University of Tennessee Athletics
Hello My Name Is: Melvin Goins
September 15, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Sept. 15, 2009
This is the final installment of a three-part series highlighting the 2009-10 Tennessee basketball newcomers. In this edition of "Hello My Name Is," UTsports.com chats it up with junior point guard Melvin Goins (pronounced GO-ins), a transfer from Mt. San Jacinto College.
Q: Since you enrolled at the beginning of the Fall semester you've had a chance to take part in a number of unsupervised open-gym scrimmages with your new Tennessee teammates. What are your initial impressions of the team and how do you feel like you fit in?
A: "My impression of the team is all good. We've got a lot of talent, and I feel like I fit in well with the team.
Q: What's something Tennessee fans don't know about you that they might find interesting?
A: "Even though I'm from San Diego, I lived in Texas for about five or six years. I lived in Dallas for about four years and also lived in Houston."
Q: Tell us what it was like to get to experience a Southeastern Conference football game for the first time.
A: "It was crazy. It was bananas. I was in the student section for a while. I stood up most of the time. I'd say the level of noise and excitement was better than an NFL game."
Q: Gary Payton or Allen Iverson?
A: "(Big sigh)... Why those two? I'd say Allen Iverson just because--I mean, Gary Payton is a great defender--but Iverson is a prolific scorer who also made All-Defensive teams. He's a proven defender who can score. I've always been a Baron Davis guy. Being from California, I watched him as a little kid when he was in high school and I was real young. Ever since I first saw him play, I've followed him. I like the way he carries himself on the court."
Q: What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you on the basketball court?
A: "Probably getting hit in the face with the ball. That's happened a couple times. I just wasn't looking. That's pretty embarrassing."
Q: In your opinion, what is your biggest strength on the basketball court? And what area of your game do you most want to improve upon?
A: "My biggest strength is making plays--on the offensive and defensive end. I'd say I'm good at just being a playmaker. The part I most want to improve is my shooting consistency. I've been working on that a lot."
Q: Who would you pick to play you in a movie about your life?
A: "Me. Who can play me better than me?"
Q: Did you play any sports other than basketball while you were growing up?
A: "I played football; I played running back, receiver and corner. I played all the way until my sophomore year of high school. Running back was my best position. I didn't like to get tackled, so I made people miss. I didn't run cats over or nothing like that. I was more of a Barry Sanders type."
Q: What kind of toys did you play with when you were little? Were you a Hot Wheels guy or an action-figure guy?
A: "I didn't play with toys. I just played sports. Anything that had to do with sports, I did it. I was a sports kid... never had action figures or anything like that."
Q: Who is your favorite pro athlete in a sport other than basketball and why?
A: "Barry Sanders. He was electrifying and entertaining. If I had to pick a current athlete, I'd say Reggie Bush."
Q: OK then. You're an NFL general manager, and you have the option of building your new franchise around Barry Sanders in his prime, or Reggie Bush in his prime. Who do you draft?
A: "Man... that's a tough one. I'm going to have to go with Reggie, just because he's from my hometown (San Diego)."
Q: Who is your favorite basketball player?
A: "Michael Jordan. He was just a fierce competitor."
Q: What three words would you use to describe head coach Bruce Pearl?
A: (Thinks and laughs)... "Intense. Intelligent. Down-to-earth."
Q: When you think about your Tennessee debut at Thompson-Boling Arena in November, what do you envision as your first big play?
A: "My first big play is stealing the ball from somebody in the open court and going in for a dunk."
Q: If Wayne Chism was a bird, what kind of bird would he be? And what would he do all day?
A: "Can a peacock fly? He'd be a bird that can't fly. Like a peacock... or an ostrich or a penguin. And he'd just play around all day."
