Patience Starting to Pay Off for Banks

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Is Kaleb Banks set to become a difference-making player?

Signs are there.

The Indiana sophomore forward's break-through effort against Louisville -- career highs in rebounds (8), assists (3), steals (3), blocks (3), and minutes (25) in the 74-66 Empire Classic victory -- suggest as much.

Banks averages 2.2 points and 2.8 rebounds.

That Banks only scored four points against Louisville doesn't reflect his true impact in that game, and perhaps in future ones, starting with Sunday's contest against Harvard (5-1) at Indianapolis' Gainbridge Fieldhouse. IU is 4-1.

"Everybody can't score," coach Mike Woodson says. "If it was that easy to score, we would be running away with games possibly, but it's not that easy.

"He's still learning. The fact that he rebounded, he defended, he got a couple of steals, had three assists, that's making an impact when you come into the ball game.

"He's patiently been waiting to play more minutes, and he played more minutes tonight that he's played since he's been here."

Banks was part of the season-best 30-point effort from the bench. Forward Anthony Walker had 11 points, forward Payton Sparks had nine and guard CJ Guinn had six.

"I like to think that we will learn from this game and continue to grow," Woodson says. "Big Payton was great for us. CJ was great. Everybody that played contributed. That's how we've got to play the rest of the way."

For those expecting to see more from heralded freshman foward Mackenzie Mgbako (5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds), Woodson says relax.

"The bottom line is, he's still young. He's trying to learn the college game. It's a team sport. He'll be fine."

Harvard brings impressive shooting. It shoots 38.8 percent from three-point range and 47.5 percent overall. Freshman guard Malik Mack leads the way with 20.2 points on 45.5 percent three-point shooting, plus a team-leading 33 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

The Crimson have three other double-figure scorers in Chisom Okpara (16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds), Louis Lesmond (10.2), and Chandler Pigge (10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds). Justice Agogbar leads the team in rebounding (8.2) and blocked shots (19) while averaging 8.8 points.

They have road wins at Rice, UMass, and Colgate.

Coach Tommy Amaker is in his 17th season with Harvard after previous stops at Michigan and Seton Hall. His teams have won 459 games, 283 at Harvard. He has seven Ivy League titles and four NCAA tourney appearances.

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Players Mentioned

Kaleb Banks

Mackenzie Mgbako

Payton Sparks

Anthony Walker