Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler
Veronica Burton Hungry for More Ahead of Junior Campaign
11/24/2020 2:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Junior Veronica Burton knows the Wildcats are going into this season with a target on their backs. She also knows what she needs to bring to the court to give Northwestern a back-to-back championship.
Burton was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after last season and led the Big Ten with 100 steals. There's a reason people call her the Backcourt Burglar. "I can always count on myself on defense," said Burton. "That's where all my hard work shows and I take a lot of pride in my defense. I think that's how we're ultimately going to win games, on the defensive end."
She's a monster on defense but she knows she needs to bring some heat on the other end of the court after the loss of Abbie Wolf and Abi Scheid. While Burton was second on the team in points with 349, she's still critical of her offensive performance last season. "I need to be more of an offensive threat on a consistent basis," she said. "I need to pick up my offensive tendencies throughout the season while maintaining defensive aggression."
There's another thing the junior guard wants to work on: not getting in her head and keeping her confidence up throughout the season. She describes herself as her biggest critic and admits that she can get pretty hard on herself if she's not performing the way she wants to. Her teammates and coaches have been a big help in boosting her confidence. She says "Just understanding all the work I put in and knowing that I am prepared for the situation that I'm in," is the best way to get out of her head and keep going.
This season has also presented unique challenges that Burton can't control. There's so many unknowns about COVID-19, especially its long term effects that health is number one in Burton's mind. "We're basketball players but we're people first," she said. "Staying healthy is what needs to be a priority for us."
Burton thinks the team has been handling the pandemic well and following all the necessary guidelines. The virus could come from anywhere, but she finds comfort in the fact that no matter what happens, the team has the support of one another and the coaching staff. One upside to the pandemic is that the team has been spending a lot of time together, forging even stronger bonds. She thinks of her teammates as her sisters and considers them to be the best of friends. "Whether it be going on walks or watching movies, whatever it is, we're always finding a way to be together," she said.
Besides the team, Burton can find a lot of support within her family. Everyone in her family is a Division I athlete, so they can all relate to one another in their struggles and help each other overcome obstacles they face as athletes. She also comes from a long line of Wildcats that she can look to for support. Burton heard a lot about Northwestern growing up, but Northwestern has still exceeded all her expectations and she considers it her second home and has found family in her teammates. "You can't understand all the qualities of it [Northwestern], until you experience it," she said.
Her biggest fans are definitely her parents. Her dad, a former quarterback at Northwestern, has always been right by her side when it comes to basketball. She says a lot of her drive and motivation comes from him. Meanwhile she can always count on her mom, a former swimmer for the Wildcats. Her mom is always calling her and picking her up, whatever she might need. "They're keeping my head on straight and keeping me humble," said Burton.
Another place Burton finds support is in her faith. She grew up in a religious household where they prayed before almost everything. The pandemic has given her time to strengthen her relationship with her faith. All the hardships she faced, and the world faced, during the pandemic has given her a chance to reaffirm her trust in her faith. She says that she plays for an audience of one and that all her opportunities, in basketball and beyond, are a result of her faith. "Everything I do is to glorify the Lord and that motivates me to get better in all the things that I do," she said.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Burton was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after last season and led the Big Ten with 100 steals. There's a reason people call her the Backcourt Burglar. "I can always count on myself on defense," said Burton. "That's where all my hard work shows and I take a lot of pride in my defense. I think that's how we're ultimately going to win games, on the defensive end."
She's a monster on defense but she knows she needs to bring some heat on the other end of the court after the loss of Abbie Wolf and Abi Scheid. While Burton was second on the team in points with 349, she's still critical of her offensive performance last season. "I need to be more of an offensive threat on a consistent basis," she said. "I need to pick up my offensive tendencies throughout the season while maintaining defensive aggression."
There's another thing the junior guard wants to work on: not getting in her head and keeping her confidence up throughout the season. She describes herself as her biggest critic and admits that she can get pretty hard on herself if she's not performing the way she wants to. Her teammates and coaches have been a big help in boosting her confidence. She says "Just understanding all the work I put in and knowing that I am prepared for the situation that I'm in," is the best way to get out of her head and keep going.
This season has also presented unique challenges that Burton can't control. There's so many unknowns about COVID-19, especially its long term effects that health is number one in Burton's mind. "We're basketball players but we're people first," she said. "Staying healthy is what needs to be a priority for us."
Burton thinks the team has been handling the pandemic well and following all the necessary guidelines. The virus could come from anywhere, but she finds comfort in the fact that no matter what happens, the team has the support of one another and the coaching staff. One upside to the pandemic is that the team has been spending a lot of time together, forging even stronger bonds. She thinks of her teammates as her sisters and considers them to be the best of friends. "Whether it be going on walks or watching movies, whatever it is, we're always finding a way to be together," she said.
Besides the team, Burton can find a lot of support within her family. Everyone in her family is a Division I athlete, so they can all relate to one another in their struggles and help each other overcome obstacles they face as athletes. She also comes from a long line of Wildcats that she can look to for support. Burton heard a lot about Northwestern growing up, but Northwestern has still exceeded all her expectations and she considers it her second home and has found family in her teammates. "You can't understand all the qualities of it [Northwestern], until you experience it," she said.
Her biggest fans are definitely her parents. Her dad, a former quarterback at Northwestern, has always been right by her side when it comes to basketball. She says a lot of her drive and motivation comes from him. Meanwhile she can always count on her mom, a former swimmer for the Wildcats. Her mom is always calling her and picking her up, whatever she might need. "They're keeping my head on straight and keeping me humble," said Burton.
Another place Burton finds support is in her faith. She grew up in a religious household where they prayed before almost everything. The pandemic has given her time to strengthen her relationship with her faith. All the hardships she faced, and the world faced, during the pandemic has given her a chance to reaffirm her trust in her faith. She says that she plays for an audience of one and that all her opportunities, in basketball and beyond, are a result of her faith. "Everything I do is to glorify the Lord and that motivates me to get better in all the things that I do," she said.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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