Ken Davis

The crowd Monday night at Hartford’s XL Center arrived with a focused agenda. When Stanley Robinson rose from the bench, pulled off his warm-ups and trotted onto the floor, he was greeted with a robust round of applause. It was the type of hello you offer to a friend you haven’t seen in months, only it came from almost 13,000 people.

A little more than a minute later, when the Connecticut forward grabbed an alley-oop from Donnell Beverly and dunked with his familiar ferocity, the audience roared with approval. The 6-foot-9 junior, known to his teammates by the nickname Sticks, was officially back.

‘Tis the season for expanding rosters and UConn did so this week. Imagine being ranked No. 2 in the nation and having the luxury of adding a player who averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds for you last season. The Huskies are a significantly improved team as they head to Seattle for Saturday’s huge showdown with Gonzaga.

And Robinson, who wasn’t injured or serving an academic suspension last semester, might emerge from all this as one of college basketball’s most compelling stories.

Robinson finished with seven points, five rebounds, one assist, two blocks and a steal in 16 minutes. The numbers weren’t as important as his presence. Robinson had practiced just once before his debut in a 91-57 victory over Stony Brook, so there was a little rust on his game. But coach Jim Calhoun loves the way Robinson changes UConn’s appearance.

The Huskies had used a shorter, three-guard lineup through their first eight games. And it felt as if something had been missing, especially on the defensive end.

“The thing I liked, it did show that we looked more versatile with him out there,” Calhoun said. “We looked bigger, which we haven’t at times. He does contest jump shots, which is something we haven’t seen all year. Those three-pointers are going to be a little more difficult when they try to shoot them over him.”

Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell, a former UConn captain and assistant coach, knows a thing or two about Calhoun’s system and he can see Robinson making an enormous difference the rest of the season.

“He’s a terrific defender, who gives them more length and another shot blocker,” Pikiell said. “High energy, another big-time athlete. He was a little rusty tonight, but he still altered shots. They are going to be deeper and have more size. They could go with a lineup that’s just huge.

“He brings a whole new dimension to them.”

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Robinson came to UConn as a highly-touted recruit from Birmingham, Ala. The irony is he now returns after his semester off as a walk-on. He may have his name on the back of his jersey (a right not given other walk-ons) but Robinson is paying his own way to school.

When last season ended in a disappointing first-round NCAA loss, Calhoun promised personnel changes. Doug Wiggins and Curtis Kelly transferred out of the program.

But Calhoun negotiated a deal with Robinson, one with the primary goal of helping Robinson grow up.

Calhoun insists Robinson had done no wrong. He simply saw too many signs of immaturity in his player. Robinson would show up late to practice or team meetings. He would miss study hall or not go to class. Calhoun essentially suspended Robinson for the fall semester, told him he could go home to Alabama or stay in Connecticut. But if he stayed, he would not be enrolled in classes and wouldn’t be part of the team.

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