By John Evanko
With just 40 seconds left in the game, the University of Louisville men’s basketball team was up by only two points. Senior point guard Andre McGee stepped up to the line for two crucial free throws.
Although the team had been struggling from the line all game, McGee was confident. He coolly sank both free throws, helping the Cards to a 74-67 exhibition win over Georgetown College.
“Coach [Rick Pitino] always stresses that it’s going to take less turnovers and knocking down free throws in the clutch to win games,” McGee said. “Especially being a guard, we’re going to have the ball in our hands a lot in key situations, so you’ve got to be able to take the foul, get up to the line and knock them down.”
McGee leads by example. He is confident, intense and vocal. McGee is everything Pitino wants in a captain.
“He’s a great teammate. When I mess up, he tells me about it,” said Preston Knowles, a sophomore guard. “He’s a born leader.”
With so many young players on this year’s team, McGee said he feels his leadership is vital for the No. 3 Cardinals to be successful.
“T-Will and I have been here for so long and been through so many wars,” McGee said. “It’s going to be tough for guys to get adapted to everything so it’s our job to make sure everybody knows what they’re doing.”
And McGee’s teammates have noticed his contributions to the team.
“He has a positive attitude and he is always working hard,” Jerry Smith, junior guard, said.
After a sophomore year plagued by injuries, McGee worked hard in the offseason to come back strong.
Last season, McGee started 27 games, averaging 6.5 points and shooting 39.4 percent from the three point line, all while managing the team from the point guard position. Most importantly, he stayed healthy, not missing a game the entire season.
In the opening exhibition game against Georgetown College this season, McGee scored 10 points, shooting two for three from beyond the arc, including a 30-footer as time expired in the first half.
Despite his strong shooting, McGee is best known for his defensive intensity.
“Defense is the most important thing when it comes to winning,” McGee said. “The point guard is like the head of the monster. If we can cut off the point guard and make sure he’s rattled, then the team is going to fall down with them.”
Knowles said he loves playing on the front line of Louisville’s infamous full-court press with McGee.
“He’s quick like a cat so it seems like he’s everywhere,” Knowles said. “We just get hyped and try to do what we can.”
After reaching the Elite Eight last season, McGee is returning with even higher hopes for his senior year.
“Losing to North Carolina and walking away seeing the Final Four stage being brought up just makes you that much hungrier,” McGee said.
As far as what he plans to do after he graduates, McGee is keeping his options open.
“Playing professionally somewhere is always an option, but I’m getting my degree in exercise science, so personal training or massage therapy are also other routes I’m looking to go into,” McGee said.
But as for now, McGee and the rest of the Cardinals have one goal for this season: A national championship.
“That would be like the icing on the cake,” McGee said.
