BYU coach Mark Pope talks to Jaxson Robinson after beating the Weber State Wildcats in Provo on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. After serving a one-game suspension final Saturday, Robinson offered a set off the bench in BYU’s victory over LMU on Thursday. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
BYU guard Spencer Johnson shoots a 3-pointer throughout sport on the Marriott Middle in Provo on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Ryan Solar, Deseret Information
After follow Wednesday, BYU coach Mark Pope determined to have a chat with guard Jaxson Robinson.
Robinson, together with Noah Waterman and Atiki Ally Atiki, had been suspended in final week’s one-point loss to Saint Mary’s after breaking a staff rule.
“We had been 4 1⁄2 minutes into the second half and I turned and seemed down the bench and Jax was giving me the large eyes. ‘Coach, you need to put me within the sport?’ It’s really tremendous efficient. I spent a number of my life doing the identical factor.” — Mark Pope on Jaxson Robinson
It marked the primary sport all 12 months that Robinson hadn’t began for the Cougars.
However Pope was planning to tweak his beginning lineup once more — and he was going to let Robinson know that he could be coming off the bench for Thursday’s sport towards Loyola Marymount.
Robinson’s response was one which Pope didn’t anticipate.
“It’s one among my happiest moments teaching this 12 months as a result of Jax doesn’t actually get animated. He bought tremendous indignant at me,” Pope mentioned. “You possibly can hear it in his voice. ‘I don’t care about beginning. I simply need to play and go win.’ It was the right response to a dialog like that that often goes so completely different.
“The truth that’s how he felt and the emotion he expressed, then he got here and performed this manner (Thursday), one of many issues we’re blessed with is we’re tremendous younger however we've super character on this staff. It’s fairly nice.”
In BYU’s 89-61 victory over LMU — snapping the Cougars’ three-game dropping streak — Robinson scored 13 factors, together with 3 of 4 from 3-point territory and 5 of 9 from the ground. He scored 10 of these factors within the first half and completed with three rebounds and an help.
“We had been 41⁄2 minutes into the second half and I turned and seemed down the bench and Jax was giving me the large eyes,” Pope mentioned. “‘Coach, you need to put me within the sport?’ It’s really tremendous efficient. I spent a number of my life doing the identical factor.”
What was Robinson’s strategy going into the LMU sport, after not enjoying since a loss at San Francisco on Jan. 21?
“My staff wanted me in no matter means I may come out and produce,” he mentioned. “I simply got here out with a optimistic mindset, able to play, prepared to assist my guys. I had their again. It confirmed (Thursday).”
Robinson is capturing 35% from 3-point vary this season and has endured some slumps. He’s hit 7 of his final 12.
“I simply shoot the ball. I’m assured in my shot. Simply staying assured is the important thing,” Robinson mentioned. “Simply staying assured, hours within the gymnasium, staying in there, I imply, it’s paying off. It’s good to see.”
Now, Robinson and the Cougars are hoping to proceed profitable.
BYU hosts Pacific Saturday (7 p.m. MST, BYUtv). The Tigers, driving a two-game profitable streak, defeated Pepperdine 81-72 at house Thursday.
The Cougars downed Pacific 69-49 of their West Coast Convention opener Dec. 29.
Pacific is led by guards Keylan Boone (12.8 factors per sport) and Luke Avdalovic (10.4 ppg).
The Cougars, in the meantime, had a season-low seven turnovers towards LMU.
“We’re simply getting higher. We’re excited to maintain pushing,” Pope mentioned. “We’ve bought a bit little bit of time left and hopefully we are able to proceed to get higher. It was essential (Thursday) to be underneath 10.”
Robinson cherished what he noticed from his staff towards the Lions.
“All the fellows did an incredible job,” he mentioned. “We got here out and executed and bought the ‘W.’ That’s all that issues.”
BYU guard Spencer Johnson shoots a 3-pointer throughout sport on the Marriott Middle in Provo on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.
Ryan Solar, Deseret Information