Freshman guard getting assist from senior in trying to turn 'U' around

The Gophers women's basketball team was getting ready to play at Illinois this month when freshman Rachel Banham sent out a tweet to let everyone know the competition already had begun.

Banham divulged the results of the team's pre-game ritual: a game of charades.

"We always play charades to get us up and moving on game days," Banham said. "The other day when we played, Ki and I were on the same team, and we were sitting next to each other. We lost and we were super salty. Everyone left the room and we were still sitting in the corner, and (Ki) says, 'Gosh, losing makes my stomach hurt.'"

Ki, pronounced "key", refers to senior co-captain, Kiara Buford.

"That's just kind of how we are," Banham said. "We get really competitive. Not just in basketball, but (in) just the dumbest things."

A tweet can say a lot about a season.

The Gophers do not always win, currently holding a 12-14 overall record and a 4-8 mark in Big Ten play. They are often competitive, having lost five of eight Big Ten games after being tied or within two possessions in the last three minutes. Banham and Buford are among the most competitive players on the floor.

Banham leads the Gophers with an average of 18.4 points per game in league play, making her the fifth leading scorer in the Big Ten. As a point guard, she ranks 18th in the league in rebounding with 5.9 rebounds per game.

She has been named Big Ten player of the week once and Big Ten freshman of the week five times, the third most in the award's history.

Buford picks up on the stat sheet where Banham leaves off.

While Banham leads the Gophers in field goals (155), three-pointers (39) and three-point shooting percentage (.424), Buford is the team-leader in free throws (86), assists (84) and steals (53).

Buford is tied for 18th in the league in points per game (13.5), and she currently occupies the No. 9 spot on the Gophers' all-time scoring register, with 1,397 points.

"We just kind of trade off," Banham said. "We're kind of interchangeable."

The numbers Banham and Buford are putting up this season might be similar, but their experience level is not.

As a result, each has had a profound effect upon the other's game.

"When I'm frustrated," Banham said, "and I can't handle some of the things that are going on (on the court, Buford) takes over, and she helps me get through those things... Honestly, if I didn't have that, I'd probably be freaking out and breaking down half the time."

Banham has not melted down under pressure this season, however, even demonstrating last-second heroics when she hit a jump shot with 0.6 seconds remaining to lift the Gophers to a 65-64 victory over Virginia Tech on Nov. 26.

It was the first time the Gophers had won on a last-second shot since Feb. 15, 2009.

"You have two good players," Buford said. "You're trying to build that and make that contagious with everyone else.

"It's natural for (Banham). When you have someone with a natural talent, a natural love for the game, (who's) very smart about it, you want to spread that and make it impact as much as you can."

Buford experienced a similar mentorship of her own under Emily Fox, who played for the Gophers from 2005 to '09 and is the seventh-leading scorer in the program's history.

"I feel like I have the ability to help (lead Banham) since being around Emily for a long time," Buford said. "If I am... respecting her and bringing her into somewhat of a leadership role, I think it helps the team as well."

Buford is no stranger to the responsibilities of being a leader.

"I think I have always been somewhat of a leader on our team," Buford said, "even though you don't have captains (growing up), I defined myself as a leader when I was nine. I've been playing organized basketball since I was in second grade."

Buford is a vocal leader, always the one holding her teammates accountable, giving pre-game talks and leading game-time discussions when it's necessary.

"I talk a lot," Buford said, laughing. "I think I'm very similar to my mom. My mom talks a lot, too.

"I am a communications major. I'm the type of person that can look at somebody and say this is how she needs to be talked to. I know how to get through to certain people; I think that's a strength of mine, and I think that helps me with the vocal part of my leadership."

Even when talking about something as simple as dishing the ball under pressure, Banham is beginning to sound a little more like Buford.

"(Buford) will say I got (the ball)," Banham said. "She'll take it, and we all trust her, and I completely trust her to take it. It helps me so much."

Banham knows her role will change next season without Buford, who has already graduated and hopes to pursue professional basketball opportunities.

"I have to go up two more levels when she's gone," Banham said. "I am going to have to take up way more slack without her here because she brings so much to the court... I know that I need to bring that next year."

For now, however, the freshman can be a freshman.

"I am addicted to candy," Banham said, unbeknownst to the fact she shares the same addiction as another young talent in this town, Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley. "Skittles are the best thing in the world. I always have a bag of skittles on me. I have one in my backpack right now."

With Banham learning from Buford but bringing a distinct flavor of her own to the game, maybe another basketball team in this town is about to turn around.

Jump shots

The Gophers will take on No. 13/15 Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Williams Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear pink, as the Gophers, in partnership with CDI Breast Care, will host their annual breast cancer awareness day.