Wake Forest Prioritizes Rebounding in Matchup Against Charleston Southern

Wake Forest enters Tuesday night’s game against Charleston Southern in Winston-Salem looking to fix a persistent deficiency on the glass.

The Demon Deacons currently hold a 1-1 record and are facing a critical juncture in their early season momentum.

According to a report from CBS Sports, rebounding has emerged as the primary concern for the program. The team has been outrebounded in both of their contests this season, most notably during a 74-51 road loss to Vanderbilt on Thursday. In that matchup, the Demon Deacons were outworked on the boards by a margin of 48-33.

Coach Steve Forbes did not mince words regarding the team’s physical struggle in the paint following the Vanderbilt defeat.

“They were manhandling us on the glass,” Forbes said.

This isn’t a sudden lapse in discipline but rather a continuation of a trend that has haunted the program for several seasons. Wake Forest has struggled to maintain a positive rebounding margin within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), ranking 15th in the 18-team league during each of the previous two seasons.

The data shows a steady decline in the team’s ability to control the boards. While the margin was manageable last season, the deficit has widened as the current campaign progresses. The following table outlines the rebounding margin trends for the Demon Deacons:

Season/Context	Average Rebounding Margin
Last Season	-1.6 per game
2024-25 Season	-2.2 per game
Current Season (vs. Vanderbilt)	-15 margin

To reverse this trend, Forbes is looking toward his frontcourt rotation. The Demon Deacons rely on two 6-foot-11 players to anchor the interior: Gavin Placide and Xander Pintelon. Placide averaged 15 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while Pintelon provided 2.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Kevair Kennedy remains a vital piece of the lineup, leading the team in scoring with 17 points per game and serving as the second-leading rebounder with 7 rebounds per game.

The opposition, Charleston Southern, arrives in Winston-Salem with their own set of internal challenges despite a recent victory. The Buccaneers, who compete in the Big South Conference, are also grappling with glass control. Even in their recent 86-49 win over NAIA school Columbia International, the team struggled to limit second-chance opportunities.

During that victory, Anthony Ruffolo delivered a dominant performance, recording 31 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Lase Olalere contributed 14 points and 16 rebounds. However, the victory did not mask the defensive lapses that coach Saah Nimley identified.

“We gave up too many offensive rebounds,” Nimley said, noting that the issue is something the entire program is currently working through.

While Charleston Southern showed offensive efficiency, preseason predictions from Big South coaches placed them in seventh place within the nine-team league, suggesting they are still fighting for stability.

For Wake Forest, the upcoming Tuesday night matchup is less about the scoreboard and more about establishing a physical identity. The ability to secure possessions will likely determine whether the Demon Deacons can climb out of their early-season slump or if the rebounding deficit will continue to dictate their results.