Guard Juliana Cavallaro has made her mark on the UT women’s basketball team this season. Not only has she started all 26 games of the season, she started 27 out of 28 games her freshmen year with a total of 1,004 minutes played.
Her successfulness on the court has a lot to do with the fact that she has been playing basketball for as long as she can remember. While in high school, Cavallaro set multiple school records, including points in a single game, single-season points and free throws. After high school, Cavallaro decided to come to UT to help further her basketball career.
“One of the reasons I came to Tampa was because of the great basketball program and the coaching staff,” Cavallaro said. “Tampa is also great academically so that helped with my decision.”
In addition to the coaching staff at Tampa being one of the deciding factors for Cavallaro, the coaching staff was also very excited to welcome her on the team last year.
“Juliana had been coming to our basketball camps since she was in the seventh grade,” Coach Tom Jessee said. “She was a highly recruited player so when she decided to attend the University of Tampa. I was very excited (to have her).”
From last season to this season, Cavallaro has developed as a player and is a great asset to the team. Last season, the Spartans ended the season with a 19- 9 record and Cavallaro said she learned a lot. The transition from last season to this current season has helped Cavallaro develop even more as a player.
“I learned a lot last year and it gave me a good gauge on what to work on over the summer,” Cavallaro said. “It is much easier this year than last year and I attribute that to all the experience I had freshman year.”
Cavallaro’s growth as a player has a lot to do with her continuing strengths on the court and her ability to learn fast, developing new strengths too.
“She is willing to do anything we ask of her,” Jessee said. “She is an extremely hard worker and has become a good passing player. She has also become a very strong defender along with being a strong offender, which shows her versatility as a player.”
The Spartans just won the SSC Championship last week and are on a 13 game winning streak. Cavallaro said these are some of her proudest accomplishments this season.
During the post season games and future seasons to come, she is looking forward to improving as a player and helping her team be successful in any way she can. Cavallaro and the team are currently focused on keeping their winning streak going and making it to the National Championship.
“My favorite thing about basketball is competing,” Cavallaro said. “I am a very competitive person and that is why I am extremely excited that we are moving on in the postseason. Some big games will be coming up, but we are all working hard and focusing on what’s yet to come.”
Cavallaro has a great amount of potential and Jessee is looking for her to take the next step as a leader and voice for the team.
He thinks it is her turn to take the next step as a strong leader on the team and guide it through the seasons to come. While Cavallaro is only a sophomore, in the current direction she is headed, great things can be expected from her.
The Spartans are currently on a bye week, but the SSC Tournament semifinals start March 8.
Paige Shallcross can be reached at paige.shallcross@spartans.ut.edu.