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UT Women Have Unfinished Business

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By MATTHEW POSTINS, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 7, 2007

TAMPA - Sheena Walton didn't take a diplomatic approach when it came to the University of Tampa's prospects in women's basketball this season.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush - I think we've got it this year," the senior center said.

Walton has reason to believe. The Spartans, 23-8 a year ago, lost in the first round of the NCAA South Regional last year after winning the Sunshine State Conference tournament title for a second consecutive year. The Spartans have all five starters back, including Walton, an honorable-mention all-American last season. In fact, 12 of Coach Tom Jessee's players played last season.

"Every team usually has something to fill on their team every year," Jessee said. "We didn't have to do that this year."

What Jessee and Walton hope is to build on last year's success and use last year's NCAA-opening loss to Valdosta State as motivation to fuel a trip to the Elite Eight.

That starts with playing a difficult schedule. The Spartans needed SSC Tournament titles each of the past two years to qualify for NCAA regionals, and Jessee said he felt it was "disrespectful" to the conference. So, with such an experienced team coming back, he crafted a tougher schedule out of the conference.

That meant a rematch with Valdosta State on Nov. 24, plus two meetings with West Georgia, a Lone Star Conference contender, and West Florida, which lost in the opening round of the LSC tournament last year.

"We have a tournament team label, and we don't want to put all eggs in that basket," Jessee said. "We felt we had a good enough team the last two years that we shouldn't have had to worry about winning the tourney to get in."

Walton (13.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg in 2006-07) leads a core of five senior starters that gives Jessee little to worry about besides their health. What Jessee knew he needed after last season was improved bench play. Valdosta State exposed that in the NCAA regional, as its bench outscored Tampa's 22-5.

Sophomore forward Tiara Cook (4.0 ppg) and sophomore guard Angela Guiu (4.2 ppg) lead the reserves, and Jessee believes that several backups are poised to help the starters.

"That was a challenge we issued to them," Jessee said. "Sometimes you get on the bench and you accept being a reserve player. That's not the mentality we want. We have kids in the best shape of their lives on that bench, and their skill level has improved."
Jessee used the word "special" in talking about this season. With a cavalcade of starters, an improved bench and a schedule that means business, he believes this will be the year the Spartans break through.

"Two years ago, it was very exciting reaching the NCAAs, because it was the first time," Jessee said. "Last year it was a measuring stick on how close we are.

"Now we go back this year and we have some unfinished business."

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