University of Tennessee Athletics
Golden More Focused as a Sophomore
January 07, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2012
By Leslie Saloom
UTsports.com
Trae Golden was never a contestant on NBC's weight loss competition show, The Biggest Loser, but the sophomore guard went through his own transformation during the offseason, losing nearly 17 pounds.
"I really wanted to come into my sophomore season ready to play as hard as I could and be in the best shape possible," said Golden. "I figured getting my body right and focusing on the game, along with everything that comes with that, would really help me out a lot."
At 195 pounds, Golden has become a consistent force on the court for the Vols averaging 29.4 minutes and 16.3 points per game through the first eight games of the season, even earning SEC Player of the Week honors on Nov. 14.
The biggest difference in his game this season might be attributed to his newfound strength.
"I'm more confident and my game is much crisper. I'm faster, stronger and my mind is sharper. I give it all I can and just go hard every time I get on the court. I feel like I have become a better all-around player," Golden said.
Golden wasn't alone in his journey. Former Vol and current Milwaukee Buck, Tobias Harris, motivated his former teammate to join him in starting a new fitness regimen. Seeing the improvement Harris was making during the offseason squashed any hesitation Golden might have had.
"It definitely inspired me to get my body together and make sure that I stayed fit," said Golden. "You have to make a lot of sacrifices to be as good as you want to be, and I thought that was a necessary sacrifice in improving my performance."
Assistant strength and conditioning coach Troy Wills also helped keep Golden on track.
"He has kept me really strong," Golden said. "He worked with me on good things to eat and helped me with my stretching. Troy has been a big part in me getting better and getting into shape."
Putting the time in at the gym might have been the easy part compared to the strict diet Golden now follows.
"I cut out all fried foods and I started eating more salads and grilled or baked chicken. It was tough, but it was something I had to do to make sure I ate right and did everything the right way," said Golden.
Golden affords himself a cheat day every once and a while, but living with current teammate Jordan McRae is like living on temptation island.
"It's just crazy because Jordan is trying to gain weight, so while I eat my rice cakes, he sits there and eats cheeseburgers, but I know, it pays off," said Golden.
Golden's rededication to his training and spending close to six hours a day in either the gym or on the court has proved successful, for himself and the team.
"I think you have to work as hard as you can and when you do that, you will see results," Golden said. "That's something I can definitely see from an individual standpoint, but from a team standpoint, I just hope to continue contributing."
