IOWA CITY, IA — Trey Kaufman-Renn’s recent rebounding resurgence for Purdue men’s basketball drew inspiration from one of the most elite rebounders in history.
Boilermaker fans can thank Dennis Rodman for their senior forward’s mental reset on the boards.
Kaufman-Renn followed up his career-high 19 rebounds against Nebraska on Tuesday with 11 in the first half of Saturday’s 78-57 win at Iowa. He settled for only one in 14 second-half minutes as the Boilermakers rolled to a fourth consecutive victory.
Kaufman-Renn said he recently began watching clips of Rodman on his phone prior to games. The last couple of games suggest he’s on to something.
In five games between Jan. 14-27 — which ended in a three-game losing streak — Kaufman-Renn averaged 3.4 rebounds. During the current four-game winning streak, he’s averaged 12.3.
The first team All-Big Ten selection said scoring 20.1 points per game last season felt “easy” — at least relative to the constant effort and physicality necessary to rebound. He looked for ways to jolt his mindset.
“Rebounding, it just seems every single day, every single time you go out, you have to give it your all,” Kaufman-Renn said. “It’s just tough.
“The players have been making fun of me — I try to watch Dennis Rodman highlights before the game to, almost like an actor, try to get into that mindset. I’m trying anything I can to have that sort of energy, because that’s what the team needs.”
Rodman averaged 13.3 rebounds in his 14-year NBA career. He led the league in defensive rebounding for seven straight years and offensive rebounding for five straight years. His rebounding prowess contributed to five NBA championships — two with the Detroit Pistons and three with the Chicago Bulls.
Kaufman-Renn ranks first in the Big Ten with a defensive rebounding rate of 26.3. He ranks 10th with an offensive rebounding rate of 11.0.
“I try to copy a lot — how he moves, how he reacts to the ball,” Kaufman-Renn said. “I try to watch him and mimic him.”
Purdue coach Matt Painter called Tuesday’s performance against Nebraska — which also included 10 offensive rebounds from Oscar Cluff — the team’s best rebounding performance of the season. He said Kaufman-Renn’s early performance on the boards “really set the tone” for the second ranked win of the week.
Tuesday’s opponent — Big Ten-leading Michigan — ranks third among conference teams in offensive rebounding. A game against Michigan State, always one of the league’s best on the glass, looms in the near future as well.
Asked why he believes this level of rebounding is sustainable, Kaufman-Renn pointed to that schedule.
“Because we need it,” Kaufman-Renn said. “We have to have it.”
Kaufman-Renn will try to keep emulating Rodman’s dominance on the boards — but perhaps not every aspect of The Worm’s flamboyant game.
“I’m not going to dye my hair, no,” Kaufman-Renn said.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Trey Kaufman-Renn watches YouTube videos of Dennis Rodman before Purdue games
