Talk to Janese Banks' teammates or coaches about the standout senior and sooner or later the word leader"" is sure to come up in the conversation.
The four-year starter has been second on the team in scoring each of her four seasons and her vocal leadership on the floor is one reason the Badgers have a winning record this season.
Banks' leadership will be needed Sunday as the Badgers get set to play the conference-leading Ohio State Buckeyes, (8-3 Big Ten, 17-5 overall).
Banks is a team captain and is described by head coach Lisa Stone as a great kid.
""Janese Banks has been a leader on and off the floor, has tremendous work ethic, is a great student and a tremendous representative of our program,"" Stone said.
Stone said Banks is a great recruiter for the program and is always willing to step in and help a fellow teammate arriving on campus.
""She's got great presence, and she has an ability to communicate very well with young people,"" Stone said. ""She also wants to pursue coaching as a profession, and I think she's got a young mind and energy and a passion for the game that will allow her to pursue this area.""
Sophomore Rae Lin D'Alie said Banks showed her the ropes when she was a freshman and has been a great teammate.
""She's one of the great leaders I've ever met and ever played with. That's what she does. She takes people under her wing and helps them out no matter what,"" D'Alie said.
Banks said her leadership has developed over time.
""The older you get, the more people start to expect of you and some of the things that you do, they start to follow,"" she said.
Banks has started for four years alongside fellow senior and leading scorer Jolene Anderson. Anderson said Banks and she complement each other and have stepped up together into a leadership role.
Anderson also brought up leadership when talking about her teammate.
""Whether it's in practice or whether it's on the floor, she's always talking, always trying to help the younger kids out,"" Anderson said.
Banks said being a starter so early in her career helped with her confidence.
""I think it's easy when you have a role and you just work yourself into it. When it's given to you so early, you have to work harder to maintain it,"" Banks said.
Coach Stone said Banks was ready to start as a freshman.
""She's gifted, she works hard. I think she was ready. If we went back again, probably the same thing would happen,"" Stone said. ""She found some early confidence right away and knew the team needed her, and she really rose up.""
Banks' goals for her team include playing better on the road and being more consistent.
Coming off of last Sunday's victory at Penn State, the team's first Big Ten road win of the season and first win ever at Penn State, the Badgers are optimistic about the rest of the season. Talking more about goals, Banks said she thinks an NCAA tournament berth and a Big Ten tournament championship are both still attainable.
In order for those to come true, the Badgers will undoubtedly look to Banks to step up and finish her impressive career at Wisconsin in strong fashion.
