Michigan Basketball: Duncan Robinson Knows Michigan Needs To Finish Strong
Michigan is entering the final four games of the regular season, and fifth-year senior forward Duncan Robinson knows the Wolverines have to come together and finish the season strongly.
Iowa visits Ann Arbor Wednesday night, followed by Ohio State on Sunday in what is expected to be a highly competitive showdown.
The Hawkeyes have struggled this season and are 12-15 overall and 3-11 in the Big Ten.
“It’s [a] huge [week],” Robinson said. “We have to protect home court. Any home court loss is a bad loss. If we do that it puts us in good position moving forward, whether it be Big Ten Tournament or NCAA Tournament. We just have to focus on the things that are controllable and it starts with tomorrow against Iowa.”
Robinson started the team’s game against Wisconsin with freshman forward Isaiah Livers out with an ankle injury. Michigan coach John Beilein is hopeful Livers will play Wednesday, but isn’t sure yet if he will.
“At this point, I’m pretty comfortable with both [starting and coming off the bench],” Robinson said. “I’ve embraced both roles at different time of my career, so whatever Coach Beilein or the team asks me to do, I’ll do.”
Due to the youth and inexperience when it comes to late season pressure filled games, the squad still has room for progress.
“We have a little way to go I think, there are some things we can tighten up,” Robinson said. “We’re far from a finished product, but a lot of teams are like that too I think. It’s all about who can come together at the right time.”
Iowa sophomore forward Tyler Cook torched the Wolverines in the first meeting between the two teams, which Michigan won 75-68. He had 28 points and eight rebounds.
In order to stop him this time around, Robinson says Michigan has to throw different things at him and make him uncomfortable. He added the more physical they can be with him, the better chance they have of stopping him.
Late in the season, both Beilein and his players have preached the importance of being a player-led team. Making those in game adjustments that coaches obviously can’t do themselves is part of that.
“We have a lot of responsibility, [senior guard] Muhammad[-Ali Abdur-Rahkman] and I, and also [junior forward Moritz] Moe [Wagner], being the other captain,” Robinson said. “Player led teams are the ones that win late in the season. That falls on our shoulders.”
He hopes that their upperclassmen leadership can power a path forward for the Wolverines and that their play at the end of games lately — which has involved both Robinson and Abdur-Rahkman handling the ball, is a start.
“I think having been through it before, having stepped in to late game situations, both of us throughout our careers and made free throws, having that experience really helps and gives us confidence moving forward," Robinson said. "If we can step up and do it, I think it encourages other guys.”
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