College Station, Texas ? As a freshman, Russell Robinson sat on the bench and had one foot out the door. Going back home to New York, maybe to play at St. John’s, seemed like a pretty good idea.
In the end, he believed in himself, decided to stick it out and again was rewarded for that patience Wednesday night at Reed Arena.
Robinson’s 24 points helped Kansas University to an 83-73 victory over an improved Texas A&M team that was supported by an energetic crowd of 12,110 fans.
Flanked by Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers, a pair of freshmen showcasing their wondrous talents more by the minute, Robinson made two of four three-point attempts, all three other field-goal attempts and hit 12 of 13 free throws.
It was the third consecutive game in which he tied or set a career high. His 13 against Nebraska was his best before Wednesday, when he scored 21 second-half points.
His big night came two nights after a teammate who couldn’t show the same patience bolted the program. Micah Downs, who flew back home to Seattle, lived with Robinson.
Robinson never will quit on KU, but if one more roommate books on him, he could develop a complex. Alex Galindo transferred after last year.
“I think they don’t like me,” Robinson said with a smile.
Robinson said he probably was the closest of anyone on the team to Downs. Even at that, he said it took him awhile to realize Downs was gone.
“He was just that quiet,” Robinson said. “He’s a good kid inside. He just made a tough decision that’s going to stick with him the rest of his life. I thought he gave a good effort. I just don’t think he had a strong support group back home.”
Standing outside the KU locker room, Robinson looked back on the struggles of a freshman season in which he didn’t start a game and averaged 3.5 points.
“I went through that and thought about leaving once during the season and once after,” Robinson said. “I had a strong support group, mostly my mom and my dad and some coaches. They gave me good advice. And I’m glad they did.”
So is the rest of the team.
When Robinson moved from shooting guard to point guard, he became a better scorer. When Chalmers moved from point guard to shooting guard, he became a better playmaker. Now they’re at the point where they are almost interchangeable in terms of responsibilities.
Robinson and Chalmers have developed a terrific chemistry. Mix in Rush, the team’s best player, and KU is armed with an impressive perimeter trio. They all have embraced an attack mode that defines the way they are beginning to play the game defensively, offensively and in transition.
The trio combined for 61 points and made 17 of 27 field goals and 23 of 26 free throws.
The free-throw numbers were particularly impressive considering they had to overcome a huge potential distraction in the form of a shirtless, blubbery student shaking his gut and doing jumping jacks underneath the hoop.
“Every time I shot free throws, there he was shaking,” Rush said. “It was nasty.”
And ineffective. The young Jayhawks had the toughness to prevail in what suddenly has become a hostile environment for more than just football.