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A winner all around

Senior guard Brandi McCain has proven herself on the court, but she will take much more than just basketball success from her experiences at UF.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 16, 2002

If Brandi McCain could write the perfect ending to her Florida career, the Silsbee, Texas, native would be standing at the lectern in San Antonio on March 31 helping her teammates hoist the national championship trophy for the television cameras.

But if there's one thing McCain has learned since she arrived in Gainesville four years and two severe injuries ago, it's that life isn't anything like the movies. Fate has a way of stepping in and changing all your best-laid plans.

So unlike most seniors entering the NCAA Tournament, McCain isn't desperate to go out with a bang. Sure, she wants to win. That's a natural instinct she can't control. But more than anything, McCain wants to savor the final moments of just being a college basketball player.

"This is my last one so it would be nice to go out on a high note and make a run in the tournament," McCain said. "But because of the injuries, basketball is something I don't take for granted anymore. A good run would be great because we've never gotten past the second round before. But I've won several awards that a lot of people would want and I've made some good friendships that I know will last forever. I'd trade all the awards for those friendships I've made."

McCain, 23, joined the Gators one year after the team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history and had visions of Southeastern Conference and national championships.

But after starting all 33 games as a freshman, the 5-foot-3 guard suffered her first serious injury. During the summer of 1999, she tore the ACL in her right knee playing for the World University Games team. After extensive rehab, McCain returned, then fractured her fibula and missed the final 18 games of the 1999-2000 season.

"She was highly touted (out of high school) and she was one of the best point guards in the country," Florida coach Carol Ross said. "She came in with a lot of explosive play on both the offensive and defensive ends. She is going to leave pretty much the same way. In between she has been wracked with injuries, but I think she has grown as a young woman throughout that. I think she has grown as an athlete because of the adversity she has handled. She has learned to persevere and play through the tough times. I think that will serve her greatly both on and off the court in her future."

McCain made it back. She is ranked among the top 10 in the SEC in all-time scoring (1,485), assists (543), steals (247) and 3-point field goals (214).

This season, she is averaging 15.4 points and 3.6 rebounds, was a second-team All-SEC selection and is one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Player of the Year Award. As one of two seniors on the team, much of the leadership has fallen on her.

"She means a whole lot," junior forward Courtney Cooper said. "Brandi's a leader on and off the court. Without her, the team wouldn't be as up-tempo as they are. She's a great player. She just motivates us in every way that she can.

Although soft-spoken and somewhat shy, McCain has become legendary among the Gators for her practical jokes, including telling freshmen they are wanted by the coach, then watching as the panic-stricken players head for Ross' office.

Those are the moments McCain wants to hold on to for as long as possible. But ultimately, it will end for McCain this month. One of those fairy-tale endings would be nice.

"I think I've had a great career here at Florida, but that's the one thing I want to do is win a championship," McCain said. "I've accomplished a lot of things that a player would want to accomplish. The only thing I have to say is we haven't won the big games as much as we'd like. I've made some good friends and I've gotten a good education. The only thing I haven't done in my career is win a championship."

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