There has been no bigger transformation for Missouri basketball than that of Anthony Robinson, from his freshman season to his sophomore campaign through eight games.
Robinson is emerging not just as a playmaker on both sides of the ball, but also as a leader under coach Dennis Gates.
"I blame everything on him in practice so he can obviously handle some stress, and he allows me to do it," Gates said. "I know it's frustrating, but you have to prepare guys a certain way."
Tuesday night against the California Golden Bears was a prime example of Robinson's development, as he was relied on as the go-to option with Caleb Grill sidelined due to a neck injury.
Robinson was firing from the jump, scoring the first nine points for Mizzou and providing a much-needed spark in the early minutes.
He continued scoring throughout, finishing with a career-high 29 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. But most importantly, he got it done in an aggressive manner. Robinson shot 15 free throws in the contest, converting 13 of them. These proved vital, especially down the stretch in closing out the game.
Time after time, Robinson made plays when the shot clock was running low for Mizzou, whether it was using a screen to attack the basket or dishing it to his teammates for open looks.
"I knew they were going to be in a drop coverage," Robinson said. "That little area was going to be open; I just needed to stay focused and be ready for that shot."
The passing of Robinson is one of his best attributes, as he finished Tuesday's game with six assists, two more than his season average of four per game.
All it takes is a brief glance at the box score to see just how impactful he was, finishing the game with a team-leading plus-minus of 20. Robinson got into foul trouble early, picking up his second personal foul with more than 12 minutes remaining in the first half. This limited Gates' ability to use him and ultimately allowed Cal to go on a 17-2 run to close the half.
"I thought coach Madsen did a good job trying to attack (Robinson) with two fouls, and I didn't want him to get three in that first half," Gates said. "We needed all those fouls for him in the second half because that impacts his intensity for the most part. That decision was made with the big picture in mind, not the short term, but the big picture."
After registering just eight minutes in the first half, Robinson was a workhorse in the second, playing all 20 minutes. Largely due to the absence of Grill, the Tigers needed someone to step up, and Robinson answered the call, providing 28 minutes while in foul trouble—eight minutes more than his season average.
Through eight games, it has become clear just how valuable Robinson is to the team. Especially with Grill targeting a Dec. 22 return, it will be crucial for Robinson to continue this level of play.
Mizzou faces off against its biggest rival Sunday, when the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks are set to travel to Columbia. This will provide a massive test for the Tigers, but with it comes an even greater opportunity.