Thursday, December 21
Bloomington, Ind.
8:30 PM
Indiana University
vs
North Alabama
Staying Ready – Banks Embraces Off-the-Bench Role
12/21/2023 1:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Kaleb Banks will get the call. This much we know.
At some point each game, almost certainly Thursday night against North Alabama (6-6), Indiana coach Mike Woodson will gesture for Banks to leave the bench, get in the game, and make an impact. So often, he does.
"The biggest thing is coming to the game ready and be ready to play," the sophomore forward says. "Play athletic, use my athleticism to make plays for the second unit. You never know when your name is gonna get called, so just staying ready all the time. That's the biggest thing I've improved at."
IU (8-3) seeks to build momentum for January's resumption of Big Ten play, with Banks embracing his off-the-bench role. That it comes off a win over Morehead State, that he took a backseat to Anthony Walker's off-the-bench excellence, doesn't diminish his role.
Banks was one of four Hoosier reserves on Tuesday night. In 10 minutes, he had three points, three rebounds, and three assists. In 22 minutes, Walker had 18 points and nine rebounds. CJ Gunn and Payton Sparks combined for 11 minutes off the bench.
Banks was impressive at Michigan, when he totaled six points and two rebounds. He had a pair of 3-pointers against Harvard and has three for the season. He had eight rebounds, three blocks, and three steals against Louisville.
Banks won't knock Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau, and Mackenzie Mgbako out of the starting lineup. He understands that, just as he understands Woodson wants a bigger role for him if he's ready to seize it each time he gets playing opportunity.
Case in point -- he was first off the bench during Tuesday night's win over Morehead State, quickly grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring a layup.
"Coaches have been telling me to stay ready, stay ready," Banks says. "The first thing is to defend and everything else will come to you. If you start out defending, you'll stay out on the floor longer.
"I can go in, use my athleticism, knock down shots, and rebound. That's all the things they really want me to do."
Banks' aggressive defense often leads to aggressive fouls. This comes, in part, because he defends multiple positions.
At 6-8 and 220 pounds, he has the strength, versatility, and athleticism to handle inside and outside defensive assignments.
"That's a good trait I have with my size," he says. "Defense has been coming along as I'm getting stronger. I've been better at guarding fours (power forwards) when they try to push me down. Also, I can hold my own against a five (center) for a little bit. And when I guard the quick guards, I'm just continuing to work on my feet, have faster feet so I can guard the fastest of the fastest guards."
Going against Ware and Reneau in practice sharpens him, as it does the entire second unit when it goes against the starters.
"It helps both sides a lot," Ware says. "The second unit is really competitive. It's real competitive. We feel that we can be the first unit in practice with the way the second unit comes in. We feel pretty good about going against each other every day and making each other better."
Banks rooms with Reneau and is impressed with his impact. Reneau averages 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 56.6% from the field. His 30 assists tie guard Trey Galloway for the team lead.
"Malik's my dog," Banks says. "The first thing I found out about Malik is he's a hooper. I don't want to put anybody down, but he was really giving (Trayce Jackson Davis) a run for his money (last season). Now he's just evolved into that (main) guy. It's cool to see that."
Not so cool was IU's play against Morehead State. Woodson called it "awful," among other things.
"I've got to keep working as a coach to get them better to make sure we don't put ourselves in that position again."
As Walker said, "We all have to chip in. We're the sum of our parts. We don't work well if the last guy on the bench isn't doing his job. It's us as a team being able to pull together."
As for North Alabama, it's led by senior guard KJ Johnson (13.9 points), sophomore guard Jacari Lane (13.4 points), and forward Damian Forrest (9.6 points, 8.5 rebounds). Two of its losses were at Mississippi State and at Kansas State in overtime.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Kaleb Banks will get the call. This much we know.
At some point each game, almost certainly Thursday night against North Alabama (6-6), Indiana coach Mike Woodson will gesture for Banks to leave the bench, get in the game, and make an impact. So often, he does.
"The biggest thing is coming to the game ready and be ready to play," the sophomore forward says. "Play athletic, use my athleticism to make plays for the second unit. You never know when your name is gonna get called, so just staying ready all the time. That's the biggest thing I've improved at."
IU (8-3) seeks to build momentum for January's resumption of Big Ten play, with Banks embracing his off-the-bench role. That it comes off a win over Morehead State, that he took a backseat to Anthony Walker's off-the-bench excellence, doesn't diminish his role.
Banks was one of four Hoosier reserves on Tuesday night. In 10 minutes, he had three points, three rebounds, and three assists. In 22 minutes, Walker had 18 points and nine rebounds. CJ Gunn and Payton Sparks combined for 11 minutes off the bench.
Banks was impressive at Michigan, when he totaled six points and two rebounds. He had a pair of 3-pointers against Harvard and has three for the season. He had eight rebounds, three blocks, and three steals against Louisville.
Banks won't knock Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau, and Mackenzie Mgbako out of the starting lineup. He understands that, just as he understands Woodson wants a bigger role for him if he's ready to seize it each time he gets playing opportunity.
Case in point -- he was first off the bench during Tuesday night's win over Morehead State, quickly grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring a layup.
"Coaches have been telling me to stay ready, stay ready," Banks says. "The first thing is to defend and everything else will come to you. If you start out defending, you'll stay out on the floor longer.
"I can go in, use my athleticism, knock down shots, and rebound. That's all the things they really want me to do."
Banks' aggressive defense often leads to aggressive fouls. This comes, in part, because he defends multiple positions.
At 6-8 and 220 pounds, he has the strength, versatility, and athleticism to handle inside and outside defensive assignments.
"That's a good trait I have with my size," he says. "Defense has been coming along as I'm getting stronger. I've been better at guarding fours (power forwards) when they try to push me down. Also, I can hold my own against a five (center) for a little bit. And when I guard the quick guards, I'm just continuing to work on my feet, have faster feet so I can guard the fastest of the fastest guards."
Going against Ware and Reneau in practice sharpens him, as it does the entire second unit when it goes against the starters.
"It helps both sides a lot," Ware says. "The second unit is really competitive. It's real competitive. We feel that we can be the first unit in practice with the way the second unit comes in. We feel pretty good about going against each other every day and making each other better."
Banks rooms with Reneau and is impressed with his impact. Reneau averages 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 56.6% from the field. His 30 assists tie guard Trey Galloway for the team lead.
"Malik's my dog," Banks says. "The first thing I found out about Malik is he's a hooper. I don't want to put anybody down, but he was really giving (Trayce Jackson Davis) a run for his money (last season). Now he's just evolved into that (main) guy. It's cool to see that."
Not so cool was IU's play against Morehead State. Woodson called it "awful," among other things.
"I've got to keep working as a coach to get them better to make sure we don't put ourselves in that position again."
As Walker said, "We all have to chip in. We're the sum of our parts. We don't work well if the last guy on the bench isn't doing his job. It's us as a team being able to pull together."
As for North Alabama, it's led by senior guard KJ Johnson (13.9 points), sophomore guard Jacari Lane (13.4 points), and forward Damian Forrest (9.6 points, 8.5 rebounds). Two of its losses were at Mississippi State and at Kansas State in overtime.
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