Brimah's rebounding rate has gone from 10.2% as a sophomore to 12.6% last year to 14.4% so far this season. The idea that he was this major liability on the glass may have been credible in 2015, but since then it's been mostly a myth, especially now.
Another myth: he doesn't perform against quality competition. If you look at his game logs, there is hardly a discernible difference between his statistical output versus name schools as compared to cupcakes, and if anything, he's better against like-sized teams because he doesn't have to chase midgets on the perimeter.
Let's look at last year: 16, 8, and 5 against SMU, 10, 9, and 5 against Cincinnati, 6, 7 and 3 against Temple, 4, 7, and 5 against Colorado. The list didn't end there (7 boards in 18 minutes against Maryland, 5 boards in 16 minutes against Syracuse, 6 boards in 26 minutes against Gonzaga) but you get the point: his biggest problem is, and always has been, staying on the floor. When he's out there, he is typically very good.
Matter of fact, his first five games back from injury last year, he only grabbed a total of 9 rebounds. Clearly a sample of five games that distorted the larger progression.
Facts are, he's a lot closer to the player you've wanted him to be than you think. Offensively he's frustrating, no doubt, but his rim-running is still a plus and nobody claims to expect much on that end anyways. Things like "how can he only get five rebounds against a 6'6 kid!?!?" are way overblown, as is the idea that he gets beat often on defense. He's been our best player so far this season, probably by a significant margin, and if he continues to stay on the court he'll be our best player all season.
