Anthony Robinson II Still Searching for His Rhythm in Junior Campaign
**SOUTH BEND, Ind. ** - Coming into the season, Anthony Robinson II was expected to take a major leap.
He had the résumé: an All-SEC Defensive Team selection, one of the most experienced players on the roster, a team captain, and a vocal leader of the Tigers. Add in some early NBA Draft buzz, and the stage was set for Robinson to become the face of this team on both ends of the floor.
But nine games in, the breakout hasn’t quite materialized.
Robinson’s defensive instincts are still very much intact - he’s racking up steals at an impressive clip, even if it’s a slight step down from last year’s pace. That dip seems to be tied to a more cautious approach.
He’s clearly trying to stay on the floor longer by avoiding foul trouble, and while that’s a smart adjustment, the numbers show there’s still work to do. According to KenPom, Robinson is committing 4.6 fouls per 40 minutes - a rate that continues to limit his availability and rhythm.
The defensive tools are there. The anticipation, the lateral quickness, the ability to disrupt passing lanes - Robinson hasn’t lost those.
But the challenge now is finding that balance between aggression and control. He’s trying to be more disciplined, but in doing so, he may be losing some of the edge that made him such a disruptive force last season.
This stretch doesn’t erase his potential. It just means the transition into a starring role is proving to be more complicated than expected.
The Tigers still believe in their captain, and the foundation of Robinson’s game - defense, energy, leadership - hasn’t gone anywhere. But for him to truly anchor this team the way many envisioned, he’ll need to recalibrate that defensive fire without getting burned by whistles.
There’s still time for Robinson to find his stride. The tools are there. The question is whether he can put them together in a way that elevates both his game and the Tigers’ ceiling.