Robbie Avila is that guy wearing goggles, moving methodically around the court yet somehow providing key plays for an Indiana State team that was ranked nationally for the first time in 45 years ― since Larry Bird led the Sycamores to the 1979 national championship game.

Avila's style and build remind many viewers of two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

The comparisons are fine with him.

"Coach (Josh Schertz) always jokes around with me saying that I'm one step slower than everybody on the court," Avila said. "I tell him I'm two steps slower, because they expect me to be one step slower, so I go a little slower than that.

"It's just being able to use my strength and IQ. Obviously, everybody knows I'm not the most athletic guy, but I'm able to use my strengths toward their weaknesses. Being able to exploit that is something we've worked on."

Sycamores leading scorer Isaiah Swope is a believer.

"Robbie, he's like a bigger guard," Swope said. "He's super knowledgeable, super smart, really intelligent. Sometimes, he sees things that us guards, we don't see. And to be honest, you just got to listen (to him).

"He tells you to be somewhere or he's talking and he sees something, you've just got to move and cut around and find the flow with him throughout the game, and he'll make stuff happen."

Robbie Avila beats the 'NCAA' on 'Pat McAfee Show'

ISU was controversially kept out of the NCAA Tournament. After an NIT victory, Avila joined the "Pat McAfee Show" for a bit, playing one-on-one against the "NCAA." McAfee also offered every ISU player an opportunity to get a $10,000 sponsorship, should they win the NIT.

Robbie Avila college stats

Doyel: Something special is happening with ISU, and Terre Haute is in love

Robbie Avila highlights

How tall is Robbie Avila?

6-10, 240 pounds

Robbie Avila age

20. His birthday is Sept. 10, 2003

Robbie Avila High School

Oak Forest in suburban Chicago. He left the Bengals as their all-time leading scorer with averages of 23.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. During the winter break, Avila returned to his high school bearing gifts: Shoes for basketball players he bought with NIL money.

Robbie Avila Twitter/X, Instagram

Twitter/X: @Robbie_Avila30

Instagram: @ravila_21

Who is Indiana State's men's basketball coach?

Josh Schertz, who is in his third season with the Sycamores.

Robbie Avila joins 'Pat McAfee Show'

Avila's star rises through the Sycamores' NIT run when he appears, in uniform, on the "Pat McAfee Show." The host says he will over ISU players $10,000 sponsorships if they win the NIT. Indiana State was not selected for the NCAA Tournament despite a NET ranking (a tool used by the NCAA) of No. 29 nationally, the best ever left out of March Madness.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana State basketball: Who is Robbie Avila, aka Cream Abdul-Jabbar