The Kentucky Wildcats faced a challenging situation in their backcourt during their game against Gonzaga. With Lamont Butler sidelined by an ankle injury and Kerr Kriisa forced out with a similar issue, head coach Mark Pope had to experiment with his lineup. After brief stints by Collin Chandler and Travis Perry, Pope turned to Jaxson Robinson—a decision that changed the game.
Robinson, known for his sharpshooting and celebrated as BYU’s Sixth Man of the Year last season, had never been comfortable as a point guard. Pope recalled an incident last year during a game against Oklahoma when Robinson, frustrated after a poor play, declared mid-game, “I’m never playing point guard again!”
Fast forward to the Gonzaga matchup, and Robinson found himself stepping into the unfamiliar role under immense pressure. In the last eight minutes of regulation and through overtime, Robinson was flawless as the Wildcats’ makeshift floor general, finishing with five assists and zero turnovers.
Robinson also delivered when it mattered most. Despite struggling to find his rhythm earlier in the season, he pushed through tough stretches and rose to the occasion. His jumper with 14 seconds left sealed a four-point lead for Kentucky and capped off his 18-point performance.
“My teammates and coaches instill confidence in me every day,” Robinson said. “Even when shots aren’t falling, they remind me I can impact the game in many ways beyond scoring.”
Mark Pope praised Robinson’s grit, defensive prowess, and composure under pressure. “What Jax did tonight was special,” Pope said. “He stepped up when we needed him most. We’re truly blessed to have him.”
As Kentucky celebrated a thrilling victory, Robinson proved his adaptability and clutch performance, earning the respect and gratitude of his teammates and coach alike.
