Walking toward the Kohl Center court, senior point guard Travon Davis looks ready for battle. Before he reaches the floor, he peeks out of the corner of his eye and looks for his parents, grandparents, his significant other and maybe a sibling. Having reached the game safely, Davis shifts his focus from them to the game itself.
\I just make sure that my family made it safely, then its time to go play ball,"" Davis said.
That moment will be the last time Davis sees the crowd for the next two hours.
The first few plays of the game, Davis stares into the eyes of the opponent that he is guarding.
""After [the introductions], it's easy for me to focus on who's in front of me,"" Davis said. ""I look down into his eyes. You can look into a man's eyes and see if they have fear [in them].""
Davis himself has gone through some highs and lows in his life that have forged and molded him into a man.
Coming from Nazareth Academy in Argo, Ill., Davis was a three-year starter and two-time conference player of the year.
Upon his arrival, Davis was dealt an ego check as he became a backup point guard to Mike Kelley.
""When I came in, I was upset that I was not able to play,"" Davis said.
Though relegated to backup behind Kelley, it did not stop Davis from forming a relationship with him that goes beyond the game itself.
""Me and Mike's relationship is not basketball, its more like 'That's my boy, that's my cousin,'"" Davis said.
Through this relationship, Davis reinforced his passion and desire for the game.
""Mike had an indescribable love for the game,"" Davis said.
While this passion of basketball burns inside of Davis, his most important lessons about life were taught to him by his parents. While his mother Charlette gave him her love, his father Anthony taught his son about the skills that would make him a man.
""My mom is the sweetest person that you will ever meet,"" Davis said. ""With my father, I think that's where I get the toughness ... and the killer instinct [on the court].""
His father also knows something about basketball, as he played hoops for Marquette from 1977-'81. This has created a little friendly rivalry between the two, but mom tips the scales in favor of Travon.
""The biggest thing about the Marquette game is that that game is real important to mom,"" Davis said. ""I can't lose that game because of mom. Mom doesn't want her baby to lose to his dad's former team.""
As intense of a competitor as Davis is at playing basketball, he is just as friendly and affable away from the Kohl Center floor.
""Off the court, you treat people how you want to be treated,"" Davis said. ""And that's what I try to do. I want to treat people as human beings. ... I think that's really important.""
After a sophomore season that included a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis, Davis was prepared to have a more significant role in the rotation entering the 2000-'01 season.
However, Davis, along with teammate Maurice Linton, was suspended for eight games after violating NCAA rules due to the Shoe Box incident which involved Wisconsin athletes receiving substantial discounts for shoes from a store in Black Earth, Wis.
While it was a downtime within the career of Davis, an important life lesson was learned.
""I learned that not everybody is your friend,"" Davis said. ""During the course of a week, I can get 15 phone calls for tickets [to the game]. When I was not playing much my freshman year, those phone calls stopped. Before I got in trouble, I was getting phone calls from people asking me to do [this or that.]
""But when I got in trouble and I needed help, those phone calls didn't come. I was only getting phone calls from my father. He took care of [the NCAA suspension] for me. It was a blessing. I didn't worry about anything. I just dealt with it day-by-day. But the people that were calling, stopped calling. People that I thought were my friends that would help me just to call and say, 'Are you alright?,' never called. That's the biggest thing that I learned.""
Now in his senior campaign, Davis has established himself as a leader to a group of young players, particularly to freshman guard Devin Harris.
""He's kind of a big brother on the court,"" Harris said. ""At times when I'm slacking and not mentally into the game, he picks me up and starts talking to me.""
With a head coach like UW's Bo Ryan, Davis has the freedom to make split-second decisions on the court during the flow of the game, with the coaching staff's trust that he will make the right decision.
Davis appreciates Ryan's sign of respect for him, but is also aware that the coach is more critical of him than any other player on the court.
""It's all that a player can ask for,"" Davis said. ""Coach Ryan has given me everything. He has given me the leeway to make my own decisions on the court so that I'm not always looking over my shoulder. He also lets me know when I'm doing something wrong, too.""
As Davis leaves the Kohl Center court after another Badger victory, he becomes just another normal college student.
""I'm no different than anybody else and that's how I look at life,"" Davis said. ""I'm just thankful to be in this opportunity and God has really blessed me.\
