Senior Rodrick Stewart hit the ring this offseason, using boxing to get in shape for his final collegiate season.

Rodrick Stewart insists his role in the absence of Brandon Rush is just to get the ball to the team's shooters - and play good defense.

Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and … Rodrick Stewart?

Stewart may not become one of the greatest boxers of all time, but the Kansas University men’s basketball player took to the boxing ring this summer and as a result lost 20 pounds.

Translation: He’s looking to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” out on the basketball court.

“Basketball-wise, it’s definitely helped me a lot,” Stewart said. “It had a lot to do with just getting into better shape. The 20 pounds just came along with me working myself to the limit every day. It’s helped a lot.”

Stewart spent most of his summer boxing at the Kansas University recreation center as part of a weight and strength-conditioning program.

“Some times I went in twice a day. The first month, I barely could move getting out of bed,” the senior from Seattle said. “You get used to it, just like anything. You do anything every day, and you just get used to it, and your body just adjusts to it.”

The loss of weight wasn’t the only result. Stewart said he’s seen improvements in his game as well.

“It helps you develop quicker hands, the conditioning and cardio, my feet are quicker now,” Stewart said. “I look forward to boxing every day. It’s just something that I love doing. It’s definitely helped basketball-wise.”

The new Stewart has caught the eye of KU coach Bill Self, who said Stewart was already starting to make strides in the final two games of last year’s NCAA Tournament.

“Rod works hard, he deserves the chance to play, and I think he’s going to get that opportunity early,” Self said. “Hopefully good things will happen so he can get his confidence.”

The absence of an injured Brandon Rush to start the season will free up plenty of minutes for Stewart to get his chance on the court.

“I’m definitely going to contribute a lot this year,” Stewart said. “Brandon’s hurt, and guys are going to have to step up, with me being one of them. I have to step up while Brandon’s out and just try to pull the weight that he had when he was in.”

But Stewart said he understands that he won’t be taking on Brandon’s role as a shooter.

“We have a lot of guys that can shoot, and they’re our key players,” Stewart said. “So when I’m in the game with them, I think my job is to help them get easier shots, get extra possessions for the team and play good defense.”

Self said he sees a similarity in the team’s current situation to when Wayne Simien was injured and Michael Lee – who is now a graduate student manager at KU – stepped in to fill the hole at the No. 4 spot.

“He could be a bad match-up at the 4,” said Self of Stewart’s potential position. “As well as he handles the ball and as good as he gets in the lane and makes plays for others, I can see him being quite effective in that role.”

After having transferred to Kansas following his freshman year at Southern California, Stewart said his goal for his final year as a Jayhawk is to validate his decision to leave USC.

“I just want to prove to myself, and everybody, that I belong here,” Stewart said. “But at the same time, it’s about KU and just being part of tradition. That’s why I came here, to be part of something bigger than myself. It’s about being part of something special, and we have a chance to do that this year.”

But about the boxing?

“That’s my second love: boxing,” Stewart said, “but I’ll stick with basketball right now.”