By Jared Lloyd
Position:
Forward/Guard
Size:
6''6', 210 lbs.
Awards:
Second-team All-MWC honors, 2001-02
Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune first-team as a senior at Mountain View High school in Orem, 1995-96
2002-2003 Stats
16.7 points/game
4.8 rebounds/game
2.5 assists/game
45.4 field goal percentage
81.3 free throw percentage
Hansen''s list of strengths could stretch far beyond the space available for this breakdown, but the most important thing he brings to the team is experience in pressure situations. As the only senior on the team, he''s the player that has to step up and take control in tough games. He and backup center Dan Howard are the only players on the team with any NCAA tournament experience.
Basketball requires athleticism and Hansen is the most athletic player on the team. He creates off the dribble, takes the ball strong to the basket, skies high for rebounds and to block shots, and plays tough defense. Often the best player on opposing team finds himself unable to shake Hansen and failing to get good looks.
BYU fans have come to rely on Hansen for intensity and emotion on the floor. He gets the crowd involved in the game by letting the excitement he feels when playing show. Cougar fans explode in response. Opposing fans, however, find that same emotion offensive and usually pick Hansen as their favorite player to taunt.
The Cougars would be in serious trouble without Hansen''s ability to score in a variety of ways. His mid-range jumper is deadly, he''s hit 32 three pointers, and often takes off for explosive slam-dunks. When he isn''t hitting from the field, he gets to the foul line. He''s hit 148 free throws, almost twice as many as anyone else on the team.
Hansen knows his time at BYU his coming to an end. He uses that as motivation to take his game to another level. The senior has led his team to four lopsided victories heading into the conference tournament this week. He may single-handedly keep the team from making an early exit.
The Cougar offense runs through Travis Hansen. When he gets the ball, he can shoot, pass, or drive. But if the opponents can keep him from touching the ball, the team struggles. BYU needs to make sure Hansen gets involved with the offense early and often to be successful.
Hansen also needs to be intelligent at both ends of the floor and avoid picking up cheap fouls. Hansen said after playing Wyoming he doesn''t really feel in the game until he''s picked up his first foul. Still, he needs to pick his battles and be on the court for the Cougars.
Sometimes Hansen tries to do too much, to carry too much of the load. He needs to let the game come to him. When he does that successfully, he shooting percentage increases dramatically and he is very difficult to contain.