The Full Court Press: Oliver McNally '12

With the men’s basketball team’s regular season wrapping up at home this weekend against Penn and Princeton, the Back Page gives you an opportunity to meet junior co-captain Oliver McNally, one of the team’s starting guards. In this exclusive interview, McNally reveals his pre-game playlist, a time when he was posterized by a high school player, and his apparent resemblance to a character in “The Social Network.” Every week, The Full-Court Press will give you the sort of personal scoop that you’re not likely to hear at a typical press conference.

Name: Oliver McNally

Year: 2012

Stats: This season, McNally has started all 26 games and is currently shooting 91 percent from the free throw line, putting him at fifth in the NCAA. McNally is averaging 9.8 points per game, 3.3 assists per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 1.2 blocks per game, while averaging 32.0 minutes.  McNally is shooting 48.3 percent from the field and a team best 43.8 percent behind the arc.

Now, to the questions!

1. Typical pre-game meal.

I usually eat pasta with a mix of marinara-alfredo, a chicken salad, vegetables and a mix of Powerade and water.

2. Songs you listen to before games to get pumped up.

I'm pretty weird with my pre-game music and could be the only one without Drake blaring through Beats by Dre headphones. But two songs I listen to before every game if I remember to charge my iPod are “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls and “Daylight” by Matt and Kim.

3. Favorite team to play against and why.

At Columbia—being from San Francisco, I don't have many friends in the Northeast, but my brother and a lot of people I know live in NYC so playing there in front of them always is a fun time.

4. Most ridiculous thing that has taken place in your team's locker room.

I don't think I can let you in the privacy of our locker room but there's a lot of music, so too many guys feel the need to rap and sing a long. Keith Wright is guilty of this, but he is actually talented so I guess it's okay (listen at theeKDub on Youtube).

5. Most embarrassing moment you've had on the court.

I got dunked on really badly in a pick-up game by a recruit last year. For those of you who have never played basketball, there is nothing worse in life then getting dunked on.

6. Animal that best represents your style of play and why.

I guess I'm most like a pterodactyl. At a game earlier in the season, there were fans right behind our bench that yelled that I looked like a pterodactyl version of Justin Bieber. Bigtime hit to my self-confidence.

7. The most ridiculous thing you've heard a fan yell at a game you were playing in.

Since the Social Network came out, a lot of people yell at me about looking like the actor who plays Eduardo.

8. If you could play for another sports team at Harvard, which would it be and why?

I played lacrosse until 8th grade and had a lot of fun playing it so probably lacrosse. If you add the fact that Christian Coates is on the team, it makes it a no-brainer.

9. Position you'd play in Quidditch.

Whatever position would make Hermione want me.

10. If you could go on a date with any professional athlete, who would it be?

Jeremy Lin.