When the NCAA champions are snipping down that first string of nylon, and Luther Vandross is barely through the first verse of “One Shining Moment”, the first face you always see is the point guard. It’s as if point guards were made for March, and March was designed just for point guards.

Russell Robinson realizes this. Kansas’ lead guard is playing his fourth March of basketball. He’s done this “Big Dance” thing a time or two.

“They always say guards win games,” Robinson said.

There's something about college basketball point guards. The point guards are always, unequivocally, the glamour boys. Point guards handle the ball. They control the tempo, they make acrobatic layups, they go to the free throw line with the game on the line.

Robinson’s game has never been described as glamorous. He’s gritty. He’s the glue, people always claim.

But Robinson understands that it all might change this March. Sure, the Jayhawks have plenty of guards. There’s Mario Chalmers, the silky smooth Alaskan, who fills up stat sheets and wants the ball in crunch time. There’s Sherron Collins. A human B-12 shot off the bench. There’s Brandon Rush, Kansas’ most famous face and most prolific scorer.

But Robinson is the point guard. He’s the senior. And in March, point guards have to make plays.

“You just see around the country, as the tournament goes on, guards are going to make plays that win games,” Robinson said.

That’s exactly what Robinson did on Saturday against Texas A&M. This Big 12 semi-final match-up was supposed to be a warm-up for the Kansas–Texas main event in the final. The Aggies didn’t cooperate. Every Kansas run was countered by a big play from Texas A&M. The Aggies muscled the Jayhawks on the boards. They threw in three-pointers from behind their heads. (See: Bryan Davis’ second half three-pointer).

The Aggies just wouldn’t go away. The poor Kansas fans spent the entire second half ready to explode. Ready to witness Kansas’ knockout punch. The knockout punch never came. The Kansas fans’ fuse stayed unlit. Then the Aggies Domonique Kirk made two free throws and closed it to 73-71 with one minute left.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Basketball vs. Texas A&M

Photo gallery of Kansas men's basketball game against Texas A&M in the semifinal round of the Big 12 tournament Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas needed a play. So they went small. Really small.

“We took out one of our big guys and tried to create a match-up problem,” Collins said.

Bill Self put his brilliant quartet of guards on the floor: Chalmers, Rush, Collins and Robinson.

Kansas worked the ball around the perimeter, looking for a seam in the Aggie defense. All eyes were on Brandon Rush, the all-conference guard with 28 points. The Aggies focused their attention on Rush. As Robinson dribbled on the left wing, Rush moved in to set a ball screen. Both defenders shaded towards Rush, leaving a shimmer of daylight. That’s all Robinson needed. He slithered his way in the lane, and looked around.

“It was wide-open for me,” Robinson said, crediting Rush for the open lane.

Kansas’ senior point guard planted, rose up and gently rested the ball in the basket.

“In situations like that, you got to have someone that can break down the defense and create his own shot, and make plays for others in crunch time,” Robinson said after the game.

Sounds like the definition of what you need in March, doesn’t it?

Robinson sat by himself in Kansas’ locker room 20 minutes after Kansas’ victory. A few feet away, everyone wanted to talk to Brandon Rush. He had scored 28 points, made five three-pointers, and did it all just miles from his childhood home.

Robinson sat quietly and dressed. Rush was the story on Saturday. But when Kansas was in need, Robinson did what point guards do. He made a play.

Of course, they always say that guard win games, don't they?