After loss, Rozier weighs what's next

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Terry Rozier needs some time off.

The sophomore guard first wants to process Sunday's East region final loss to Michigan State, which kept Louisville out of the Final Four, and then he wants to get healthy.

What he does after that will go a long way toward how Louisville feels about the 2015-16 season. His coach, Rick Pitino, maintained all season that Rozier, who averaged 17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and three assists a game, will leave for the draft, but Rozier hinted last week in Seattle that his decision may not be so clear-cut.

Related:How Rozier will approach his draft choice

On Sunday, he gave no indication of a timeline for his decision or any inkling of how he's leaning.

"I'm going to definitely get in the gym, but first I want to take two weeks off," Rozier said. "In those two weeks, I'm just going to rehab my knee and relax my body.

"I'll sit down and talk to my family, to my coach, and see what's best for me -- if I need one more year or if I should go."

Rozier, who rose from a reserve role last season to Louisville's leading scorer this campaign, said he has battled pain in his knee since last summer. Tightness in the quadriceps of his left leg -- "my jumping leg," Rozier said -- led to what he called a "sharp pain" in his knee cap.

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He wore a sleeve over his left leg to keep the muscles warm, but the pain lingered all season, much like the pain from his ongoing fight with regular pinky dislocations.

But the ailments didn't keep him from having a solid season. Rozier is considered a first-round talent by some draft analysts, while others have him as a fringe first-rounder or a second-round pick.

Pitino thinks Rozier would do well enough in his individual, private workouts for NBA teams that he would move up the list. Rozier's rebounding, smarts, athleticism and defense, Pitino has said this season, will be his best assets at the next level.

Related:U of L tries to cope with tough loss

But a late-season shooting slump dropped Rozier's shooting percentage to 41.1, and his 3-point shooting to 30.6 percent. He'd also like to showcase his ability to be a lead guard, but 79 turnovers this season hurt that part of his resume.

Nonetheless, as Rozier considers his next move, he'll first have to come to terms with Sunday's loss. After posting 17 points and 14 rebounds in the Sweet 16, he was disappointed with his 6-of-23 shooting performance against Michigan State.

"I just wanted to do what I could with my team and help them as much as I could," Rozier said. "As we went along and won the first game, won the second game, we started believing and coming together as a team. Our goal was to get to the Final Four."

Now he has to figure out if he wants to chase that Final Four next year.