There have been several guesses at starting lineups that do not include Ty Rodgers. I find it hard to imagine that being the case, and I even wonder if Coach has given him a guarantee that he'll start.
I'm sure the topic came up at his '23-24 season exit interview, and I'm sure Coach leveled with him. And if no guarantee was given, I think TR probably would have entered, as he doesn't strike me as someone who would accept coming off the bench after starting 100% of games on an E8 team with two NBA prospects.
Plus, I think Coach views him through a similar lens as he viewed Damonte, which going into '24-25 would be that, yes, we're giving up some offense, but the experience, the toughness, the rebounding like a fiend, the leadership, etc. outweighs that -- we'll find ways to score, but we need my guy on the court.
#Led the Illini and ranked ninth in the Big Ten with 87 offensive rebounds.