By PAUL GOTHAM
James Farr likes life on the bubble, and Chris Mack is happy to have him there .
With double-digit rebounds in seven games so far this season, Farr has signed as many times, per program custom, the rebounding bubble used in practice.
“He’s been a guy that’s affected the game around the rim on both ends of the floor,” Mack said during the Big East tele-conference. “Rebounding has really been his biggest priority because of that I think his confidence has soared and ours in him.”
Coming off the bench in all but three games this year, the senior forward leads the Musketeers and is third in the Big East grabbing 9.1 caroms a game.
But that number misses the full impact of Farr’s efforts.
Per BBState, Farr, playing 21.2 minutes a game, leads the conference and is eighth in the nation with a rebounding percentage (percentage of available rebounds grabbed while a player is on the floor) of 25.2.
The Evanston, Illinois native does his best work on the offensive end where KenPom ranks his efforts at sixth in the nation with an offensive rebounding percentage of 17.9.
Maybe it’s hyperbole to compare Farr’s work on the offensive glass to feeding time at the nearby Cincinnati Zoo, but there is no questioning that he eats rebounds.
“He feels like he’s the best player on the floor,” Mack added. “In some ways because he’s really relished the fact of playing close to the basket rebounding being the first priority for him.”
Farr grabbed a career-high 19 boards in Xavier’s win over Marquette earlier this month. Two games later, he netted a career-high 24 points to go with 15 boards for his fourth double-double of the season. On the road Tuesday at No. 10 Providence, the 6-10 forward scored 11 points of 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in 18 minutes.
“Confidence as they say ‘is everything,’” Mack said. “As the season has moved along James continues to gain more and more each day, each practice, each game.”
“I think that’s allowed him to really play well early in the season and really make a huge impact for our team and really concentrate on just rebounding, defending and running the floor.”
Xavier plays at DePaul Saturday afternoon. A 2 p.m. tip off is slated. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
Away teams are 22-18 so far this season in Big East play.
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