Des Moines, Iowa — Look no further than the trenches for a potential deciding factor in Thursday's NCAA tournament tussle between UConn and Colorado.

Colorado specializes in rebounding. The Buffaloes have stampeded opponents under the basket, ranking fourth in the nation at 42.4 boards per game.

"We're going to have to rebound and that's the one thing they do great," UConn coach Kevin Ollie said during Wednesday's press conference at the Wells Fargo Arena. The ninth-seeded Huskies play No. 8 Colorado in the first round of the South Regional at 1:30 p.m.

The Buffaloes also own the second-best rebound margin (plus 8.9) in the Pac-12. Second-chance points are an important source of offense for them ... and frustration for opponents.

"It's very important to our success," Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. "Rebounding and defense is something we stress on a daily basis."

Boyle has created a rebounding competition with his players, challenging them to be selfish in that area.

They've responded. All-Pac 12 first-team selection Josh Scott, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward, is averaging a team-best 8.7 rebounds while 6-9 forward Wesley Gordon is next at 7.6. Three others haul down at least four per game.

"We try to get them thinking about the rebounding aspect of the game, because when we do it and our guards do it, we're really, really good," Boyle said. "I think one of the keys with UConn is you've got to limit them to one shot and we have to get long rebounds."

Rebounding also is key to UConn's success. The Huskies are 19-2 when outrebounding opponents this season.

"We have to make an extra effort to hit first every time the shot goes up, make sure we make first contact and then go get the ball," UConn forward Shonn Miller said.

Fortune familiar with UConn

Colorado guard Josh Fortune is familiar with UConn from his days at Providence. He spent two seasons at PC before transferring to Colorado and sitting out last season. Fortune started all 35 games for the Friars in 2013-14, helping them win the Big East tournament title and qualify for the NCAA tournament. He averaged 8.4 points and 2.1 assists.

"A lot of things went into it," Fortune said of his reason for leaving PC. "The main thing was trying to expand my game in every aspect and not be confined to one thing."

Fortune played against UConn in 2012-13. The Huskies won both meetings in overtime.

"My freshman year I played against them when they had Shabazz (Napier) and (Ryan) Boatright), two great guards," Fortune said. "They've always had good guards. They have good guards this year also. ... It's going to be a dogfight for us."

Fortune, a 6-5 guard, is third on the team in scoring at 10.4 points. He's appeared in 33 games, starting 17. He's scored in double figures in eight of last nine games.

He's still stays in touch with some of his former Friar teammates, including New London's Kris Dunn. "I came in with Kris Dunn, so we keep in contact," Fortune said. "He's a had a great year. He could always play. It's good to see him get to this level."

Smart move

Sterling Gibbs and Shonn Miller came to UConn after earning undergraduate degrees from Seton Hall and Cornell, respectively, with hopes of playing in the NCAA tournament. Now they're relishing their opportunity.

"I always knew this was the place and to be here now is great," Miller said. "But, like Sterling said, we just don't want to be here, we want to make a deep run."

Gibbs went to the NCAA tournament in 2012 during his one season at Texas but didn't play.

"My first year when I came here with Texas it was a little different experience, because I wasn't too much into it," Gibbs said. "But now just to really be a part of it and be part of these guys for my last year and guys that I really care about and I really cherish, it really feels good."

News and notes

Playing in the NCAA tournament never gets old for Groton native Glen Miller, UConn's associate head coach. "I've been to quite a few, I like it. I'm at a place where it's expected every year. It's a good thing." ... During their open workout, the Huskies had fun trying to re-create Jalen Adams' miracle shot versus Cincinnati. Nobody came close. Even Adams missed, banging his attempt high off the backboard. ... Only five Huskies have played in NCAA tournament games — Amida Brimah (six), Phil Nolan (six), Omar Calhoun (two), Kentan Facey (one), Rodney Purvis (one at N.C. State). Only Brimah and Nolan saw considerable action, the rest combined for just 17 minutes. ... Colorado director of operations Bill Cartun graduated from Avon High School in 2000, earned a masters degree in sports management from UConn in 2007, and was a graduate student assistant for the Huskies. "Bill is a big asset to Colorado basketball," Boyle said.

g.keefe@theday.com