Robinson Sets Kansas All-Time Record in Jayhawk Victory

Dec. 1, 2011

With five-double-doubles already to his name this season, Thomas Robinson wasted no time securing his sixth in as many games in No. 15/14 Kansas’ 77-54 victory against Florida Atlantic Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse. The 6-10 junior forward pulled down his 10th rebound of the game with 16:09 remaining in the contest to etch his name in the KU record book with the longest streak of double-doubles to open a season in program history.

Robinson finished the game with 19 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots, all of which were game highs. Robinson also notched his second-straight career high in rebounds, grabbing a personal-best 17 boards against FAU after recording a career-high 16 against No. 6 Duke in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational title game.

“No, not really,” Robinson said when asked if he had made it a focus to post a double-double in every game. “I don’t go into the game thinking I have to get a double-double. I’m not being cocky or arrogant, but I feel like I can get that pretty easily as long as I’m on the floor.”

Not only did Kansas head coach Bill Self know Robinson had the ability to attain some big numbers for the Jayhawks in the 2011-12 season, he was counting on it for the team to be successful.

“He needs to be an All-American for us,” said Self when asked about Robinson at Big 12 media day prior to the season. “He needs to be a guy that’s one of the best 10 to 15 players in the country, to be real candid with you. Now, I think that he has ability to play at a high, high level like that.”

Thus far, Robinson has met the challenge issued by Self. Robinson is currently tied with Josh Davis of Tulane and Kyle O’ Quinn of Norfolk State for the most double-doubles in the nation. Additionally, Robinson’s 12.8 rebounds per game lead the Big 12 Conference. Robinson earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors on Nov. 28 after averaging 17.0 points and 12.3 rebounds in his three games in Hawaii, which included a career-high 20-point outing against Georgetown. Despite the impressive numbers and accolades early in the season, Robinson continues to focus on the small things he needs to improve on to lead Kansas during conference play.

“To be honest, I felt like I didn’t play to my top potential,” Robinson noted when evaluating his performance against Florida Atlantic. “I made it easy for them to guard me today by putting the ball on the floor. Once I do that, it goes from two people checking me to four. It makes my easy buckets turn into tough shots. Looking at the stats overall, it was a good game, but personally that’s stuff I need to work on.”

Robinson will have a chance to match the all-time mark in KU history of seven-straight games with a double-double, achieved by Drew Gooden in 2002 and Raef LaFrentz in 1998, when the Kansas Jayhawks play South Florida in Allen Fieldhouse Saturday at 4:15 p.m.