Freshman Orlando Robinson taking long strides in short period of time for Bulldogs
It has not been that long, just 23 days and five basketball games. But in that time, Fresno State forward Orlando Robinson has changed the punctuation at the end of a simple yet telling sentence.
Over the Bulldogs’ first 11 games when Robinson hit 41.2% of his shots including just 23.5% from the 3-point line in averaging 9.5 points with 7.0 rebounds, it was a statement of fact.
He’s a freshman.
Over the past five games when Robinson has hit 55.2% of his shots including 43.8% from the 3-point line in averaging 20.2 points with 8.2 rebounds, it has become a question.
He’s a freshman?
The simple answer getting here from there is that the game has slowed down for the 6-foot-10 Robinson, that he knows his spots and is more comfortable on the floor, and with the Bulldogs playing through the post with their top two point guards sidelined at times by injuries.
“That first year, man, these guys are just trying to figure out where to go, the speed of things, how they fit in,” coach Justin Hutson said.
“Then they still have to earn their time and figure out where they’re going to get the ball, how they’re going to defend. I think it’s experience, and he has a lot of desire. I think it starts there. He wants to be good.”
Rising in Mountain West
Since Dec. 23 when Robinson scored a then-career high 24 points in a loss to San Francisco at the Save Mart Center he has been good – the third-most productive scorer in the Mountain West Conference …
1. Jalen Harris (Nevada) 21.5 ppg, four games
2. Ryan Swan (Air Force) 21.0 ppg, four games
3. Orlando Robinson (Fresno State) 20.2 ppg, five games
4. David Roddy (Colorado State) 18.5 ppg, four games
5. Hunter Maldonado (Wyoming) 18.4 ppg, five games
It hasn’t always been as easy as that answer, but Robinson has put a lot of the pieces together, particularly dealing with double-teams in the post. There were some adventures there that did not end well – at Oregon, against UNLV.
“We showed him all of his bad plays where he looks young or when he’s off-balance,” assistant coach Tarvish Felton said. “You show him that. He listens to that. He sees it. Once he sees that he’s not doing something to a high level it (makes him mad). Sometimes, he gets a little embarrassed. But he tries to correct it. He’s an old-school guy that way.
“His work ethic outside of being with this team is what has allowed the game to slow down for him even more and get him to this point.”
Freshman’s self-review
Robinson 16 games in is reading the doubles better, reacting to them better. He is stronger, a more physical player than he was earlier in the season after adding to his weight room work including some post-game sessions with strength and conditioning coach Randy Flores.
“It has been benefiting me,” Robinson said. “I’ve been gaining strength that I didn’t have before.”
He gets in extra shots – and they are the right ones.
“He understands what his spots are on the floor,” assistant coach Tim Shelton said. “That’s where he has focused his work – mid-range jump shots, playing from the elbows, shooting more threes from straightaway.
“He’s understanding what his go-to game is as a back-down player, seeing the floor on the catch as a back-down player and helping the other guys because they’re putting two (defenders) on him.”
San Jose State two games back ran doubles at Robinson and he ended up with 23 points, 14 rebounds including five at the offensive end and four assists.
“I’m seeing the game more and I’m understanding what I need to do for my team to be successful,” he said. “I take that seriously.”
“When they drop double-teams, that leaves other players open. Oregon did the same thing. I did a little jab step, baseline jumper and they doubled me right after that. I didn’t know how to react to that. They took advantage of my weakness. But now, as I see multiple teams do that, I’ve grown with that skill of being able to dribble out, pass it to the open man.”
Versatility vs. San Diego State
Fresno State, which takes on No. 7 San Diego State on Tuesday at the Save Mart Center, will continue to play to that versatility with Robinson as it gets back to health and the Bulldogs try to stack some wins in the second half of conference play. They have had 10 different starting lineups in their 16 games – starting point guard Noah Blackwell has missed the past eight games with a knee injury and 10 overall, freshman Jarred Hyder has missed five games to injury, Niven Hart has missed three, Nate Grimes and New Williams have each missed two.
“We want to mix it up with him,” Hutson said. “We want to put him down there and we want to put him out, depending on matchups and what’s going on, and we want him to be efficient in all the different areas.”
Robinson and his development will be a critical piece as that puzzle evolves. His average usage rate is up slightly, but the production is up significantly.
“He’s never satisfied,” Felton said. “He’s not OK with having a nice seven-week stretch. He wants to get better.”
“Everybody has come at him a little differently, but he has a pretty good feel for the game and I think he has really bought into the team being successful. That’s why he can go out and have a game where he has four or five assists, one or no turnovers and help his team.”
Fresno State vs. No. 7 San Diego State
8 p.m. Tuesday, Save Mart Center (ESPN2)
Records: Fresno State 5-11, 1-4 Mountain West; San Diego State 17-0, 6-0
Tickets: start as low as $6 through “Two for Tuesday” offer (online only, minimum 2 tickets); free for Fresno State students; details www.gobulldogs.com
History: Bulldogs seeking first win against an AP Top 25 team since beating then-No. 14 Oklahoma State 58-52 at Selland Arena on Feb. 20, 2002; its last win over a top-10 team was Feb. 22, 1996 when the Bulldogs defeated then-No. 8 Utah 71-68 at Selland