2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman Matt Rogers: Something to build a team on
Ben Nielsen
Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Sports
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Freshman Matt Rogers learned something critical last Saturday night (Feb. 24): He is big.
I asked my roommate what he thought of Southwest Baptist's 108-89 victory over No. 23 Emporia State and he said the following: "Matt finally learned that he is a big man."
This is a very true statement. For those who went to the game, they would have been able to see the exact moment the freshman reached this conclusion. With approximately six minutes and 49 seconds remaining in the game, Rogers received the ball from senior Jared Young on the baseline near the basket. After becoming aware of his surroundings, Rogers noticed Emporia had decided to guard him with a two-foot tall guard (not really, but I have to further the legend), and the six-foot-11 center's eyes lit up.
As one witness put it, "It was as if Matt looked at the guy and was like, 'Um, no.'"
Rogers drove directly to the basket and threw down a half-windmill dunk over the ESU defender. From my vantage point, it appeared Rogers' arm reached, at its peak, nearly halfway up the backboard. Then again, I am the guy who said the guy guarding him was two-feet tall.
From that point on, Rogers had three of his five blocks and was a defensive juggernaut. One of his blocks resembled a volleyball spike and probably would have killed me had I been under the basket taking pictures like I should have been.
Rogers finished with 17 points, four rebounds and five blocks in only 17 minutes of play. Seventeen minutes. He officially ended the regular season averaging 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.85 blocks per game while only averaging 19 minutes of playing time. What is this kid going to do when he is playing 30 minutes a game?
What everyone witnessed Saturday was a dominate center in the making. What Rogers has figured out is something that his predecessors Frans Steyn and Chris Schulze could not: how to be physical.
Steyn was so big, it sometimes appeared he was more physical than he was playing. At times he was very lethargic and slow. Schulze was a less talented version of Steyn.
I asked my roommate what he thought of Southwest Baptist's 108-89 victory over No. 23 Emporia State and he said the following: "Matt finally learned that he is a big man."
This is a very true statement. For those who went to the game, they would have been able to see the exact moment the freshman reached this conclusion. With approximately six minutes and 49 seconds remaining in the game, Rogers received the ball from senior Jared Young on the baseline near the basket. After becoming aware of his surroundings, Rogers noticed Emporia had decided to guard him with a two-foot tall guard (not really, but I have to further the legend), and the six-foot-11 center's eyes lit up.
As one witness put it, "It was as if Matt looked at the guy and was like, 'Um, no.'"
Rogers drove directly to the basket and threw down a half-windmill dunk over the ESU defender. From my vantage point, it appeared Rogers' arm reached, at its peak, nearly halfway up the backboard. Then again, I am the guy who said the guy guarding him was two-feet tall.
From that point on, Rogers had three of his five blocks and was a defensive juggernaut. One of his blocks resembled a volleyball spike and probably would have killed me had I been under the basket taking pictures like I should have been.
Rogers finished with 17 points, four rebounds and five blocks in only 17 minutes of play. Seventeen minutes. He officially ended the regular season averaging 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.85 blocks per game while only averaging 19 minutes of playing time. What is this kid going to do when he is playing 30 minutes a game?
What everyone witnessed Saturday was a dominate center in the making. What Rogers has figured out is something that his predecessors Frans Steyn and Chris Schulze could not: how to be physical.
Steyn was so big, it sometimes appeared he was more physical than he was playing. At times he was very lethargic and slow. Schulze was a less talented version of Steyn.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Sandee McMillin
posted 3/02/07 @ 8:20 AM CST
Good article....great guy!
John Stillwagon
posted 3/02/07 @ 9:16 AM CST
What impresses me most about Matt is that he chose SBU over some D1 schools because he wanted to be at a Christian school where he could be involved in the Lord's work. (Continued…)
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