Jan. 7, 2015
Commodore History Corner Archive
Ronnie McMahan (1992-95) was a Commodore shooting guard that played at an interesting time in Vanderbilt basketball history. He played on an SEC championship squad, endured an emotional head coaching change, challenged the 3-point record book and appeared in the NIT in historic Madison Square Garden.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder from Athens, Tenn., played for McMinn County High School. His prep accolades included First Team All-State, District 5 MVP and Tri-State Area Player of the Year while averaging 26.1 points and 5.6 rebounds as a senior. McMahan’s college recruiting visits were to Tennessee, Vanderbilt and NC State. Vanderbilt and coach Eddie Fogler were the most impressive.
“When I came on campus with my initial visit there was the interaction with the players,” McMahan said recently. “Coach Fogler was part of the North Carolina system that I liked growing up as a kid. I liked what Dean Smith and North Carolina stood for. Coach Fogler showed me the rosters of NC State and Tennessee.
“He was looking for an athletic-wing and told me what we could potentially do with the success they had since he had been there. I’d only be two and a half hours from home, but academically I’d set myself up for a career beyond basketball and the rest of my life. He said the things he could offer me would exceed the expectations of what NC State and Tennessee could give me.”
As a freshman, McMahan cracked the starting lineup, playing in all 30 games and starting 23. McMahan was named to the Freshman All-SEC team. He averaged 11.2 points per game, led the team in 3-pointers made (58) and ranked second in steals (33). He tallied a season-high 26 points in a win over LSU and helped the Commodores to a 15-15 (6-10 SEC) season.
“Earning a starting position from the very beginning was very big,” McMahan said. “We had six weeks of practice going into it and I didn’t know if that was going to be possible for me to start. Coach Fogler said the potential was there and I’d have the opportunity to earn it. I earned it in practice, and got the starting role from the beginning. I felt that athletically I could contribute on both ends of the floor and that’s why they recruited me.
“Getting into college basketball play and learning from Kevin Anglin, Bruce Elder and Willie Daunic were the leaders teaching me the ropes in practice and during games. We were 15-15, but yet we had some quality wins. We beat Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) that season, which was probably the biggest highlight of the season. LSU came into our gym and Coach Fogler implemented a game plan. If we didn’t score in the fast break situation, we’d hold the basketball and take a last shot.
“We played zone and put four guys around O’Neal. As big and good as LSU was that was a big win for the program and for myself. I had 26 points in that game and it let me know that I belonged and could compete in the SEC. I had some up-and-down times. There were some games where I was nonexistent on the scoring and defensively having some lapses. Coach Fogler would remind me that every day I had to work and concentrate to be ready to help.”
Sitting out during McMahan’s freshman season with two years of eligibility were transfers Billy McCaffrey (Duke) and Chris Lawson (Indiana). The sharp shooting McCaffrey led the Commodores in scoring during his time at Vanderbilt and as a senior was the SEC Player of the Year. Lawson was a force at center.
“In practice it was obvious and apparent that their skill sets were going to help us become a very good team when (they became) eligible,” McMahan said. “In practice we would have battles going against each other and not only just myself. Coach Fogler would mix up the teams on purpose just so we would have a spirited, highly contested, competitive practice every day.
“Billy and Chris became the scout team players representing the best players that we were preparing (for). They would run the other team’s offense. Those two guys were upperclassmen from winning programs and knew how to play. We had five guys on the floor that could score, pass and understood that Coach Fogler was trying to get us to run the North Carolina system the way he liked to play. We were able to execute that at a high level.”
In McMahan’s sophomore season the Commodores were 28-6 (14-2, SEC) and SEC champions for only the third time in Vanderbilt history. The 28 wins are the most for any Commodore team as that squad compiled win streaks of 10, six and nine games. The only conference losses were on the road at Florida and Kentucky.
“We beat Louisville and Arkansas that were ranked in the top 10,” said McMahan. We also beat Kentucky when they became No. 1 in the country and beat a very good LSU team. We had couple of games where we struggled early in the Great Alaska Shootout, but when we got back we beat Alabama for our first conference win. They were really good.
“The list goes on and on about the games we won at home and on the road. At South Carolina we won the SEC title. Every game was like a business trip for us. We were skilled enough to have a chance to win every game. And we were good enough defensively to be tough on teams. We really enjoyed each other’s company.”
McMahan started all 34 games, averaging 11. 1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He ranked second on the team in 3-point field goal percentage (43.7). Vanderbilt defeated Boise State (92-72) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They followed that with a victory over Illinois (85-68) to advance to the Sweet 16. Temple put the Commodores out of the tournament with a 67-58 win.
“In the Sweet 16 unfortunately we lost against Temple,” McMahan said. “But, being out there in the NCAA Tournament and in the Kingdome, was an experience playing in that environment. As a group we were so close to moving on and yet falling short. Being on that team and playing at a high level meant a lot to me. The Illinois game that we played in Utah had us hitting on all cylinders. We actually avenged a loss against Illinois; they had beaten us in the Great Alaska Shootout. That was a big step for us.
“Kevin Anglin and Bruce Elder were seniors and the big-time leaders day in and day out. They would run the team meetings and set the tone in preseason. We changed preseason to where we did a lot of conditioning in the swimming pool. They’d go to Coach Fogler and tell him if you allow us not to run our legs so much and stay in shape in the pool, we promise we will make sure everybody is ready to play. Those two guys were the vocal leaders and they led by example on the playing floor. Bill and Chris were leaders as well, but led by their play on the court.”
At the conclusion of the season, Fogler shocked the Vanderbilt community and fans by resigning and taking the same position at South Carolina. The Vanderbilt administration was looking for a Vanderbilt alumnus as Fogler’s replacement. Cornell head coach and former Vanderbilt player Jan van Breda Kolff was their choice. Van Breda Kolff had played on Vanderbilt’s second SEC championship team in 1974 as a senior and was the SEC Player of the Year.
“It was hurtful and a depressing time,” McMahan said about the coaching change. “We were on the verge of becoming — in our minds — a perennial basketball team trying to push our program to the standards of UNC and Duke. That was our thinking and goal. Coach Fogler was bringing in recruits that usually go to the big schools like Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. We had about five guys that came in for a look, but went to Duke and other big-time schools.
“It was that type of caliber players that was all of a sudden putting Vanderbilt in the conversation. Once Coach Fogler decided that he had to leave, the administration felt they could just replace him and it would be OK. It took a lot of steam out of us. We were unsure; we were uncertain. We weren’t familiar with Coach van Breda Kolff and his style of play and what he would bring to us.
“It was an adjustment that we didn’t handle well. I know personally I didn’t handle it well. I know it was hard on McCaffrey, (Frank) Seckar and all of us. We didn’t handle it in a mature way. We had to realize that coaching changes happen and we needed to step-up and take responsibility. I thought we were still an NCAA Tournament team, but we only made it to the NIT.”
Vanderbilt was 20-12 (9-7, SEC) in McMahan’s junior season and raised his scoring average to 15.5 points a game and was selected as Third Team All-SEC. McCaffrey and Lawson were seniors, but a few key players had graduated.
“I knew with Bruce and Kevin leaving that was basically 20 points a game average gone,” McMahan said. “Since we lost some scoring I was asked to score more. I felt that I was up to that challenge. We had other guys coming in that had not played as many minutes as I had. It was difficult at the beginning of the season. The best defender always covered Billy so that gave me an opportunity to score when I had an opportunity.
“It was disappointing that we were always on the bubble for the NCAA, but yet we did not win the necessary games to gain a slot. After not making it to the NCAA our thinking was let’s try and win the NIT. We knew we were good enough for the NCAA. We didn’t do that so this was another opportunity to prove to ourselves that we can win a championship.
“We went to Oklahoma, which is tough in their gym and won. Then we won at home against New Orleans and Clemson. Then we were on our way to New York and the NIT Final Four. In New York you are playing in Madison Square Garden, and for a basketball player that is huge. That’s one of the Meccas of college basketball. You always want to say you’ve been to the Garden and played under the lights in the spotlight. That was a great, great experience for us except for not winning.”
Vanderbilt beat Kansas State to make it to the NIT finals, but was defeated by Villanova (80-73).
During the 1994-95 season, McMahan was senior captain in a rebuilding year. McCaffrey and Lawson’s departure led to a 13-15 (6-10, SEC) season in van Breda Kolff’s second year.
“That was very disappointing,” McMahan said about his final season. “It was frustrating because we had enough quality wins, but a number of bad losses that really set us back. I have plenty to blame. When I played well we won, and when I didn’t play so well we had a hard time getting victories. So a lot of that fell on me as one of the captains and a leader of the team. I needed to play better. I had to show my teammates that I was not going to allow this to happen to our team. I did not do enough for us to have a better record and season.”
McMahan began that season in reach of Phil Cox (1,724), the Vanderbilt all-time scoring leader. He fell just five points short of the record, and currently ranks fifth all-time in scoring behind Shan Foster, Jeffery Taylor, Matt Freije and Cox.
“Individually, I honestly thought if I played as well as I was capable and we won the games that we should that I would have the opportunity to get the record,” McMahan said. “But, I did not go out and think I want this record; it is the only thing that matters. I cared more about winning and getting to the postseason.
“As I got closer to it, I hoped that I’d have an opportunity to play in a game to do that. It came down to the SEC Tournament. We played LSU. I played well and we won. In the Arkansas game I played well in the first half, and then in the second half I felt like I had three guys in my hip pocket. I could not score and ultimately we lost and that was my last game as a Vanderbilt Commodore.”
McMahan averaged 18.3 points that year and was named Second Team All-SEC. Even though the transition for McMahan from playing for two coaches in Fogler and van Breda Kolff was stressful he did adapt well and learned a great deal about basketball from both men.
“VBK’s coaching style and the way he approached things was totally different than Coach Fogler,” said McMahan. “It was a hard adjustment for a number of us to change to his coaching style. As far as X’s and O’s, VBK could draw up any play to give you an opportunity to score. And a lot of the guys were system-guys who had been in a system with Coach Fogler.
“It was almost like we had to change our thinking on how we played and viewed the game with his style. Some adapted and made the transition well and some struggled with it. There was a time it was an easy transition and there were times we all struggled to get his concepts across to win.
“As a young college basketball player there were times I felt like I was rebelling, not listening or not doing what I should. Eventually, I just laced up my shoes and said this is where I am. I represent Vanderbilt and I need to go out and do my job. Immaturity on my part played a lot in that. VBK knows offense. He knows the game and how to be successful.”
McMahan’s career totals include 1,719 points (13.9-point average), shooting 41.8 percent and 38.2 percent from the 3-point line. As a 3-point shooter, McMahan ranks third all-time in 3-pointers made (296) in a career and second in career attempts (774). McMahan’s 87 three-pointers during the 1993-94 season is tied for eighth best and his 228 attempts that same year is fifth best all-time.
After finishing his college basketball career, McMahan had opportunities to play professionally.
“I played in the USBL immediately afterwards to give myself a chance to go to the Chicago Bulls pre-draft camp,” McMahan said. “The problem was in 1995 the NBA was on strike. The NBA strike lasted until September and by that time I was back in school at Vanderbilt finishing my degree. I got a call from the Chicago Bulls and tried out there. I played the best basketball of my life for a month and was the last player cut. I did not return to school. I stayed in Chicago and played for the CBA affiliate the Chicago Rockers. I still worked out twice a week with the Chicago Bulls.
“Because of how well I played they felt like I had an opportunity if one of their guards was hurt or they needed an extra body. Strength-wise they did not feel I was ready physically to handle the rigors of an NBA season. I got so close and learned so much and had such a good experience. I tried out again for the Bulls the following summer and I didn’t make it that summer. So I played in the CBA in Yakima, Wash., for over a month then I went to Europe.”
In 2003, McMahan had finished his professional career in Europe when he contacted his former Vandy teammate Kevin Anglin, who was the Montgomery Bell Academy head basketball coach. McMahan helped coached the MBA freshmen team part-time while he earned his Vanderbilt degree. The next year he was given a full-time job at MBA where he became Anglin’s assistant and remains today. McMahan is also an academic counselor and the Dean of Students for freshmen and sophomores.
“It means the world to me that I was blessed to have had the opportunity to go to Vanderbilt with success in the classroom and on the basketball court,” McMahan said. “You dream about going to college and playing basketball, but you are never guaranteed that. I was able to play four years and put my name in the record books because I played on good teams with good teammates.
“Those guys are not just my teammates, but lifelong friends as well. I stay in touch with a number of them. Coach Fogler gave me the opportunity. I tried to put my best foot forward, and I was blessed. I did not have any major injuries; all those things played a role to being successful. There are no guarantees.
“Once I got there who is to say I wouldn’t break a leg or not do what was needed in the classroom? Or maybe you don’t have the perfect teammates or chemistry? For me, it was the best decision I made and God put that out there for me. I wear my Vandy colors bright and proud. My office is decorated in Vanderbilt stuff. The kids laugh at me because I’m always wearing something from Vanderbilt. I show them that I am proud of where I went to college.”
If you have any comments or suggestions contact Bill Traughber via email WLTraughber@aol.com.
