Clarksville, TN – Even though the 2016-17 men’s college basketball season is in its first week, Austin Peay State University’s Josh Robinson has shown he has to be considered one of, if not, the favorite to lead the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring this season.
There are several reasons that Robinson, a 6-2, junior from St. Louis, MO, could follow former teammate Chris Horton; who led the OVC in scoring last year with an average on 18.8 points per game.
First–Robinson is already known and produced as a scorer.As a sophomore last year, Robinson averaged a solid 16.9 points per game (sixth best in the OVC overall and third best among returning players) and an even better 17.9 points per game average in OVC play (third best in OVC only play and best among returning players).
Second—Robinson can not only score from the floor, he is one of the best in the OVC at getting to the free throw line and making those attempts once he gets there.
Last season Robinson ranked fourth in the conference in field goals made (185), fourth in three-point field goals (72) and third in free throws made (166). Add to that if you only consider returning players only, those rankings improve to second in field goals, first in three-point shots and first in free throws made.
Third—this year’s Govs will be more of an up-tempo style of offensive team that will count more on the out-side shot – especially from behind the three-point arc – than ever before.
In Austin Peay’s opener at Dayton last Friday, November 11th, of the Govs 56 field goal attempts 22 came from behind the three-point line – or 39.2 percent – while in the two exhibition games the Govs shot 34.4 percent of its shots from behind the three-point line.
Both of those numbers are higher than last season’s number, which came to 31.5 percent of last year’s field goal attempt, which plays into Robinson’s overall game.
Fourth—Robinson will handle the ball more this season than in either one of his first two seasons.
Although he has played at times at point guard, without a doubt, Robinson will see more time at that position than ever before in his first two seasons for the Govs – which means more chances to slash to the basket for points and also being about to force more fouls as he does go to the basket and getting even more free throw attempts than ever – of which he converted at a 83.4 percent clip last year.
So as the year goes on, and barring injury, when March 2017 rolls around Robinson could very well have his named added to Horton (2015-16), Andrew Burton (1980-81) and James “Fly” Williams (1972-73, 73-74) as Austin Peay men’s basketball players to top the conference in scoring.