2023-10-26 15:05:31
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Tampa, Fla. Oct. 26, 2023 – Each season with South Florida women’s basketball, new players arrive and graduating players depart. Only one thing stays the same.
The expectations.
“I like expectations,” head coach Jose Fernandez said. “We’re expected to be good. We’re expected to recruit at a national and international level. We’re expected to be a top 25-level program. We’re expected to win our conference. And we’re expected to get into the NCAA Tournament.”
“That’s the type of program we’ve built here at USF. Our goal is to continue to play to that level, keep building it stronger, and go further than we’ve gone before.”
The Bulls — coming off a 27-7 season, an American Athletic Conference regular-season championship, and an NCAA Tournament second-round appearance — are once more favorites to win the AAC and earn the program’s ninth NCAA bid in 12 seasons.
New players must emerge to cushion the loss of USF royalty, two of the best performers in program history — Elena Tsineke and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, the co-AAC Players of the Year and WNBA draft picks.
How do you replace Tsineke, a four-year starter at guard and USF’s seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,667 points?
How do you compensate for the absence of Fankam Mendjiadeu, a powerful forward who provided two seasons of pivot presence for the Bulls following transferring from Memphis, finishing her college career with 1,546 points and 1,121 rebounds while recording 24 double-doubles (fourth nationally) last season?
Short answer: You don’t.
Fernandez remains confident that three key returning starters — three-point shooting ace Sammie Puisis, point guard Aerial Wilson, and rugged forward Carla Brito — will combine with up-and-coming veterans and promising newcomers to keep alive USF’s reputation as an AAC powerhouse and a dangerous opponent.
Puisis, a Florida State transfer who was AAC Newcomer of the Year and a second-team All-AAC selection, averaged 15.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, and finished fifth nationally in three-point field goals made (109). Wilson averaged 4.4 assists, started all 34 games, and generally guarded the opposing team’s top offensive player. Brito brought grit to both sides of the floor, earning a spot on the AAC All-Freshman team while averaging 8.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest.
But for each of those returning players, Fernandez said improvement is paramount.
“I truly think Sammie is one of the best shooting guards in the entire country,” Fernandez said. “We’re working on things to diversify her game, so she can have a great season and prepare her for the next level. She needs to be able to create off the bounce, while improving her ball-handling and her finishing moves.”
Fernandez said Brito must continue to add wrinkles to her offensive game while stepping up her leadership qualities. Wilson will be challenged to contribute more offensively. It’s possible that sophomore Marina Asensio, a more polished scorer, will contribute at point guard.
“Aerial has done a great job running the team and playing defense, but we’re going to need her to knock down shots,” Fernandez said. “I think Marina will have to play more minutes. She has improved a lot defensively. And the one thing Marina can do, we can play a little faster with her and she can knock down shots.”
Fernandez said he expects prominent roles for sharp-shooting Maria Alvarez, who is healthy following two seasons with knee surgeries; Auburn transfer Romi Levy, a 6-foot-3 forward who made the 2021 SEC All-Freshman team; and returning sophomore guard Janette Aarnio.
Fernandez, accustomed to an elite pivot player, said rebounding will likely be a “collective” effort.
Senior Evelien Lutje Schipholt, a 6-2 graduate transfer from California-Berkeley, was solid as a three-year starter in the Pac-12 Conference. She averaged 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds last season.
Expect sophomore Emma Johansson (6-3), sophomore Daniela Gonzalez (6-0), junior transfer L’or Mutu (6-2) and freshman Judit Oliva Fernandez (6-2) to also contribute on the boards.
The overall freshman class of Oliva Fernandez, guard Vittoria Blasigh (5-9) and Judit Valero Rodriguez (5-11) has impressed Fernandez. “They don’t have freshman bodies,” he said.
Overall, Fernandez said the Bulls should be deeper with more balance throughout the lineup. He hopes all the mix-and-match combinations will allow the Bulls to win another AAC championship while keeping the larger goal in play — the program’s first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
As usual, the Bulls will be seasoned by an ambitious non-conference schedule, which includes the likes of Baylor, Arizona State, Texas, Alabama and NC State. The Bulls open the season at home once morest UT-Arlington on Nov. 6.
“I have no fear in playing anybody,” Fernandez said. “When your head coach has no fear, your players believe they can play anybody and beat anybody. It’s hard to get those games, but I believe you must really challenge your team in November and December to build up your resume.”
USF’s expectations demand that level of preparation.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Fernandez said.
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South Florida women’s basketball recorded its 11th 20-win season during the 2022-23 campaign. USF has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 23 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, has won over 400 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
In 2022-23, the Bulls had four players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Sammie Puisis (AAC Newcomer of the Year, All-Conference Second Team) and Carla Brito (AAC All-Freshman Team).
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