conducive to becoming a much better rebounding team. Step one is to get physical, he said. Until then, players can expect box out drills to become a regular part of practice.

"Come Purdue, you better be ready for that," Pitino said. "That's something we're not doing real well and that's going to be a main focal point."


Notes:

** Pitino said Andre Hollins (turf toe) practiced yesterday and should be good to go on Saturday after two days off for Christmas.

** Asked to name a non-conference MVP, Pitino pointed to DeAndre Mathieu who is averaging 9.4 points and 6.3 assists per game. "Six assists is good enough for me," he said. Pitino also noted that Joey King (9.9 points, 3.8 assists) could be on that list as well.