T-Bone wrote:
Found this to be a pretty interesting article on Ty Rodgers...
When the last-second news broke that Illinois junior swingman Ty Rodgers would redshirt the 2024-25 season, speculation immediately turned to 1) why and 2) whether the team's most experienced returner would actually return to Champaign at all.
Rodgers' was supposedly an odd man out. The Illini were starting over. His game was a poor fit for coach Brad Underwood's new offensive style. He would surely sour on riding the bench and watching a collection of youngsters and transfers fill what should have been his minutes.
And with college basketball's transfer portal doors flung wide open and the draw of NIL money and greener-grass opportunities on other campuses now tugging on players across the country, Rodgers was thought by many to be a goner after this season.
But perhaps not.
During Illinois' 91-52 shellacking of Penn State at the State Farm Center on Wednesday, Big Ten Network sideline reporter Andy Katz shared details he had reported of Rodgers' situation on the game broadcast:
"Rodgers decided on his own to redshirt," Katz said midway through the first half. "Why? Because he really wanted to work on his game to adapt to this new position of playing the point. They don't expect [Kasparas Jakucionis] to be back next season. Obviously, he's a likely [NBA Draft] lottery pick.
"So if [Rodgers is] going to try to be much more of a true point guard, he wanted to work on that craft. You don't see that in today's era – someone voluntarily saying, 'You know what, I would rather stay, redshirt and work on my game to be a better player next year."
Rodgers has already been working with Illinois strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher to get leaner and emphasize quickness, according to Underwood. If, with his experience and skill set, Rodgers is able to return next season also as a more polished facilitator and distributor, his experience and defense alone at the point guard position would make him a huge "addition" – particularly if Jakucionis leaves as expected.
What has stood out as much as anything has been Rodgers' continued contributions and demeanor in the meantime. He heads the scout team in practices and serves as an unofficial player/coach. He is routinely engaged during games, at work with younger players, smiling and actively rooting on teammates from the bench. He admirably represents the program and university in the community.
I never understood why Underwood didn't try and make him a Point Forward from the very beginning. I saw him in high school and it was clear that if he was going to be a good college player, it was going to be as a point forward type. Though he had shooting limitations I always felt that his game could translate if the made him a point. He was a natural if he didn't turn it over. He was very unselfish as a High School player. Which you don't see much in high school these days. He was a jack of all trades who was dominating games even without scoring.
I hope it works out for him.
_________________
Darkside wrote:
I've seen hundreds of dicks in my life.
This Ends in Antioch wrote:
You get moist for Caleb when you watch college football
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