Meet Travis Bader
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 190
Year: Senior
Hometown: Okemos, Mich.
High School: Okemos
Position: Guard
2013-14 Season (Senior)
- Bader was named to the Horizon League Preseason First Team All-League.
- Named Preseason Mid-Major All-American by CBSsports.com and CollegeInsider.com.
- Joined fellow Horizon League guard Kendrick Perry as one of 30 men's basketball nominees for the Senior CLASS Award recognizing those in athletics who make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
2012-13 Season (Junior)
- Finalist for the Lou Henson award given to the top mid-major player of the year.
- Named All-Summit League First Team by league coaches and media.
- National Association of Basketball Coaches(NABC) All-District First Team.
- Broke the single-season school and league record with 139 3-pointers made.
- Led the country with 4.2 threes made per game.
- Finished 5th in the country with 22.1 points per game.
- Made a school record 11 3-pointers versus IUPUI on January 24.
- Named Academic All-Summit League.
2011-12 Season (Sophomore)
- All-Summit League Honorable Mention.
- Led The Summit League by making 3.4 treys per game, third in the NCAA.
- Reached double figures in 14 of 15 games to end the season.
- Academic Summit League Honor Roll.
- DI-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team.
- Named to the NABC Honors Court
2010-11 Season (Freshman)
- Named to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshmen All-America Team.
- Selected by The Summit League coaches and media to the All-Newcomer Team.
- Led the league with 2.7 3-pointers made per game, 44th in the country.
- Shot 44 percent from beyond the arc, sixth in The Summit League and ninth in the NCAA.
- Finished fourth in OU record book with 94 3-pointers made, tied for 13th in Summit League.
- Scored 15 points in his college debut versus West Virginia on Nov. 12.
- Made two 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 10 points versus No. 8/9 Texas in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
- Academic Summit League Honor Roll.
2009-10 Season (Redshirt)
- Redshirted for the Golden Grizzlies.
- Academic Summit League Honor Roll.
You’ve been rated as the top three-point shooter in the country and one of the best scorers in college basketball by Bleacher Report. How excited are you to bring the Oakland brand of basketball to the Horizon League?
I’m very excited, the Horizon League is obviously a great, tough conference. I think Oakland has a lot to offer to the Horizon League, all the student-athletes at Oakland are very excited.
Last season, Oakland lost to Youngstown State in the First Round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). The final score was 99-87. Is this the style of basketball Horizon League fans can expect to see in terms of offensive production?
That’s definitely what they can expect. We’re a team that likes to get up and down. If a team tries to slow it down, we’re going to try and speed it up, that’s what Oakland basketball is. We’ve been known to put points up on the board so I think you’re expected to see that style of play. Every player wants to play that fast player game, we’re the type of team if you’re not getting back on defense, we’re going to score points. I love the way we play.
This season, Oakland faces North Carolina, UCLA, California, Gonzaga, Indiana and Michigan State. How do you think games like this prepare will prepare you for Horizon League play?
I think it helps build toughness for the team. The schedules have been the same since I first got here and at first guys were walking into these arenas and kind of surprised and taking pictures. As time has went on, guys mindsets have changed and now we really expect to beat these teams, we’ve beat Tennessee two out of three years. We’re not just going out there to go up and down and the court, we expect to win.
Your father worked under Tom Izzo at Michigan State and is currently serves as an Assistant Athletic Director for the Spartans. Are you going to get him to slip on some Oakland gear at the Dec. 14 matchup when the Golden Grizzlies host the Spartans at the Palace at Auburn Hills?
I think last time we played Michigan State he went neutral and wore my high school colors. I’m sure he’ll be wearing some black this time.
You were a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, given annualy to the top mid-major player of the year last season. What’s your goal for your senior season?
My goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament. We’re coming into a new conference, we’ve seen a couple teams before, but I don’t really know all the players on teams, so that’s a challenge coming in. But we’re looking forward to that challenge. Guys on this team want to win and have that fire to get to the NCAA Tournament.
You graduated with your undergraduates degree in three years and were named to the DI-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team in 2012. How difficult is it to pursue your Master of Arts degree in communication while striving to play basketball at a high level?
There is a balance that you need to have and find out a schedule that you can study and get in the gym. For me I get in the gym two times per day and then be in the library and studying. It is difficult, the master’s program isn’t what I expected, it’s kind of time consuming. I’m only taking two classes on a Tuesday and Wednesday night so a lot of people don’t think I’m doing anything but it’s difficult, it's been interesting.
What’s been your favorite class you’ve had at Oakland?
I really enjoyed a broadcasting class with Professor Fogel, it’s really interesting what goes on. I’ve flirted with the idea of getting into broadcasting after basketball. I really enjoyed that class and that professor.
Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Last year it would have been a no brainer (Drew) Valentine. This year, I’d either say Mitch (Baenziger) or Lloyd Neely). Their personalities are very outgoing, they’re not afraid to express themselves. Lloyd is from Detroit and just has a little different sense of humor that I think is funny.
Your Twitter handle is @DarthBader3. Are you a fan of Darth Vader and Star Wars?
In high school we had this senior night and everybody makes posters. One of my friends had a poster that said 'Darth Bader' and I thought it was the worst thing in the world; I was so embarrassed it was even up there. As time has gone on at Oakland people have started calling me Darth Bader and the student section wears t-shirts and the helmets and I really think it’s a neat thing now. I’ve watched all the Star Wars but I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan.
The tradition at Oakland is every player is given a yellow brick at the start of their career and keeps it throughout their playing career. At the end of one’s career, the player writes a message on it and returns the brick. Talk about the significance of the yellow brick.
It comes from Wizard of Oz and just reminds you to stay on the path. It represents doing the right things rather they are big or little. Go to class, come to meetings on time, staying out of trouble, the little and big things that add up that can hurt your team. It’s more than just an individual; it reminds you when you look at the brick think of the team.
Tags: Oakland - Men's Basketball
