Bruce Weber and Kansas State are now on the market for a new point guard as Angel Rodriguez will transfer from Kansas State, the university announced Monday evening.
Rodriguez, who was the primary ball-handler for the Wildcats last season, averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds, with Kansas State bowing out in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament to LaSalle.
The sophomore had been a consistent offensive threat for Kansas State, averaging 8.3 points and 3.2 assists as a freshman under Frank Martin, who left for the South Carolina job last offseason.
This really hurts Weber. Not only does this mean there will be a new starting point guard for the Wildcats next season, but they’ll have to replace another scoring threat in the backcourt. Kansas State is already losing Rodney MacGruder. Though they do return shooter Will Spradling and Shane Southwell, who may have to assume some of the point guard duties next season. Kansas State did recently sign three-star point guard Nigel Johnson for next season, so the blow was softened a bit.
Rodriguez was a Martin guy. A Miami (where he prepped) and Puerto Rico (where he’d originally from) product that Martin brought to Manhattan when not a ton of schools were on him to begin with. He obviously he had his reasons for leaving, stating that his departure “had nothing to do with Kansas State” and was family-motivated.
The sad thing is that Rodriguez’s final image for some Kansas State fans will be his ill-advised shot from nearly behind the backboard with time running down against LaSalle in the NCAA Tournament. He finished with just two points and four assists, three turnovers and four fouls in that game.
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