University of Minnesota Athletics
The Glue Guy; Golden Gopher Senior Travarus Bennett
1/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Gopher senior forward Travarus Bennett is the son of two former Mississippi Valley State basketball players, Mary Bennett and Aubrey Moore, and also has uncles that played basketball at the collegiate level. Are Travarus' skills in his genes or are they a result of the strong basketball environment in which he was reared? Most likely, Golden Gopher fans will never find out, much less care. All that matters is Bennett is wearing the Maroon and Gold and playing good, team-oriented basketball, helping this year's Minnesota squad succeed in every way he can.
Travarus Bennett became a member of the Golden Gopher basketball team only last year, transferring from SW Missouri State-West Plains Junior College, where he ranks fourth on the school list for steals in a career with 121. While Bennett had adjustments to make coming to Minnesota, including the winter weather, he also had to tweak his game to playing at the "next level." When asked about the transition from a junior college to the Big Ten, Bennett commented, "They play the game smarter and tougher here. In junior college, there isn't much control of the flow of the game out there. The pace here is slower, but it's more of a strength game."
Playing smart is the strongest part of Bennett's game. He has to be a smart player if he is referred to as the "team's glue," meaning he does the little things necessary for the team to win, by the coaching staff. Good defense, steals, working for the rebound - sometimes these important points of the game can be overlooked on the highlight tapes, but they are the ones that ultimately get the victory. Bennett prides himself on being a dependable member of the team, able to contribute all over the court.
"The strongest part of my game would have to be my defense," Bennett said. "I'll do whatever it takes to win, whether that's a rebound or taking an open shot - any of the `little things' on the court. I think the `glue' thing could also be referred to as my defense, because I can contain my man well."
Friend and teammate senior guard Kerwin Fleming agrees with Bennett's role as the team's glue.
"He always plays good defense," Fleming said. "I would call him more of a silent leader, leading by his actions on the court. He influences others by what he goes out and does day in and day out."
Bennett can definitely be described as a silent but strong presence on the floor. He is arguably the Golden Gopher's best defender, but you won't see him yelling or instructing much while out there.
"I like to lead by my actions," Bennett said. "Other people on the team, like KB [junior guard Kevin Burleson] and Kerwin, like to talk a lot in practice. I go out there and do it. The team follows my leadership by seeing me out on the court."
The role models one chooses to look up to can have a large impact on a person. Hidden characteristics that an average person may not see often stand out to the admirer. It is not surprising that Bennett looks up to NBA players, Penny Hardaway of the Phoenix Suns and Scottie Pippen of the Portland Trailblazers in particular. But it's not the celebrity qualities that he notices most about them, not even the spectacular scoring highlights they can produce for "SportsCenter." Rather it is the "little things" they are relied upon to do for their team that Bennett appreciates the most about them.
"I like them because they aren't just looking to score," Bennett said. "They do a lot more than that on the court and look to help out however they can, especially Pippen."
Bennett's refreshing team-oriented play has been with him since he first began to play basketball in fourth grade. One of his proudest moments as a basketball player was how far his West Bolivar High School varsity basketball team went his senior year. While playing his final year at the high school level in Rosedale, Miss., Bennett helped lead his team to a 38-0 record heading into the Mississippi State High School Tournament championship game. The final game that season was their only loss, bringing their season-long undefeated streak to a halt. But Bennett speaks of that team with a lot of pride. It took everyone on the team working together to even get close to such an amazing achievement as a perfect season, and he still keeps in touch with those high school teammates. It was that team that Bennett chose as his "dream team" over any other one, because of how well they all worked together and how far that hard work took them.
Bennett's focus on the team first, and trying to contribute his all every game, has carried over to his time here at Minnesota. Although his name may not be mentioned in every post game wrap-up, his moves and quiet leadership certainly contributed to the Golden Gopher's success that night. "I use everything I have when I'm out there, and that's how everyone [on the Gophers] plays," Bennett said. "This team has a real unity. To be successful we need to come together and work hard."
When the month of March rolls around and the Gophers have played their final game, however far their hard work can get them, Bennett will have to clean out his locker for the last time. He will have to walk up those steps from the locker room to the nationally famous Williams Arena floor. But where will Minnesotans find their quiet leader following college? Nothing of course is set in stone, but everyone is hoping for the best, especially Bennett.
"I would like to go ahead and keep playing," Bennett said. "That would be fine. If that doesn't work out, I might go home and work with my dad in real estate down in Memphis."
But maybe fans will find him somewhere else, still on the court, but actually instructing others - as a coach. It certainly seems like a job that Bennett would be well suited for and would succeed at, teaching student-athletes that to win as a team they must work together and master those "little things" that hold a team together. The two areas the Bennett knows best about the game.
"Coaching younger kids at middle school or high school level would be a dream job," Bennett said. "Showing kids the game, showing them leadership. Working with kids is something I would really like to do."
Right now, Bennett, the player who has basketball bred into him, is focused on his senior season. After missing time early in the season with an injury, Bennett has returned his position in the starting line-up with his minutes steadily increasing as the season goes on. With production on both ends of the court, getting the steal or rebound when needed, the Golden Gophers "glue" guy is definitely getting his job done. As a member of a team that has had its fair share of ups and downs throughout the past few seasons, he is happy that this season things are really beginning to come together.
"One thing that is different about us compared to some of the other teams, like Duke or one of those, is that we had to `learn' talent. We have it but we had to develop some of it," Bennett said. "It didn't just come with the team. We work hard each and every night to achieve. Even this year when we have a larger talent base, we still go out there every night and play hard."
The hard work and team-focused mindset of Travarus Bennett is something that is not given enough attention, although that is probably the way he likes it. He is the quiet leader that makes quite a loud impact on the Golden Gopher basketball team. But perhaps we should have expected that - it's in his basketball genes.
The history behind wearing the number 21.
"When I was in seventh grade I wanted to wear the number (21), but an eighth grader already had it," Bennett said. "So I swore it when I got to eighth grade I wouldn't let anyone else wear it. It's just stuck with me. You could say I wear it all in spite."
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius
Many have heard of the debate over "nature vs. nurture." It is an examination of how much impact genetics and environment has on the development of a person. Which has more influence? Let's look at an example.
Golden Gopher senior forward Travarus Bennett is the son of two former Mississippi Valley State basketball players, Mary Bennett and Aubrey Moore, and also has uncles that played basketball at the collegiate level. Are Travarus' skills in his genes or are they a result of the strong basketball environment in which he was reared? Most likely, Golden Gopher fans will never find out, much less care. All that matters is Bennett is wearing the Maroon and Gold and playing good, team-oriented basketball, helping this year's Minnesota squad succeed in every way he can.
Travarus Bennett became a member of the Golden Gopher basketball team only last year, transferring from SW Missouri State-West Plains Junior College, where he ranks fourth on the school list for steals in a career with 121. While Bennett had adjustments to make coming to Minnesota, including the winter weather, he also had to tweak his game to playing at the "next level." When asked about the transition from a junior college to the Big Ten, Bennett commented, "They play the game smarter and tougher here. In junior college, there isn't much control of the flow of the game out there. The pace here is slower, but it's more of a strength game."
Playing smart is the strongest part of Bennett's game. He has to be a smart player if he is referred to as the "team's glue," meaning he does the little things necessary for the team to win, by the coaching staff. Good defense, steals, working for the rebound - sometimes these important points of the game can be overlooked on the highlight tapes, but they are the ones that ultimately get the victory. Bennett prides himself on being a dependable member of the team, able to contribute all over the court.
"The strongest part of my game would have to be my defense," Bennett said. "I'll do whatever it takes to win, whether that's a rebound or taking an open shot - any of the `little things' on the court. I think the `glue' thing could also be referred to as my defense, because I can contain my man well."
Friend and teammate senior guard Kerwin Fleming agrees with Bennett's role as the team's glue.
"He always plays good defense," Fleming said. "I would call him more of a silent leader, leading by his actions on the court. He influences others by what he goes out and does day in and day out."
Bennett can definitely be described as a silent but strong presence on the floor. He is arguably the Golden Gopher's best defender, but you won't see him yelling or instructing much while out there.
"I like to lead by my actions," Bennett said. "Other people on the team, like KB [junior guard Kevin Burleson] and Kerwin, like to talk a lot in practice. I go out there and do it. The team follows my leadership by seeing me out on the court."
The role models one chooses to look up to can have a large impact on a person. Hidden characteristics that an average person may not see often stand out to the admirer. It is not surprising that Bennett looks up to NBA players, Penny Hardaway of the Phoenix Suns and Scottie Pippen of the Portland Trailblazers in particular. But it's not the celebrity qualities that he notices most about them, not even the spectacular scoring highlights they can produce for "SportsCenter." Rather it is the "little things" they are relied upon to do for their team that Bennett appreciates the most about them.
"I like them because they aren't just looking to score," Bennett said. "They do a lot more than that on the court and look to help out however they can, especially Pippen."
Bennett's refreshing team-oriented play has been with him since he first began to play basketball in fourth grade. One of his proudest moments as a basketball player was how far his West Bolivar High School varsity basketball team went his senior year. While playing his final year at the high school level in Rosedale, Miss., Bennett helped lead his team to a 38-0 record heading into the Mississippi State High School Tournament championship game. The final game that season was their only loss, bringing their season-long undefeated streak to a halt. But Bennett speaks of that team with a lot of pride. It took everyone on the team working together to even get close to such an amazing achievement as a perfect season, and he still keeps in touch with those high school teammates. It was that team that Bennett chose as his "dream team" over any other one, because of how well they all worked together and how far that hard work took them.
Bennett's focus on the team first, and trying to contribute his all every game, has carried over to his time here at Minnesota. Although his name may not be mentioned in every post game wrap-up, his moves and quiet leadership certainly contributed to the Golden Gopher's success that night. "I use everything I have when I'm out there, and that's how everyone [on the Gophers] plays," Bennett said. "This team has a real unity. To be successful we need to come together and work hard."
When the month of March rolls around and the Gophers have played their final game, however far their hard work can get them, Bennett will have to clean out his locker for the last time. He will have to walk up those steps from the locker room to the nationally famous Williams Arena floor. But where will Minnesotans find their quiet leader following college? Nothing of course is set in stone, but everyone is hoping for the best, especially Bennett.
"I would like to go ahead and keep playing," Bennett said. "That would be fine. If that doesn't work out, I might go home and work with my dad in real estate down in Memphis."
But maybe fans will find him somewhere else, still on the court, but actually instructing others - as a coach. It certainly seems like a job that Bennett would be well suited for and would succeed at, teaching student-athletes that to win as a team they must work together and master those "little things" that hold a team together. The two areas the Bennett knows best about the game.
"Coaching younger kids at middle school or high school level would be a dream job," Bennett said. "Showing kids the game, showing them leadership. Working with kids is something I would really like to do."
Right now, Bennett, the player who has basketball bred into him, is focused on his senior season. After missing time early in the season with an injury, Bennett has returned his position in the starting line-up with his minutes steadily increasing as the season goes on. With production on both ends of the court, getting the steal or rebound when needed, the Golden Gophers "glue" guy is definitely getting his job done. As a member of a team that has had its fair share of ups and downs throughout the past few seasons, he is happy that this season things are really beginning to come together.
"One thing that is different about us compared to some of the other teams, like Duke or one of those, is that we had to `learn' talent. We have it but we had to develop some of it," Bennett said. "It didn't just come with the team. We work hard each and every night to achieve. Even this year when we have a larger talent base, we still go out there every night and play hard."
The hard work and team-focused mindset of Travarus Bennett is something that is not given enough attention, although that is probably the way he likes it. He is the quiet leader that makes quite a loud impact on the Golden Gopher basketball team. But perhaps we should have expected that - it's in his basketball genes.
The history behind wearing the number 21.
"When I was in seventh grade I wanted to wear the number (21), but an eighth grader already had it," Bennett said. "So I swore it when I got to eighth grade I wouldn't let anyone else wear it. It's just stuck with me. You could say I wear it all in spite."
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius
