Sean Banks doesn't eat, sleep and breathe basketball.
He doesn't spend sleepless nights thinking about a couple ofmissed jump shots.
The freshman knows that in the grand scheme of things, winningor losing one basketball game is not life or death.
And it's Banks ability to put the game into perspective thatallows him to remain calm and poised in crunch time.
Such was the case Saturday night when the Memphis freshman wasconstantly harassed by the UAB defense and was held to just threepoints in the first half.
The mild-mannered 19-year-old returned in the second half with aveteran composure and torched UAB for 21 points.
Staying cool under pressure is something Banks said comesnaturally.
"(The poise) is something I've always had," Banks said. "I lovewinning, but there are much worse things that can happen than notwinning."
He pointed to a recent tragedy in the life of his friend asreminder of how inconsequential the outcome of a basketball gamecan be.
"My best friend lost his grandmother," he said. "So stuff likethat (reminds you) that there is much more to life."
After his second-half romp, Banks totaled 24 points, eightrebounds and four assists in No. 19 Memphis' 73-66 win over UAB.The New Jersey native said staying even-tempered is essential andit is one of his biggest assets.
"There's 40 minutes in a game, and if you're a nervous wreck thewhole game, you don't give yourself a chance to be successful,"Banks said. "You have to have some sort of poise."
While staying unruffled comes naturally for Banks, he said thesuccess he has enjoyed on the court is something he has had to workfor.
"Everywhere I've been, even at my high school program, I've hadto work to get where I was," Banks said. "So it's not like Iexpected everything to come to me."
Right now, it seems as though everything is coming to Banks andMemphis. Banks is averaging nearly 19 points and 7.5 rebounds inC-USA play, and Memphis had reeled off 10 consecutive wins.
To go along with his cool demeanor, Banks said he's mostcomfortable with the ball in his hands when the game is close.
"Do I want the ball when it's time to have it?" he asked. "WouldI want to make the big shot or the big free throw? Why not?"
With the Blazers within striking distance for most of the secondhalf, Banks was often the first option for the Tigers on offense,and he didn't disappoint -- hitting 5-of-7 from the field and3-of-3 three-pointers after the break.
The win puts Memphis a game ahead of Cincinnati, Charlotte andUAB for first-place in Conference USA.
Banks keeps a laid back perspective on the Tiger's surge to thetop of the conference.
"All I know is, we haven't won anything yet," he said.
