Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Lodrick top Stewart

Trojan wins battle, Jayhawk wins war

By Ryan Greene

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KU vs USC

At 6:25 p.m. Monday night, the whole cute brother-vs.-brother storyline turned into straight business.

That was the last time Kansas University junior guard Rodrick Stewart exchanged pleasantries with his twin brother, Southern Cal senior sharpshooter Lodrick Stewart, prior to Monday's KU-USC game.

While the two are identical in every possible way except for the body art on their arms, their stat lines couldn't have been any different.

Lodrick played 31 minutes, hit five three-pointers - each of which seemed to come at perfect moments - and finished with a game-high 23 points.

Rodrick played only three minutes - all in the first half - and missed his lone shot attempt of the night, registering just one assist.

But Rodrick got the stat that mattered most to him - a 72-62 victory in Allen Fieldhouse.

"It was good to see my brother have the good game, but I'm glad we did get the win, because I didn't want him to come in here and win in the fieldhouse," Rodrick said. "Then he'd really have something to talk about."

Lodrick's actions spoke louder Monday than those of just about any other player to suit up for what was a gritty, foul-filled defensive battle.

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2006-07 Dec. 4 KU-USC Hoops

"I knew he was gonna come out and play like that," said Rodrick, who after exchanging a hug with his brother following the national anthem kept his eyes on No. 3 in maroon-and-gold most of the night from his bench seat. "I don't want to say it in a way that he takes it personal, but he came in trying to prove he could play with anybody. He feels like he can't miss anytime he steps on the court."

Rodrick made him miss once - late in the first half when he got the opportunity to defend his mirror image. Rodrick stifled a Lodrick crossover move just outside the three-point arc, shutting down a potential drive down the paint before it began.

"I know every move he's ever thought about doing before he even does it," Rodrick said. "Like before halftime when I tried to steal the ball, I knew the move he was going to do."

KU coach Bill Self said he wished he would have given Rodrick more minutes, especially with the twins' father, Bull Stewart, in attendance from Seattle.

Self joked afterward that playing Rodrick more might not be a bad idea to have a shot down the road at recruiting Bull's younger twin sons, Hikeem and Kadeem.

"I don't know if you know this, but their father, Bull, I don't know if he's like a seven-time world-champion powerlifter," Self said. "He's got another set of twins who are in sixth or seventh grade that are better athletes than these two. Whatever he's doing, I'd like to get some of it."

Check out more on KU's win over USC

Comments

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

To bad Rodrick can't shoot like Lodrick or hw would have made Rush a bench warmer long ago. I hat e to say this but KU misses Downs shooting touch. Don't know whether his massive immaturilty and ego would not have screwed it al lup anyway, but he could shoot the rock. KU definately does need someone that can consistently put it up from 16-18 feet and out. They had a million looks last night against USC and eventually gave up on even attempting them. They shot this padly and got worse as thegame went on .... very similar tothe 2nd half of DePaul game. Don't know if htye are tired or just got lucky at begining of these games.

December 5, 2006 at 6:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wiltstilt (anonymous) says...

I have a feeling Rodrick would shoot like Lodrick if he were playing against Kansas.

December 5, 2006 at 10:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DBK (anonymous) says...

Micah would have been nice, but the guy I really miss is Alex Galindo. He seemed like a genuinely good kid and actually seemed conflicted about transferring to be closer to home. Oh yeah, and he had a pretty good outside shot, too.

December 5, 2006 at 12:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

justdoit23 (anonymous) says...

Did we get the right Stewart??

haha

December 5, 2006 at 12:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bulldawgs (anonymous) says...

HCBS said he should have played the walk ons in the Dartmouth game...he then says he should have played Rodrick more last night...seems like two huge gaffs in a week...

I can understand that bill is busy, but a 50 point game for dartmouth...don't the assistants have any pull? Gee, last night's game was the Lod vs. Rod game...hey I bet that Bull even spoke with Self sometime on Monday...

December 5, 2006 at 2:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jamestoo (anonymous) says...

why would bill say stuff like i should have played the walk ons against dartmouth and rodrick more against lodrick,doesn't he know there are on the same bench with him. i would keep that to myself.

December 5, 2006 at 2:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Rock_Chalker (anonymous) says...

Why is that Rodrick doesn't get very many minutes? I mean is the kid that bad of a player? I thought he was pretty good and that's why Self got him to transfer here. I don't get it. What am I missing? The kids got a great attitude though...he said in a previous article that he doesn't regret coming to KU. Kudos to him, seeing how he could probably be getting some serious minutes had he stayed at USC and he's not getting a lot of mintues here. Glad we've got a team player. I just wish he'd get some opportunities to play. I know he's gotta be able to play.

December 5, 2006 at 9:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

I agree that those are some strange comments Self has made about playing people more. I find the Dartmouth game especially puzzling, since everyone in the world knew it would be a blowout ahead of time. In fact, Self has had a tendency over his time here to play the starters WAY too long. Let's just hope it never comes back to hurt us with a major injury late in a 30-point blowout. That's a good comment about his assistants; why didn't any of THEM mention something?

As for wiltstilt, that's a really bizarre thing to say, given that KU has one of the best defenses in the country. Just because one player had a good shooting night doesn't mean that his brother would have as well. Are you saying that KU is that weak on defense?

December 6, 2006 at 8:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

I am intrigued by the Rodrick story--does anyone else think Rodrick should get more PT?? If he truly knows every move his brother has and vice versa, that would have maybe neutralized Lodrick to some degree. Guys, maybe if we gave Rodrick some pt, then we could adequately judge his game. We already know he is a good defender, oh, and in just a few precious minutes of PT in the Dartmouth "game", he hit 2 3s. I think both he and his brother can play, from the past history. He had to have been frustrated on the bench watching Lodrick out there on the court. Support your player guys. I want him to get more PT. We need to develop confidence in what he can do--what if, god forbid, one of the starting guards gets hurt?

December 6, 2006 at 10:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Newsflash! Just looked at the stat page--guess who has the best 3pt percentage so far this year--Rodrick at 42.9%! And that is coming off the bench COLD--says something about his shooting mechanics and form, or at least makes you wonder... The next closest is 40%. Why dont we turn him loose and see what he does?

December 7, 2006 at 12:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Our backcourt isn't missing anybody do to injuries or getting kicked off the team, hence the desire of Self to try him in the frontcourt. There's just not enough minutes to go around. I like him too, but I don't like him more than Chalmers, Robinson or Collins. We haven't really got to see much of Morningstar, either.... which I'd really like to.

Any more minutes Stewart COULD be getting that he's not... would likely have to do with his other weaknesses or inexperience as a post player... and the fact that we're not beating up on the "weak" part of our schedule.

December 7, 2006 at 8:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Yeah, I agree PT is hard to come by for the bench 9th player (Rodrick) on downwards. I just feel for him because of the story. This takes nothing away from Russell and Mario, who are in a class by themselves and complement each other greatly, because they differ a bit in their respective game skills. The two together really are one of the best backcourts in the country. Just like Miles and Hinrich were together. A difference now is that Russell has more offensive hops than Miles did, which is keeping Aaron from the NBA.The one player on the team whose consistency has just shined this year is Mario--we simply would find it astonishing to suggest HE be that "scoring leader" when we have such talent at the 3,4,5 positions...

December 7, 2006 at 10:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )