Sophomore guard Jolene Anderson emerged as the leader and star of the women's basketball team last year in a breakout season in which she averaged almost 18 points-per-game as a freshman. But for the team to improve on last year's 12-16 record, Anderson will need a teammate to help her shoulder the load. Fellow sophomore guard Janese Banks appears ready to do just that.
There are lots of reasons to believe Banks is capable of helping the team reach the upper echelon of the Big Ten Conference. At 5'10', Banks averaged 10.6 points per game last season. Her solid season was modest and overshadowed by Anderson's, but nonetheless outstanding for a freshman. Banks' 30 points in Sunday's exhibition against UW-Parkside suggests she has made big strides since last season and is prepared to form the other half of UW's outstanding backcourt. Coaches and players agree Banks is a more confident player this year.
'Just the confidence, just knowing that my coaches believe in me, my teammates believe in me and knowing that I've worked hard this summer just to get where I want to be,' Banks said in regard to her attitude toward this year. 'I came in this year and wanted to be a leader. I wanted to step-up and didn't want to come and have the same mentality as freshmen year.'
Banks spent the summer overseas on a Big-Ten All-Star Team adding to her experience and aiding her conditioning. Anderson already notices a difference in the Banks of this year.
'This summer she improved tremendously,' Anderson said. 'She came back in great shape from traveling overseas with the Big Ten tour. She's working 100 percent all the time on defense and on offense.'
If Banks plays well, it will take pressure off of Anderson and provide Anderson with more open looks. Besides being a threat with the ball, Banks might be the most versatile player on the team. She is a scrappy, pesky defender who averaged over 1.5 steals per game last season. Being a defensive menace is just as important to Banks as scoring.
'I want to make a presence,' Banks said. 'I want to make myself known out there. Make people say, 'Alright, we got to stop her' and 'she's guarding you, you got to protect the ball.' Just things like that, I just want to be a difference-maker.'
Coming into this season as a more aware, more assured and overall better player'though still only a sophomore'Banks has already become a team leader.
'I think the thing that Janese Banks brings to the floor obviously is her leadership ability,' head coach Lisa Stone said. 'She's been vocal, both non-verbal and verbal from the standpoint of trying to help teammates and try and get better and she herself is a better player, she's more mature, more confident, more comfortable and that makes a big difference on the court.'
