Senior Jaleesa Harmon attempts a shot versus Warner University last season. | Samantha Battersby/The Minaret
For the first time in eight years, University of Tampa women’s basketball coach Tom Jessee has to do something he never expected: rebuild.
With only four players returning to the team, recruiting was even more important than usual for this season. Joining the Spartans this year are transfers Surya Gaffney, Illyssa Vivo and Moriah Hodge along with freshmen Nina Krstic, Ellie Wilbur, Latasha Kennerson and Britny Taylor.
Krstic, a 5-foot-10 guard hailing from Croatia, was named the 2010-2011 defensive player of the year for The Rock School in Gainseville, Fla., while also earning a spot on the NACA (National Association of Christian Athletes) all-tournament team. Zkk Zadar, the club team Kristic plays for in Croatia, won the national championship five years in a row (2004-2009).
As a senior at University School in Miami, Taylor averaged 22.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. The 5-foot-10 forward is the current record holder for the most points with 1,025.
Rounding out the freshmen is Wilbur, a 5-foot-8 guard who averaged seven points and five rebounds a game, and Kennertson, a 5-foot-6 guard who was the all-time leading scorer for her high school.
Although Jessee said that the freshmen are behind in terms of experience with the faster, more physical college game, he believes that “once the experience chases up to the talent, they’ll be great.”
Adding to the Spartans are two transfers from Indiana State University, junior Moriah Hodge and sophomore Illyssa Vivo, who are 6-foot-3 and 5-foot-8, respectively. Gaffney is a 6-foot-2 center that transferred from Northern Kentucky University after her freshman year.
Being one of just four returning players, Greta Bartkuke feels the pressure of helping the new women on the team succeed, but does not mind it. “We’re sisters,’’ she explained simply.
Harmon still feels like the new women on the team since she transferred to UT just last year. However, as both a senior and a captain, she knows she needs to be a leader.
Wickham is the only player returning for her fourth year, and Smith is returning from a medical redshirt last season.
The roster faced more changes as Jessee also welcomed two new assistant coaches this season. Caitlyn Mitryk, a 2010 UT graduate, and Tommy Jones, former head coach at Hillsborough Community College, bring a wealth of knowledge to the team.
While at HCC, Jones managed to turn a team that barely won eight games in each of its past six seasons into the co-conference champions.
In just two short years, he coached the Hawks to consecutive regional tournaments. Under his lead, HCC produced three conference players of the year and two McDonald’s All-Americans.
Before playing for Jessee, Mitryk was a University of South Florida Bull where she saw action in 41 games. She earned the 2010 SSC Defensive Player of the Year award as well as a spot on the all-SSC team as the Spartans’ captain her senior year.
Jessee believes that both coaches have a lot to offer the Spartans. “Jones teaches the game. We have the same philosophy. As for Caitlyn, she played for me. She knows what is expected, and she’s excited.”
Even with all of these changes, the Spartans were still ranked No. 2 in the SSC’s preseason poll conducted among the conference’s coaches and sports information directors. UT also ended the 2010-2011 season in the No. 2 position. Jessee believes that the ranking is a sign of respect for the UT program from the other teams in the conference. Harmon sees it as a compliment.
Even after losing the top three scorers, the Spartans are still viewed as a threat to the opposing teams. Furthermore, she sees it as evidence for the new girls that UT truly does have a great program.
Bartkute sees it as motivation. “Being ranked number two makes us want to work harder,” she said. “We want to prove people wrong.”
Rollins, which ended last season as No. 4 in the SSC, was ranked first to begin 2011. “Every team lost their best players,” Jessee said of the Tars’ jump in the ranking. “Rollins brought back experience. Experience can’t be taught. However, we don’t pay attention to this ranking. It’s the poll at the end of the season that we care about.”
The Spartans face a very challenging schedule this season. This past weekend, they faced the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, ranked No. 16 nationally and the No. 1 ranked Clayton State University, the defending national champions, in the Spartan Challenge.
Although UT lost 72-57 to Wisconsin- Parkside and 55-47 to Clayton State, Jessee viewed these games as a learning experience. “A hard schedule helps us improve. After this weekend, we know what it takes to be national champions.”
Having a national championship is the team’s ultimate goal; however, it isn’t their main focus. “If we have a bond and come together as a team, it will make everything else come naturally,” said Harmon.
The Spartans are set to face Puerto Rico-Bayamon on Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Martinez Center.
Analisa Trstensky can be reached at atrstensky@spartans.ut.edu.
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