It's safe to say it's becoming a trend.

After Thursday's game, Rodney Williams has scored in double digits in five of his last six games and had at least six rebounds in five out of six also. He's doing the little things: blocking shots, getting steals, making smart passes – and of course dunking – and he's looking more like a leader on the court and off it.

That should please fans who have watched the junior struggle on and off for the last two years.

In the Star Tribune today, we ran my Big Ten season preview on Williams.
Of course, I couldn't include all of the interesting quotes that I wanted to – space is limited these days, you know – so I thought I'd share a few here.
Rodney Williams, Sr.

On Rodney's struggles: "I've seen him play so much ball that I never doubt him. I say 'stop doubting yourself.' I've seen you do things you say or think you cannot do. I've seen you do it. All your life."

On the team's play since Trevor Mbakwe got hurt: "Honestly, and I hate to say it, they look better. Because they're not depending on anybody – they're depending on the team. Before they were depending on one player. You cannot depend on one person, who does everything, and then when he's gone – we have nothing. You've got to think 'I'm recruited because of me, not because of Trevor.' I'm glad they realized, one person can't make up for that person – it's time for all of you guys to play."

On his surprised reaction to Rodney's stellar improvement with Mbakwe out: "I couldn't believe how fast it happened. But the reason why it didn't (surprise me) was because I know his capabilities and I knew he would surprise everybody if he did what he had to do. Teams weren't prepared for that, because they were thinking that he was a shooting guard and they didn't really think he could play down low because they didn't see him like that. I knew that was going to be a surprise. They were probably thinking 'A three playing a 4? He's going to foul out of the game because he's not as big or as strong as Trevor.'"

On what he thought Rodney needed – in those first two years – to turn the corner: "Me being his dad, I always wanted to see more plays ran through him. I don't know, and people being more patient with him and doing what he wants to do in his time, when it's time for him to do it not when people think it's time for him to do it. I just people to just get off his back and let him play ball. Because if he could just play ball and be himself, you would see how he could play. Instead of someone always telling him when to shoot, when not to shoot, if he should go down low or stay up more. Let him play basketball and you'll see a basketball player."
Ex-Gophers player Quincy Lewis:

On Rodney's strengths: "We as fans, want to put guys into systems instead of putting systems for a guy. So when you look at Rodney and you take what his strengths are – he's super athletic, he's fast, he's quick, he can get off the floor, and he's a competitor. And one thing I thought we didn't do enough of, was to put him in situations where he could take advantage of that."

On his matchup advantages: "I think that he's the best player, because he's the most dynamic, because he can have the greatest effect on the team just by being on the floor. Because if they put a small guy that doesn't play the 4, then all the sudden you have someone who isn't really comfortable with the systems and the coaches says we can run the plays because he doesn't know it. And all the sudden you're taking out half their playbook. But you put a bigger guy on him and all the sudden he's going by them and getting other people in foul trouble."