There comes a time in every freshman’s first season when they are no longer a freshman and instead are expected to be a major contributor as both the conference tournaments and NCAA Tournament approaches.
That is the case for Pitt point guard James Robinson.
Unlike many freshmen who make the transition from high school basketball to the Division I game, Robinson has played a big role in the Panthers success all season long,
However the DeMatha Catholic product may have officially told the world that he has arrived with his performance in Pitt’s final home game of the season where he drained a pair of three-pointers-one to tie the game in the final seconds in regulation and the other to give Pitt a two possession lead in overtime.
That moment for Robinson was ironic because it came in the final home game of Tray Woodall, who has served as a mentor to the freshman all season long.
It was fitting that Robinson played such a big role in that win, not only because he helped put the Panthers in a position to earn a double-bye in the Big East Tournament, but because it also symbolized a passing of the torch among Pitt point guards.
“That torch has already been passed,” said Woodall after the Villanova game. “Myself and Dante (Taylor) are just here to help the younger guys win. James has been ready to lead this team all season. He does things that freshmen usually don’t come in and do. He’s ready to be a leader on this team for years.’
Robinson has bought into the unselfish approach that Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon preaches, but almost too much.
There are times when it seems like the freshman doesn’t look for his shot enough, but when his number is called, Robinson steps up in the clutch like a savvy veteran.
On more than one occasion this season Robinson has delivered offensively in the clutch and helped the Panthers win games.
Dixon asks a lot of Robinson, from handling the ball to drawing the assignment of guarding the opposing teams best offensive player, but when he has to Robinson has shown the ability to knock down shots on a consistent basis, something the Panthers will certainly need down the stretch.
“At times he is almost too unselfish,” said Dixon. “That is something we will have to work on, but he’s still only a freshman and continuing to learn. James is a guy who does everything we ask out of him and more and he has come through for his teammates in tight situations more than once this season.”
Robinson is averaging 6.1 points and 3.5 assists during his freshman campaign, numbers that aren’t eye popping. but much of what he has done this season can’t be found on the stat sheet.
I mentioned earlier the outstanding work he has done defensively and he’s also one of the nation’s leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio.
For a freshman, Robinson is a calming influence on this Pitt team and could prove to be a big part of any postseason run the Panthers make. It’s not common for an experienced team to show confidence in a freshman, but Robinson isn’t an ordinary freshman.
“My teammates have shown great confidence in me all season,” said Robinson. “I just want to be able to repay that confidence and keep helping us win games.”
He will get the opportunity Saturday afternoon when the Panthers play their final ever Big East regular season game when they travel to DePaul, before beginning the Big East Tournament next week.
Photo Credit: Fox Sports
