Gold Rush Feature: Small to Go Big
12/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2011
This article was originally published in the December 2011 edition of Gold Rush.
By Jay Reddick
To move forward this season, Travis McKie must more effectively move side-to-side and backward.
Improving his lateral movement, and other aspects of becoming a perimeter player, have been the sophomore star's biggest focus this offseason.
McKie largely made his living in the post last season at power forward, and finished with one of the most successful freshman campaigns in school history, including ACC top-20 finishes in scoring and rebounding. But this year's smaller roster -- the Deacons start the year with eight scholarship players, only five with college experience -- made it necessary for McKie to concentrate on a new position, small forward, and increase his versatility.
It's a challenge he has fully embraced.
"Last year, I got most of my points from hustle plays or being in the right place at the right time," McKie said. "I've been working on my lateral quickness for guarding (opposing) guards, my shooting and ballhandling. I want to perfect my all-around game."
Based on the opening returns, the move is working. McKie had 23 points and 16 rebounds in an exhibition victory over Ferrum, then posted 19 points Nov. 11 against Loyola (Md.) in his 2011-12 regular-season debut.
"Playing the post is pretty simple for me, a natural instinct -- read the defender and make your move," McKie said. "My perimeter skills are not as natural, but I'm trying to learn."
McKie spent the first half of his summer break at home in Richmond, Va., working with trainers, then returned to Wake Forest and its workout program. He said he used everything from ropes to rubber bands to parachutes in an effort to improve his agility, along with some good old-fashioned pickup games.
"It was more explosive stuff than bodybuilding," McKie said. "I didn't feel I needed to get bigger, just stronger, which I did."
His Wake Forest training program has been a little different. Greg Brittenham, the school's Director of Athletic Performance for Basketball has been working on McKie's brain as much as his body.
McKie's basketball instincts are impeccable, Brittenham said, but he has to find a way to move more quickly when his mind tells him to do something -- like training a sprinter to move at the crack of the starter's gun.
"Travis can recognize quickly where a player will drive and know where he needs to be to stop him," Brittenham said. "The issue is response. The body has to process that and get moving in response to that stimulus."
Brittenham gave McKie a series of drills to work on his eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, to take some of the thinking time out of his reactions and ultimately improve his brain function.
"We taught him how to juggle," Brittenham said. "He can juggle three balls, just reacting to what's there, and that kind of work can eventually apply to all movement."
It's things like that that show McKie is a fearless player who is willing to do anything to get better.
"He's a confident kid," said assistant coach Rusty LaRue. "He believes in himself and he believes in what we're doing, taking him out of his comfort zone. He's adding on to his game, becoming more of a full-time perimeter guy, not being complacent with where he is."
McKie seemed to show up last season as a fully formed player, scoring 20 points in two of his first four games, but he said he went through the same internal struggles as most freshmen. Even in the midst of the team's dismal season, the Richmond, Va., native latched onto a few positives and used those to reinforce his resolve.
"Mentally, now, I'm fine," McKie said matter-of-factly. "It's all about confidence and instilling confidence in your teammates. When the lights come on and the motorcycle comes out, being a part of the Wake Forest tradition, that should get you motivated and show you that you belong. I had that turning point early last season. The more good games a freshman has, the more they believe in themselves. Nobody can believe in you more than you do."
McKie will need that maturity this season. Even though he's only a sophomore, he's one of the most experienced returnees on the roster. He said as a result of last year's struggles, "I feel wiser" than most college athletes.
"I've seen the dark side, the losing side," McKie said. "Most people, when they look at college basketball, they see the light. I've been on the other side."
Those experiences make him a leader of this team, almost by default.
"Being a veteran is kind of weird," McKie said. "Last year, looking back on it, we (the freshmen) were young and dumb, and didn't always have respect for the older guys. Now I am one of the older guys, but hopefully the freshmen can see that I've had some success and respect that."
He'll lead a team expected to finish near the bottom of the ACC standings. During an 8-24 campaign last season, McKie said there were plenty of rough days, but again, he tried to find the bright spot of hope.
"I read something after Dirk Nowitzki (of the Dallas Mavericks) won his championship," McKie said. "He said if he hadn't lost (in the NBA Finals) in 2006, he wouldn't have put in the time and dedication to appreciate the championship he won in 2011. You have to, not embrace downfalls, but learn from them and get better from them."
McKie can already see the changes in this year's "veterans" -- returning starters C.J. Harris and Carson Desrosiers, plus Nikita Mescheriakov, Tony Chennault, and in the second semester, Ty Walker -- just from watching them in preseason practice.
"I've been trying to get a feel for everyone, and it's been easier to do that," McKie said. "Last year, we had five freshmen, Coach was new, and it was all an adjustment period. This year, our feet are wet, we know what to expect, and we're going to have a good year."
The Deacons' future will need to include an even bigger year from McKie, according to his coaches.
"We need him to be an All-ACC performer for us to have a great year," LaRue said. "That's a lot to put on a sophomore, but he can do it."
Head coach Jeff Bzdelik said: "Travis can't be satisfied because he led a team that didn't win games in scoring and rebounding. That's not what this is about. I need more, individually and collectively."
McKie's challenge, then, is to push himself to the limit, while doing the same for his teammates. He sounds ready.
"Everybody has to play perfect," McKie said. "Everybody has to play a lot of minutes, but everybody has to play mistake-free for us to succeed. That's the position we've been put in. We have to accept this challenge and win as many games as possible."
Name: Travis McKie
Class: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
Favorite class: Hip-Hop and Religion. "We talk about topics not usually discussed in classrooms, especially with music. I've learned there's always a message behind everything. You just have to realize what that message is and decode it. I've learned some ideas and ideology behind some of the songs."
Favorite book: "Decoded," by Jay-Z
Favorite sports movie: "Above the Rim"
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Athlete you admire most: Michael Jordan
Any pregame superstitions? Listen to music
What item tops your bucket list? "Seeing my family have it all."
If you could have dinner with one person (living or dead), who would it be? Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali
