Stewart visits USC with a purpose

Rodrick Stewart is nowhere to be found on the cover of the Kansas media guide, which features seven Jayhawks players in trying-to-look-tough poses.

Yet, after playing sparingly his first two seasons in Lawrence and averaging only 0.8 points, the senior guard has been front and center for fourth-ranked Kansas.

Stewart has started five of six games and is averaging 7.3 points and 4.5 assists heading into the Jayhawks’ game today against No. 22 USC at the Galen Center.

The dramatic uptick in playing time couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment for Stewart, who will be returning to the campus where he spent his freshman season alongside twin brother Lodrick before transferring to Kansas the following December.

“It’s not about me coming back to SC and trying to prove anything at all,” Rodrick said last week. “I’ve been waiting for this game for a long time, but it’s not going to be the Rodrick Show at all. I don’t care if I score one point. I just want to win.”

The 6-foot-4 Stewart moved into the starting lineup after a summer in which he worked out with two personal trainers and lost 20 pounds, slimming down to his high school weight of 200.

Injuries also have been a factor in Stewart’s more prominent role. Junior guard Brandon Rush has come off the bench since returning from knee surgery last month, and sophomore guard Sherron Collins will be out until late this month because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

“With the loss of Collins, he’s become their next perimeter player,” USC Coach Tim Floyd said of Stewart. “He’s been really good defensively, and I think he’s getting more confidence every time he gets out there. He’s also shooting the ball better than he did a year ago, and he’s very capable of beating you off the drive.”

Stewart is shooting 60.7% and ranks second in the Big 12 Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, with 3.86 assists for every turnover. He tied a career high with eight assists Wednesday during Kansas’ 87-49 victory over Florida Atlantic, and tallied season highs with 13 points and six rebounds during the Jayhawks’ 76-72 overtime triumph over Arizona last Sunday.

“He’s just playing great, shooting the ball well, defending, rebounding, everything you can ask of a player,” said Lodrick Stewart, who plays for the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Development League. “I’m proud of him.”

Said Rodrick: “I don’t even really care about the points. The highlight for me is just seeing how far I’ve come because all around, I’m a better player. I play the game smarter. When I first came I was rushing things, and now I’m taking more time and letting the game come to me.”

Stewart said he’s not sure what kind of reaction to expect today at the Galen Center. His brother was a fan favorite who became USC’s all-time leader in three-point shots made, so that should work in his favor. But Stewart also realizes that some people will see him as a deserter who left when times got tough.

“Any time a player leaves, they feel like you kind of turned your back on them,” Stewart said. “I think a lot of people will cheer for me because I still have a lot of friends that go there, but I’ll get booed and I’ll use that as motivation.”

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TODAY

vs. Kansas, 11 a.m., FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Kansas 6-0, USC 6-1.

Update -- The Jayhawks have shot better than 50% in all six games and are averaging 89.4 points a game. Equally impressive has been a defense that has forced at least 18 turnovers in every game and has held five of six opponents under 50% shooting. “There are so many challenges with that team it’s hard to list them,” USC sophomore guard Dwight Lewis said.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com