City of Basketball Love

Graham Foley (@graham_foley3)
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In Saint Joseph’s 68-49 win over George Mason in Friday’s Atlantic-10 Tournament Quarterfinal, Nick Robinson showed his worth. He confidently drained a pivotal 3-point shot with 12 minutes left that gave the Hawks a double digit lead and helped turn a back-and-forth battle into a dominant victory.

It was a big shot to take for the sophomore wing who only began starting consistently in the last few games of the season. But it’s Robinson’s confidence, and his teammates’ confidence in him, that has allowed him to become a dynamic leader for the streaking Hawks (16-15, 11-8 A-10) and make important plays down the stretch.

“We all tell each other to just go play our game and be confident in whatever you do,” Robinson said. “And we don’t have a problem with shots you take as long as you’re confident in your shot. So it’s just a really big help to have my teammates behind my back.”

Robinson finished with a team-high 14 points on Friday and shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in a game that saw four Hawks reach double figures in scoring. He added nine rebounds, second-most on the squad, and four assists in a 36-minute effort.

He was on from the start in Friday’s win, knocking down his first three less than two minutes into the game to give the Hawks their first points. He added another triple with 6:45 left and finished a vital three-point play on a layup and foul to give the Hawks a 26-23 lead with 1:46 left in the first half.

“I thought Nick Robinson was terrific all day,” said coach Phil Martelli in his post-game press conference from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. “He shot that ball with confidence.”

Friday was one of many examples of how Robinson has emerged as a star for St. Joe’s late in the season. He started in the Hawks’ last eight games in a row despite starting in just two games previous to those. He’s averaging 12.9 points per game in that time and has scored in double figures in each of his last six games.

Robinson recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 82-75 win over Duquesne on Feb. 17 and scored a career-high 20 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field, in a 72-70 road win against Richmond on Feb. 24.

On the season, he’s averaging 7.2 points per game on the season, good for fifth on the team, and 5.1 rebounds per game, second-best for the Hawks.

Robinson said his recent success is due to the consistency now in a starting role.

“It’s just being used to the offense and knowing the spots where I can score and crashing the glass,” Robinson said. “Just my play overall has been better. Rebounding, everything has been better since I got into the starting lineup.”

Martelli said Robinson’s leadership allowed him to get into the starting lineup for the most important games of the season and his confidence has made him thrive.

“It’s been with Nick since he came,” Martelli said. “He has had a very high level of confidence and he’s also vocal on a team that isn't so vocal. Nick likes to talk about the game, talk about himself and because of his confidence level, he’s getting better. He just plays better basketball.”

Robinson said some of his confidence stems from the experience he gained last season.

Due to injuries. Robinson was thrust into a starting role last year, primarily at point guard, starting in 19 of his 31 games played. He held his own, averaging 5.2 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game. He said his role last year helped craft him into a more versatile player.

“It wasn’t difficult, it was a learning experience,” Robinson said. “Being 6-6 and having the ability to run the point guard really helped me because it opened my eyes to let me see the court and being put in that role has really helped me now.

“I’m just more confident,” he added. “Because now I’ve been here, I’ve been here for two years so I’m able to play on the ball and off the ball so it’s just really helpful.”

As Saint Joseph’s moves on to face top-seeded Rhode Island on Saturday in the A-10 Tournament Semifinals, Robinson said he expects his teammates and himself to do “whatever it takes” to get the victory and survive.

He believes that the Hawks, who have won seven of their last eight games, are hitting their stride with a solidified lineup.

“It’s relieving because everyone is playing well in their newfound roles in the perfect time,” Robinson said. “It was really frustrating in the beginning of the season because we were up and down. But now we’re playing well and it’s really great to be playing well at the right time.”