At 7-foot-4, Christ Koumadje brings an enormous wingspan, great shot blocking ability and an efficient secondary offensive weapon. Where Koumadje’s presence has been most felt however is on the glass.
In two ACC games prior to Koumadje’s return, the Seminoles were outrebounded by 11 boards per game. In the five games since his return, FSU has outrebounded foes by a total of 56 boards – an average of 11.2 per game.
Of Koumadje’s 31 rebounds since returning, 17 have been on the offensive glass. As a result, the Seminoles are now tied with North Carolina and Notre Dame for the ACC lead in offensive rebounds per game in conference at 15.7.
Unexpected result
Given Koumadje’s size, length and ability to alter shots, one would think that the biggest difference he’s made would have been on the defensive end, but so far, that hasn’t been the case. In the five games since his return, FSU opponents are shooting 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep.
That’s a much higher percentage than the 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc that the Seminoles are allowing for the season. Of course, most of that was against sub-par competition. But even in the first two conference games against Duke and North Carolina, the Seminoles held foes to 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from downtown.
While the defense was better statistically prior to Koumadje’s return, his presence on the glass has offset that. In the two games against the Blue Devils and Tar Heels, the Seminoles gave up an average of 20 offensive rebounds or 40 total. In the five games since, FSU has allowed just 42 total offensive rebounds or an average of 8.4 per game.
Since returning, Koumadje is averaging 9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 64 percent. That’s better than his season averages of 8.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and field goal percentage of 62 percent.
If Koumadje can maintain either his current statistical averages or his better averages since returning, it would be the best season for an FSU center since Bernard James averaged 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks during the 2011-12 season. The Seminoles went on to win the ACC that season. James went on to be selected 33rd overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Read more: Terance Mann plays at an All-ACC level for Florida State