During a Big Ten broadcast earlier Saturday afternoon on ESPN, a graphic popped up showing the top-scoring sibling duos in college basketball.
Fourth on the list was Kansas University junior Rodrick Stewart and his twin brother, USC sniper Lodrick, combining for 15.1 points per game.
Entering KU’s 89-52 victory Saturday over Iowa State in Allen Fieldhouse, KU’s half of that relationship had been averaging less than one point of the combined average. And after playing a season-high 16 minutes against the Cyclones, that contribution didn’t grow much.
But that wasn’t Stewart’s focus going in.
“I wasn’t really worried about shooting,” he said. “I wasn’t even trying to go out there and score. It was just an opportunity regardless to step up to the plate.”
With junior guard Russell Robinson seated at the end of the bench in a navy-blue sweater and slacks, nursing a sprained right foot, Stewart was the top candidate to take over for the defensive presence Robinson typically brings as KU’s resident “glue guy.”
Stewart’s final line included two points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal – a little bit of everything. Most important, though, was his defensive work on Iowa State’s top scorer, Mike Taylor, who scored 21 points on KU the first time the two teams met.
Saturday – guarded primarily by Mario Chalmers, who was spelled by Stewart – Taylor was held to seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and was forced into a team-high six turnovers.
“We knew we had a big matchup against (Taylor),” KU freshman Darrell Arthur said. “We put Rod on him. We knew Rod was a good defender, and we knew we could depend on him to go out there and get stops.”
Facing an opposing team’s top scorer wasn’t much of a stretch for Stewart, though, who said he was as ready as anyone could be for the challenge.
“I feel like I can guard anybody. I’m in practice guarding some of the best players every day,” he said. “I practice with them every day, so it just feels good to be in front of the crowd and hear the screams.”
Stewart’s work did not go unnoticed.
“He’s always a high-energy guy, even in transition. When we get steals, he’s good at running the floor and getting back,” sophomore forward Julian Wright said. “It helps everyone pressure more when we have guys who come in and not lose a step like Rod.”
