STrib: Gophers' Williams still looking to unleash the star within

[BleedGopher]

per Amelia:


What happened?

“You’ll have to ask him that,” Gophers coach Tubby Smith said. “Because it’s the same offense. Same everything. … We run offenses for him. He’s logging a lot of minutes. He’s getting plenty of opportunities. … He’s worked on things that he had to improve on. So I think it’s probably something that he has to answer within himself.”

“I’ve been going back to worrying about the bad things that are going on with my game and not really playing to my potential,” he said. “I’ve just got to go out there and play my game, try to have fun.”

“It helps if you really have a guy that can take over a game, and I don’t know that we have that particular guy,” Smith said. “I mean, I’m sure he’s there, but I’d like to see him surface.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/199471141.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!

 

[Bad Gopher]

I reckon it's tough to coach an enigma.

I feel bad criticizing Williams. My neice went to high school at Cooper, and she speaks of him in the highest terms. A great dude, very kind and respectful. But kind of maddening seeing what he's proven capable of doing, just not with consistency or regularity.

 

[UofMdad]

Good read and insight. At some point, the coach and staff can only do so much. The player has to take his game to the next level, so hopefully Rodney will find his inner beast during the Dance.

 

[Roland Brooks]

How about tomorrow Rodney?

When you post up on the block and spin baseline use your left hand. When you use your right you are bringing the ball to the defender and helping them block your shot.

 

[gopherMD]

It was frustrating to see him get stripped in the paint, not finish at the rim and watch him spectate as Coleman's pass went by him. I hope he comes to play tomorrow.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I love Rodney. Great guy, extremely likable, down to earth, and a good representative of the U. Unfortunately, he just never turned in to what could have been. I'm still proud to call him a Gopher, though.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Agree... appears to be a great person in the end that is important.

 

[ruppertflywheel]

How about tomorrow Rodney?

When you post up on the block and spin baseline use your left hand. When you use your right you are bringing the ball to the defender and helping them block your shot.

Great point Roland. I noticed the same thing.

 

[cncmin]

I reckon it's tough to coach an enigma.

I feel bad criticizing Williams. My neice went to high school at Cooper, and she speaks of him in the highest terms. A great dude, very kind and respectful. But kind of maddening seeing what he's proven capable of doing, just not with consistency or regularity.

Honestly, I know we've been pretty harsh on Tubby this year, but Rodney's inconsistency has got to be extremely difficult to coach, and what was Tubby supposed to do with him? Sit him? Besides being an amazing athlete, Rodney's a good guy too. Of all the things I am critical of with Tubby, THIS situation is one in which I have full empathy.

Some enigmas make or break coaches. Gray did the same to Brewster, IMO. The end of the story has yet to be told but Williams' career may break Tubby at the U.

 

[howieramone]

Honestly, I know we've been pretty harsh on Tubby this year, but Rodney's inconsistency has got to be extremely difficult to coach, and what was Tubby supposed to do with him? Sit him? Besides being an amazing athlete, Rodney's a good guy too. Of all the things I am critical of with Tubby, THIS situation is one in which I have full empathy.

Some enigmas make or break coaches. Gray did the same to Brewster, IMO. The end of the story has yet to be told but Williams' career may break Tubby at the U.

+1 I don't believe you can coach away senioritis.

 

[The-Real-Truth]

Honestly, I know we've been pretty harsh on Tubby this year, but Rodney's inconsistency has got to be extremely difficult to coach, and what was Tubby supposed to do with him? Sit him? Besides being an amazing athlete, Rodney's a good guy too. Of all the things I am critical of with Tubby, THIS situation is one in which I have full empathy.

Some enigmas make or break coaches. Gray did the same to Brewster, IMO. The end of the story has yet to be told but Williams' career may break Tubby at the U.

Very very good post. I said this a few weeks ago that Tubby is loyal to his assistants and his players. If I were him, I would have not red-shirted Buggs. Rod needed to be benched right after the Michigan's game. We could have had some competition for playing time. As you said, what could Tubby do other than relying on his players. There is only so much a coach can do. Thank you.

Go Gophers