![Gophers guard Rachel Banham (1) made a shot from behind the backboard while defended by Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Keena Mays (23) in the first half. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Gophers women met Southern Methodist University in a second round NIT game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis Sunday night, March 23, 2014](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/MTA32FCXTU7UYXM6NZHJQUO3K4.jpg?&w=1080)
Gophers senior guard Rachel Banham was named the Big Ten preseason player of the year — by both the media and coaches — on Tuesday at the conference's media day in Rosemount, Ill.
Sophomore center Amanda Zahui B., her teammate, also was named to the media's preseason All-Big Ten first team, which includes Banham and four other players because of a tie in the voting.
Banham averaged a league-leading 22.1 points, and 3.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals as a junior.
"[Banham's] potential is even way greater than she saw in herself," first-year Gophers coach Marlene Stollings said. "She's been very coachable. We've challenged her in some areas of her game, and she's responded.
"You're going to see Rachel play at an even higher level than you've seen previously due to her work ethic and desire to have an unbelievable senior year and take this team to the NCAA tournament."
Banham, of Lakeville, is seven points away from 2,000 in her career. She set single-season records with 750 points and 93 three-pointers last season.
Zahui, of Stockholm, Sweden, was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season. She averaged 15.1 points and a league-high 11.6 rebounds. Zahui also set a program record for blocks in a single season with 105.
Other players on the preseason team are guards Samantha Logic of Iowa, Lexie Brown of Maryland, Rachel Theriot of Nebraska and Ameryst Alston of Ohio State.
