With just an hour left until the end of the 2024-25 season, the Illinois basketball team reported bad news.

Coming into the new season, the Illini had filled the roster from top to bottom with some incredible talent. Brad Underwood had to put this team together since all but two scholarship players left the Elite 8 run we saw in March.

Those two returning scholarship players were Ty Rodgers and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. These two decided to return to Champaign for another season, this time to help push this team even further. Well, that run didn't last long.

On Monday night, numerous media outlets reported that the Illini had lost Rodgers. No, it wasn't an injury. It was a red shirt. Rodgers has decided to redshirt this season.

This news is a bit shocking. The fact that Rodgers decided to come back was significant for the program. He was a solid utility player for Underwood's squad, but now he has decided to opt out for this season and continue to develop his game.

My first thought when the Rodgers news broke was: Is this the last we'll see of Rodgers in Illinois?

I understand that he wants to develop, but Rodgers is not a newbie. It's not exactly the first year he needs more help. This kid just finished his second season where he started all 38 games for an Elite 8 team.

This is pure speculation, but the redshirt signals to me that Rodgers is done with the Illini. He saves a year of eligibility and will return with a different program in 2025-26

Rodgers is coming off his best year in which he averaged 6.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Illinois brought in a lot of talent this offseason, and after the exhibition game against Ole Miss, it was pretty clear that Rodgers wouldn't be in the starting lineup.

But what does Rodgers say about the start of next season? Illinois will lose players after the 2024-25 season, but you can expect Underwood and his coaching staff to be in full swing next offseason.

I don't know, but this one feels like Rodgers was done in Champaign. Regardless, I wish the child only the best for the future.