Colorado State University Athletics
The Dish: Roddy the Starter is Here to Stay
1/4/2020 2:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Freshman puts up career-best 19 points, 13 rebounds in Border War win
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – There is no decision to be made, not when it comes to David Roddy.
As Adam Thistlewood draws closer to his return to the Colorado State lineup, it doesn't mean Roddy is headed back to the bench. No, his current four-game run has proven his time as a starter is valuable to the Rams.
"As you can see, David's going to continue to grow, but we've been a better team when he's out on the court when he's in these games," Medved said following Saturday's 72-61 Border War victory over Wyoming at Moby Arena.
Simply put, the true freshman out of Minnesota has been tremendous in a starting role. After three consecutive games with 17 points, he upped the ante to 19 against the Cowboys, pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds and blocking three shots.
He's posted a pair of double-doubles as a starter, and while the role was different for him, he's certainly adjusted.
"It's a little different, coming off the bench. We're energy guys coming off the bench, so now we have to start with that energy in the starting lineup, so I think that's the biggest change," Roddy said. "My game just progresses just being more comfortable on the floor."
He created it for himself and the team early. He pulled down a couple of offense rebounds and converted them into points, acting as if he couldn't care less the Cowboys were going to try to clog the paint. He scored the Rams' first seven points, getting them off to the start they needed in improving to 10-7 and picking up the first conference win (1-3).
He never slowed down. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, he's a physical specimen, and he could use that size to dominate as a prep, becoming Minnesota's Male Athlete of the Year as a finalist for the awards in football and basketball.
He admits there are times when the style isn't as effective, against certain players, but he has learned it will still serve him well at this level. Medved had no issues with his full-go mentality and his desire to mix it up down low.
But there is a time and place for everything, and Roddy understands he's still learning as much. As a coach, Medved would rather have to pull a player back and not have to prod him.
"We're still learning as a team, some of the time and score situations," Medved said. "Sometimes you want to go for an offensive rebound, but when David's in foul trouble – you know, he's got three late in the game – sometimes you have to let those ones go. He can't go and commit that fourth foul. Those are things he's still learning, where we want him to play with physicality, but sometimes you have to be smarter."
His classmate, Isaiah Stevens, has started every game this season, so he understands to some degree the expectations. He's played well at the point, scoring 17 himself in the victory. Just like he has done, he anticipates Roddy will continue to grow.
"It's definitely different than coming off the bench, I'm sure," Stevens said. "Everybody is looking at you to start the game off on the right foot, then everyone else can kinda come off of that, so it's a little more responsibility in that regard, but he's transitioned fine. That's my guy right there. He's playing well."
That's not an opinion, that's fact. Roddy has made his point. He's averaging 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in a starting role. When Thistlewood returns, Medved is confident Martin will embrace the role as a key figure off the bench.
So when Thistlewood returns, there's no decision to be made. He knows being a starter is important to players, but as a coach, he's more into who is finishing, and with Roddy on the floor at the tip, the Rams have been playing better.
As Adam Thistlewood draws closer to his return to the Colorado State lineup, it doesn't mean Roddy is headed back to the bench. No, his current four-game run has proven his time as a starter is valuable to the Rams.
"As you can see, David's going to continue to grow, but we've been a better team when he's out on the court when he's in these games," Medved said following Saturday's 72-61 Border War victory over Wyoming at Moby Arena.
Simply put, the true freshman out of Minnesota has been tremendous in a starting role. After three consecutive games with 17 points, he upped the ante to 19 against the Cowboys, pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds and blocking three shots.
He's posted a pair of double-doubles as a starter, and while the role was different for him, he's certainly adjusted.
"It's a little different, coming off the bench. We're energy guys coming off the bench, so now we have to start with that energy in the starting lineup, so I think that's the biggest change," Roddy said. "My game just progresses just being more comfortable on the floor."
He created it for himself and the team early. He pulled down a couple of offense rebounds and converted them into points, acting as if he couldn't care less the Cowboys were going to try to clog the paint. He scored the Rams' first seven points, getting them off to the start they needed in improving to 10-7 and picking up the first conference win (1-3).
He never slowed down. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, he's a physical specimen, and he could use that size to dominate as a prep, becoming Minnesota's Male Athlete of the Year as a finalist for the awards in football and basketball.
He admits there are times when the style isn't as effective, against certain players, but he has learned it will still serve him well at this level. Medved had no issues with his full-go mentality and his desire to mix it up down low.
But there is a time and place for everything, and Roddy understands he's still learning as much. As a coach, Medved would rather have to pull a player back and not have to prod him.
"We're still learning as a team, some of the time and score situations," Medved said. "Sometimes you want to go for an offensive rebound, but when David's in foul trouble – you know, he's got three late in the game – sometimes you have to let those ones go. He can't go and commit that fourth foul. Those are things he's still learning, where we want him to play with physicality, but sometimes you have to be smarter."
His classmate, Isaiah Stevens, has started every game this season, so he understands to some degree the expectations. He's played well at the point, scoring 17 himself in the victory. Just like he has done, he anticipates Roddy will continue to grow.
"It's definitely different than coming off the bench, I'm sure," Stevens said. "Everybody is looking at you to start the game off on the right foot, then everyone else can kinda come off of that, so it's a little more responsibility in that regard, but he's transitioned fine. That's my guy right there. He's playing well."
That's not an opinion, that's fact. Roddy has made his point. He's averaging 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in a starting role. When Thistlewood returns, Medved is confident Martin will embrace the role as a key figure off the bench.
So when Thistlewood returns, there's no decision to be made. He knows being a starter is important to players, but as a coach, he's more into who is finishing, and with Roddy on the floor at the tip, the Rams have been playing better.
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