The Tricia Cullop era has begun, and the University of Miami women’s basketball team is spending this summer getting acquainted with the new coach, her style of play, and many new faces on the roster.
Cullop was hired from the University of Toledo to take the UM baton from former UM coach Katie Meier, who retired last spring after 19 years with the Hurricanes. Cullop, a 52-year-old Indiana native, spent the past 16 seasons at Toledo, where she was the most successful women’s coach in school history.
Last season, Toledo posted a 28-6 record, including a 15-1 mark at home, where the Rockets averaged 4,351 fans per game, which ranked first in the MAC and 33rd nationally. The women’s team at Toledo drew almost identical numbers as the men’s team.
Cullop has been busy her first few months in South Florida building her team and trying to expand the UM fan base. Senior Jasmyne Roberts said the team has been out in the community every other Wednesday, doing service work and promoting the Hurricanes program. They fed the homeless at a shelter this week.
“She has only been here a little while herself, and she’s already trying to get us out in the community and get our team out there so people can support our team,” Roberts said of Cullop. “She’s an amazing coach, but she’s an even better person. She’s very genuine, very kind-hearted, very family oriented.”
Cullop is eager to get the 2024-25 season started.
“I love that no matter where you are, walking through an airport, people yell out `The U!’ It’s awesome to have that national recognition,” she said. “We’d love to build our attendance. I told the [Cavinder] twins,`You take care of the young people and I’ll take care of the old people.’ If they come watch us once, they’ll come back.”
Twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder, the social media influencers with 4.5 million TikTok followers, are back after taking a year off from basketball.
Haley had announced she was transferring to Texas Christian University but decided to come back to Miami. Hanna was going to quit basketball altogether, but once Haley made the decision to play a fifth year, she opted to join her.
“I knew instantly when I decided at first not to take my fifth year that I missed it and regretted it, so I re-opened up my recruiting and I was practicing and working on own for the last year,” Haley Cavinder said. “I was at TCU doing workouts, but I’m happy to be back here. I missed being a Cane, and I’m excited to get back to work for this season.”
Both siblings said they had many long conversations about whether to spend another season together on the court, and in the end, that is what they wanted.
“It comes down to do I want to play with my twin sister for my last season or go our different chapters and I just don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t go back and play with her,” Haley said.
“For me it was a slower process than it was for Haley,” Hanna said. “Just taking time away from basketball after last season I played here. My timing was different, but I knew I didn’t want to give it up and I had one season left and being back at the U is amazing.”
Cullop said after the twins put their names into the portal they reached out and asked if she would take both sisters. “I sat down, watched a lot of film, and it was a no-brainer,” she said. “They both are so talented, have great work ethic, they have a great history here. I’m thrilled to have both of them back. They were both part of the Elite Eight experience, and that’s a goal for us.
“They can show the rest of the players, `This is how we do it,’ They are two of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. They’re in the gym at 6 or 6:30 in the morning and they’re leaders on the court.”
Hanna said she and her sister are determined to help grow attendance, as well. “Women’s basketball is exploding, it’s going to help women’s sports in general. Just being able to do our part, getting fans out to our games. We’re promoting it as much as possible.”
Cullop is also impressed with Roberts.
“She’s a matchup nightmare,” Cullip said. “She can play inside or out. Can shoot at all three levels. She can drive to the hole, hit a pullup, hit a three. And she’s very determined to have a big year as a senior. She’s another player off the Elite Eight team. I’m thrilled she’s still in a Hurricane uniform.”
Among the new players on the team this year are University of Michigan transfer Cameron Williams, Notre Dame transfer Natalija Marshall and Mississippi State transfer Darrione Rogers.
Cullop added that Meier has been helpful through the transition, as have assistant coach Fitzroy Anthony and staff members Lonette Hall and Margie Gill, who were retained from Meier’s staff.
