Scholar Stories: Robinson's Education, Game Evolving at Michigan
12/13/2017 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Features
Continuing the popular series that began in 2016-17, each Wednesday MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories, presented by Prairie Farms.
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Duncan Robinson has been on a unique educational path since early elementary school, when his parents enrolled him in an "alternative learning" program. He experienced invigorating curriculums at Governor's Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy outside of Boston and in New Hampshire, respectively. Those schools have influenced young minds for centuries, with Paul Revere creating the seals for both.
Then it was on to Williams College, a prestigious liberal arts school in Williamstown, Massachusetts, before becoming an unlikely transfer from a Division III basketball program to the University of Michigan, where he was instrumental in last year's Big Ten Tournament championship and Sweet 16 team as a sharpshooter whose all-around game also evolved.
But there were adjustments to be made both on and off the court.
Robinson said switching from smaller to larger classroom settings was different, but he found there were also ways to assure that his intimate educational quest continued at one of the largest and accomplished public universities in the U.S.
He discovered a stimulating environment in Ann Arbor, and he is contemplating independent study courses that would involve authoring a book and another that would examine the impact of social media on the political process.
Robinson is a senior in the sport management program and aspires to get involved in the "business side of basketball" or possibly enter a political career "in the public sector" in order to give back.
There are few better examples of going from the playing court to the "business side" than Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. He was a member of the 1989 NCAA championship team and was a vital player off the bench in the Fab Five era. Pelinka also was a long-range shooter who developed his complete game as a Wolverine. He knew before his career ended that he wanted to become a player agent, and he was one of the best in that realm, representing Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.
"Rob Pelinka spoke to us when I first got here and I had a chance to connect with him then," said Robinson. "We briefly stayed in touch, and I was able to reach out and congratulate him when he got his new position. He's a really good guy who does a good job of staying connected to Michigan.
"One of the biggest things he said that stuck out at the time was just the power of the Michigan brand, and how alums and guys who have been through here really like helping other guys coming out of here. That's something I've tried to utilize as much as possible -- connecting with as many people as possible and building those relationships."
He's also cultivating connections with his teachers at Michigan.
"Kelli Donahue (senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology) has been awesome," said Robinson. "I'm looking at doing an independent study with her and I'm thinking of writing a book. I'm potentially going to do that with her."
What would the book be about?
"It would begin with my transition here and then my time here," said Robinson, the lone Division III basketball player to ever transfer with a scholarship at Michigan. "It would be about my contact with Coach (John) Beilein and be a closer look into not only my experience, but what it's like to play for Coach Beilein.
"It's unique how he approaches his day-to-day operations. The power of the Michigan brand is what's enticed me to do it. I think a lot of people would really have a lot of interest in that."
Duncan Robinson said men's basketball coach John Beilein -- who was a history teacher in New York -- is a "teacher of young men" and a mentor.
Robinson enjoys the story behind the story, both on and off the court.
"Nicholas Valentino (a professor in American Politics and Methodology) has been awesome, too," said Robinson. "We were taking a look at the most recent (presidential) election, and taking a look at the power of social media politics, which has developed into this new phenomenon.
"But, on top of that, it's media relations and how the media has always influenced and affected politics, dating way back to the invention of the printing press. Politics are formed, shaped and crafted by the public's opinion. But it's funny that the different mediums where those opinions are expressed has changed over the years."
Robinson has found what works in terms of doing classwork around a hectic team schedule and regular travel. The Wolverines played in a tournament in Maui one week and at North Carolina one week later. Three days after playing the Tar Heels, they hosted Indiana in the Big Ten opener.
"I think the most important thing is having good relationships with my teachers," said Robinson. "I communicate with them so they understand my situation, and I also try to stay ahead. It gets tough when things start piling up and you've put something off. So, I try to be proactive in my studies and staying on top of things."
Robinson's father, Jeffrey, is a recently retired elementary and middle school teacher. His mother, Elisabeth, is a nurse practitioner. They emphasized education for their three children -- of which Duncan is the youngest -- and he was able to sample different learning styles from a young age.
"My parents have been huge factors in my education," said Robinson. "I was in an alternative learning path up until fourth grade in which there were no grades, no tests, no essays, no homework. It was a very different approach to learning. It was something that kept school fresh and exciting for me."
He went from Governor's Academy for high school and to Exeter Academy for a postgraduate experience.
"Both were small, small schools with small class sizes," said Robinson. "At Exeter, they had a very interesting method. It's called the Harkness method, and every single class was around a circular table. There were no desks or rows, and it was all discussion based. So, it really forces dialogue. Whether it's a math, science or history class, it didn't matter. We were around the table.
"I learned a ton in that one year. There's a lot of good that can come from productive debate."
Williams College, with an enrollment of 2,076 and a 7-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, according to its website, was Robinson's first college experience.
"Williams College is a top academic school in the country as well," he said, "and also had small classes. So, that was a continuation. It wasn't until I came here that I really experienced bigger classes."
Williams College coach Mike Maker, an assistant to Beilein at West Virginia a decade prior, connected Robinson to the Wolverines, where the athletic stage wasn't the only thing significantly larger. Enrollment was 20 times more in Ann Arbor.
Still, he's found an intimate education at Michigan by pursuing relationships in the classroom.
"Exactly," said Robinson. "And now, with no introductory classes at this point, my classes are relatively small again. Though, I've had 200- and 300-student classes at Michigan."
One of his top teachers has been Beilein, who got his start as a history teacher and coach at Newfane (New York) High.
"Coach Beilein's dedication to preparation really sticks out," said Robinson. "He's meticulously prepared for everything -- whether it's practice, a game, no matter who we're playing, and he does it the same way. He does things the right way and does them diligently.
"You see that in how his teams play. He's obsessive about the little things, and we realize the impact of the little things. He impresses on us that there really are no such things as little things. But he also does a great job of connecting and knowing there are bigger things than basketball. He's not just a basketball coach, but a teacher of young men and a mentor in many cases."
Robinson (6-foot-8, 215 pounds) is starting and averaging 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He's already No. 10 on Michigan's career three-point list with 182 and is No. 6 with .420 accuracy on treys. He can play guard and forward, and he should get an opportunity to play professionally.
"Right now," said Robinson, "I'm locked in on playing and want to play as long as possible. If I lay the groundwork and maintain relationships with these guys in school, once I'm done playing, I will pursue that avenue."
He's built a sound foundation for the future.
