The 2017-18 college basketball season is quickly approaching, and thus, we turn our attention to previewing the upcoming Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball season.

As you may have noticed, we’ve got a few new voices here on the site since the school year started. We’re going to take advantage of that and do something new for the season preview. We’ve got a stacked up list of questions about the 2017-18 campaign, and each of the new contributors to AE are going to take a crack at answering them. There will be a new question every weekday afternoon between now and the start of the season, so be sure to stop back every day to find the new one.

Onwards, then, to the question of the day:

Who will lead Marquette in rebounding this season?

For context purposes, Sam Hauser (5.0 rebounds per game), Haanif Cheatham (3.8), and Matt Heldt (2.9) are Marquette’s three leading returning rebounders from last season.

Ben Snider: I’m going to interpret rebounding as rebounding percentage over raw rebounds per game as I am very much on Team #ReboundingMarginIsNotAThing (S/O to J.B. Bauer. Great Twitter follow). I think it’ll end up being Matt Heldt, mostly because he’s the only reasonable option I’ve seen extended minutes of. I thought he was a lot more sure-handed as the last year progressed and he positions himself well. I do think it’ll end up being close since there will be multiple capable rebounders on the floor as opposed to just Luke Fischer or Heldt being in the paint after the shot goes up.

Pistol Brad: I might be in the minority here but I think that Theo John will end up as the leading rebounder this year. Theo has the strength and wingspan to make up for his slightly below average height for a center (I am anticipating Theo to play mostly center this year). I think he will use his big body to move guys out of the lane and his wingspan to rebound out of his area, which no one on the team could really do last year. Even though I think John will end up as the leading rebounder, rebounding will be a group effort this year and I could easily see four guys averaging five or more boards per game.

NHammertime: This one was a little bit easier than the scoring question for me. It’s Sam Hauser. He averaged 5 boards per game as a freshman, which is a pretty big accomplishment. Sam just has a knack for finding the ball and hauling it in. [Editor’s note: Hauser grabbed the game-winning rebound against Villanova last season. People forget that.] Another offseason of training in the weight room should only increase his rebounding total this year. Theo John could be a sleeper pick here if he earns enough minutes. That dude looks like he eats rebounds for breakfast.

Besay: This one’s a tough decision considering how many BIG men Marquette now have on the roster. Seven MU players are 6’7” or taller. However, Matt Heldt showed sparks of brilliance when after the late season lineup switch and had that memorable double-double (15 pts, 10 reb) against St. John’s in February.

CLagore: None other than Neenah's own Matt Heldt. He'll most certainly be Marquette's total rebounds leader since Harry Froling won't be eligible until late December, but I also think he'll have the highest per-game numbers. Heldt is a tough dude, and as he saw more time on the floor last year, he developed quite a bit in terms of positioning against some pretty solid Big East big men. Plus, like almost everyone else on this team, Froling will be able to step out and shoot it when he wants to.

Broadway Brown: I think the rebound numbers will be spread throughout the team. I think Harry Froling, Theo John, Matt Heldt and Sam Hauser all have an opportunity to lead the team. With Harry Froling sitting out until December, I think the young Theo John will step in and lead in bounds.