Hurt Feelings Lead to Feel-Good Play From Robinson
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- On Feb. 12, freshman Devin Robinson played what amounted to the finest all-around game of his young Florida career. He knocked down six of his nine shots. Scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished three assists and without a turnover in a heart-breaking one-point home loss to Ole Miss.
Two nights later, Robinson went scoreless with four fouls in 21 minutes at Texas A&M.
And then last Wednesday, Robinson flailed away during a lackluster first half at home against Vanderbilt when Coach Billy Donovan planted his rookie on the bench and followed up with some challenging (and choice) words at halftime that Robinson would later say, candidly, hurt his feelings.
They also struck the right nerve.
Robinson finished that Vandy game with all but two of his 12 points after halftime, including a dunk with 2.1 seconds left that gave the Gators the lead in an eventual 50-47 win. Two days later, Robinson needed a few possessions -- so did his team -- to get into the flow against LSU before scoring 12 points and clearing seven boards in a career-best 33 minutes, as the Gators fell 70-63 Saturday at LSU.
“Devin has to grow and become a consistent player,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “He's at a point now where you need to know what you're getting out of him.”
So is this Robinson's time?
Three games in double-figures over the last four, but that fourth game a goose-egg? That's not exactly the consistency blueprint Donovan and his staff are looking for, but Robinson has flashed some encouraging signs of late and another opportunity to grow his sample size comes Tuesday night when the Gators (13-14, 6-8), losers of five of their previous six, take on Southeastern Conference cellar-dweller Missouri (7-20, 1-13), losers of 13 straight, at Mizzou Arena.
With 499 career Division-I victories, Donovan is seeking to become the second-youngest coach in college basketball history to hit the 500 milestone. For it to happen, a kid who wasn't even born when Donovan enjoyed Victory No. 1 -- more than 20 years ago in his first season at Marshall -- likely must have a hand in it for an undermanned UF bunch missing its two leading scorers.
In a season fraught with disappointment and some gut-punch defeats, Robinson's awakening -- if that is indeed what is happening -- is a positive the program can lean on as this Florida year like no other in a long, long time winds down. 
“I'm glad it didn't come easy,” Robinson, out of Chesterfield, Va., said of a freshman campaign he admittedly entered with totally unrealistic expectations of instant individual success and team championships. “It's better to have challenges earlier and figure it out later. I'm not glad we've had a bad season, but I'm kind of glad we've had to try and figure it out. ... Glad it started off rocky, so it wouldn't hit me as hard later on.”
The initial jolt was crushing enough.
Six games into the season, Robinson had one less field goal (8) than he had airballs (9). But with time and patience (his and that of the UF staff), Robinson now looks like a blossoming player who's more of clue and feel how the college game is played.
It took more than a half a season just to come to terms with the sort of mindset needed to take the floor every night.
“I have to be more focused before the game,” Robinson said. “It's a learning process and I should know that already, but Coach is continuing to preach to me and tells me I have to come out with my A-game before I even touch the court.”
That means fewer outside distractions in the run-up to the game. A level of maturity. Better practice habits and attention to detail, not only between the lines, but during film sessions and with the scouting report.
And once on the floor, he has to assert himself.
At 6-foot-9 and with his length, Robinson needs to inject his athleticism into the game. True, it's not easy being physical at 190 pounds, but Robinson needs to have the confidence to know he's a good enough player to force the issue more often.
“He has to stay aggressive,” junior guard Eli Carter said. “When he's aggressive, he's at his best. When he attacks off pick and rolls, he's a lot better than when he's just floating around like he used to do in high school. I think he's getting better.”
Robinson has spent more time in the gym on his own of late, tryint to improve his free throws (only 60 percent for the season) and 3-pointers (only 24 percent). Regarding the latter, Robinson is fully capable of making shots from deep. His stroke is one of the smoothest on the team, but only when he takes it with with proper balance and footwork. He's fought that a lot this season, especially early on.
Now he's fighting for Donovan's unbridled confidence. He wants to be counted on every game.
“I'm glad he called me out like he did. It showed me he cares,” Robinson said. “'He expects more than I'm giving. He has high standards for me and a high ceiling for me because he sees potential in me.”
