Noe Doubt

Guard returns to phenomenal women’s team with “higher basketball IQ”

When guard Jill Noe approaches the practice court, her step quickens and she smiles, even when no one is around. That’s how much she loves the game of basketball — and how grateful she is to be playing it after sitting out the last two years with serious injuries.

"Having to sit out was the most difficult thing I ever experienced in my life,” said Noe, “But I never doubted I would play again.”

It’s an attitude typical of Noe — positive, determined, focused — and one that helped her through the agony of being away from the game for so long.

In 2002-2003 Noe “hit the basketball world by storm,” according to coach Charli Turner Thorne. She led the team in scoring and was named to the Pac-10 All-freshman first team. But she missed each of the next two seasons, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee before the 2003-2004 season and then re-injuring the same knee the next summer. Still, Noe stayed patient and worked hard at long, grueling rehabilitation regimens.

"When Jill focuses on something she’s one of those truly unique people to be at another level,” says Turner Thorne. “She’s definitely one of our team leaders.”

Noe is playing at that high level again for the Sun Devils, starting almost every game this season and making up for lost time by putting up strong numbers across the board (especially in three-pointers made, assists and steals).

"The thing that’s amazing about Jill,” says coach Charli Turner Thorne, “Is that she’s more athletic than she was two years ago.”

Noe says that her injuries have made her “a smarter player” in that she doesn’t make heedless moves that could result in another injury. Also, she has better court vision and a higher basketball IQ as a result of watching the game so closely from the sidelines.

Noe’s rebirth in many ways mirrors the rebirth of ASU’s women’s basketball, which has been built by Turner Thorne and her staff into one of the top programs in the country. The team made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last year and finished with a strong 25-7 record this season, losing to Utah in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Since 2000 they have the second most wins in the PAC 10.

Neither Noe nor Turner Thorne ever looks too far ahead, preferring instead to stay focused on current goals.

"We have a little swagger,” Noe says. “We’ve set our sights high and far.”

– Michael Green

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Jill Noe in action.