Junior guard/forward Ty Rodgers was Illinois’ glue guy last season. Starting all 38 games, Rodgers did the dirty work. He led the team in offensive rebounds averaging 2.3 per game, played tough defense and executed any role asked of him.

Last year’s team was old and experienced. Terrence Shannon, Marcus Domask and Quincy Guerrier were all in their fifth season of college basketball, and Coleman Hawkins was in his fourth. Rodgers, after a tough up-and-down freshman year, found his role with these guys and was able to impact the game in multiple ways.

This season, however, Rodgers is one of only two returning scholarship players. This makes him one of the most experienced members of the roster. He is now the leader of a program on an upward trend, and he is more than ready to get going.

“I think from the beginning they (Illinois coaches) made it very transparent that this is my team, and I’m gonna be the leader of this team,” Rodgers said.

The coaching staff has worked with Rodgers for a while now. They have the ultimate confidence in him to be a role model for every newcomer to Champaign, especially the freshmen.

“Ty is extremely popular,” said head coach Brad Underwood. “He is very likable. Not just by his teammates and the coaches but by the people in the community, the fans. People see that. Ty’s voice is loud, but his actions are also just as loud and the way that he conducts himself. But Ty is a rockstar as a human being, as a leader. He’s taken that role on and said, ‘jump on my back.’”

Rodgers is the only returning starter from last year’s roster. Transfer juniors Tre White and Kylan Boswell, as well as transfer fifth-year Ben Humrichous, all have experience, too, but Rodgers’ role as the leader of the team is not solely based on basketball. He’s been a part of Underwood’s program for the longest, and he knows the mentality and energy players need to have in order to succeed at Illinois.

“My two years prior here has definitely helped me be ready for this moment,” Rodgers said. “Just taking stuff from those two years of what I learned and just bringing it to this team. Just helping these guys get used to Coach Brad and get adjusted to how he moves as fast as possible is a huge thing. You know, just being available for the guys when they have questions and also allowing them to get on me as well.”

Rodgers will be there to help his teammates, but in his eyes, the Illini are already primed for success despite a new group of players and personalities. After last season’s Elite Eight run, the expectations for the program are high. Rodgers believes this year could be even better, especially with the roster’s versatility.

“From top to bottom, this team is more talented than the roster we had last year,” Rodgers said. “I think a lot of the things that we did with Marcus and TJ as far as matchup hunting, we’re gonna be able to do that this year, except with one through ten. I think everybody on our roster has very unique skills and unique assets.”

With all the talent that the Illini have accumulated this offseason, there have been questions about rotations and playing time. Multiple players on the roster can play multiple positions, and a tighter rotation could push certain players to the bench more often than expected. Rodgers, however, maturely dismissed the questions regarding playing time and focused on team success over individual worries.

“We know the minutes are gonna lay out however we perform at practice,” Rodgers said. “I think everybody’s fully aware on how that works. To be honest, I don’t think anybody on this team is worried about not playing enough. We’re worried about winning.”

Despite being a leader on a relatively young team, Rodgers hasn’t stopped improving his own game to become a more multifaceted player. Rodgers did not shoot a single three-pointer last year, with most of his scoring coming around the basket. However, this summer, Rodgers has been working on his jump shot tirelessly in an effort to add another weapon to his arsenal.

“I’ve been putting the work in. I know it’s gonna come,” Rodgers said. “Everybody’s process is different, and I’m fully bought into mine. It’s gonna come, and when it does, I’ve got something for everybody.”

Boswell, who transferred to Illinois in the offseason, has been extremely impressed with Rodgers’ focus on improvement.

“One of the most skilled 6’6” dudes I’ve ever played against, for sure,” Boswell said. “Great defender, great athlete. The way he can handle the ball when he gets to any move he wants to get to. And for all y’all down there talking, he’s been working on that jump shot every day. I watch him. It’s very motivating for myself seeing someone just continuously try to get better at their craft.”

With rebounding, defense, facilitating and now shooting, Rodgers could be a legitimate NBA player if he connects the final piece of the puzzle. But he’s not worried about himself right now. Rodgers wants to win. When the dust settles, he wants his team to be on top in March.

“Everybody has one common goal, and that’s to win and to be in San Antonio (for the Final Four) at the end of the year,” Rodgers said.

To do that, the Illini will have to form a cohesive unit and generate the same team chemistry they had last year. It all starts with Rodgers’ leadership.

“Becoming a vet now, he (Rodgers) already has those attributes that I’m trying to gain for myself. Being more vocal and stuff like that,” Boswell said about his new teammate. “I know throughout the season, any person I need to lean on will be Ty Rodgers, for sure.” 

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