ANAHEIM, Calif. -- BYU is coming off a game in which it was battered in the category of offensive rebounding.

Yes, missing shots and getting second and third ones.

It's perhaps the biggest issue of the first-round NCAA Tournament game between No. 8 BYU (27-7) and the ninth-seeded Aggies (24-10) at 5:25 p.m. MT (CBS).

The Aggies have recorded 16 or more offensive rebounds seven times. BYU's practices, since finding out their opponent Sunday, have focused on making sure the Cougars have it in their heads that boxing out is a must -- not a wish.

"Our players understand that," assistant coach Dave Rice said.

While BYU doesn't plan on succumbing to the lineups of the Aggies, Rice said there could be times the Cougars play bigger lineups to ensure more success.

"They're relentless on the offensive glass and their guards are capable of really getting going, and lighting it up from the outside as well," BYU center Trent Plaisted said.

Last Saturday, in the Mountain West Conference championship game, UNLV had a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounding that played a big role in the Rebels' victory.

BYU coach Dave Rose thought A&M was a lot like Mountain West Conference member TCU, except deeper and more physical.

Joseph Jones is a 6-foot-9 senior who averages about five rebounds. Seven-footer DeAndre Jordan, who battled food poisoning last week, is around six boards.

"They've got five really good post players," Rose said. "DeAndre is really, really long and Jones has got a lot of experience and is extremely physical. ... Their post presence on the floor at all times will be an issue with our team.

A&M coach Mark Turgeon is worried about BYU's outside game. The Cougars set a school record this year with 3-pointers made, and that tendency hasn't escaped him in a few days of video watching.

"Transition defense and guarding the 3-point line is everything," Turgeon said.

While BYU hit a stride in January, Turgeon said playing the Cougars then would've been a lost cause.

"We wouldn't have won," he said. "But we've had to adjust, get used to quicker and shorter teams that shoot the ball well."

A&M doesn't come in rolling, having lost six of its last 10 games. But three of those defeats come to Kansas and Texas, where are No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively, in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 8 BYU (27-7) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (24-10)

5:25 p.m. MT, Honda Center; Anaheim, Calif. (18,500)

Radio: KSL 1160 AM (102.7 FM)

TV: CBS (Ch. 2)

Tip-ins: BYU has not won in the NCAA Tournament since 1993, losing its last five tries. Third-year coach Dave Rose is 0-2 in the postseason (NIT 2006, NCAA 2007). ... Six-foot-7 guard-forward Josh Carter leads A&M in scoring (11.9 ppg) and 6-9 senior forward Joseph Jones is at 10.4. ... The game will be called by Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas.