Miami head coach Tricia Cullop: 'We have the depth to do something very special with this group'

When Tricia Cullop took over at Miami just over a year ago, she had to piece together a roster on the fly. Now, in her second season at the helm, she finally has a foundation to build upon. Cullop utilized the transfer portal plenty, but also added a high-level freshman class that is expected to make an impact from day one. 

“We’ve put together a roster that’s not only talented, but we built our classes back out again,” Cullop told Rivals. “We want to keep these kids here, keep them happy and continue to thrive and get better.”

The Canes return just two players from last year, but sophomore guard Ahnay Adams has already assumed a larger role.

“She’s been just a tremendous leader,” Cullop said. “She works extremely hard, she walks the talk, and she’s someone you love in that leadership role.”

Perhaps the biggest change for Miami comes in the post. The Canes landed 6-6 center Ra Shaya Kyle from Florida, a versatile threat who dominates inside. But they also added SMU transfer Jessica Peterson alongside Washington State transfer Candace Kpetikou to bolster their frontcourt.

“This group gives us a lot of flexibility,” Cullop told Rivals. “We can go really big and pound the ball inside, or we can go small and have a 5 who can shoot the three.”

The backcourt is equally loaded with experience. UNLV transfer Amarachi Kimpson has impressed with her ability to score at all three levels, while USF’s Vittoria Blasigh adds veteran experience to a fairly young group. 

Amongst a highly-ranked class, freshman Danielle Osho has impressed this summer and adds plenty of versatility. 

“She probably had the strongest summer of our freshmen,” Cullop said. “I love her ability to play multiple positions. I could see us playing her at the 3 or the 4. I think that she has the poise and the perimeter skills to play on the perimeter facing the basket, but she could also be a great stretch four.”

But perhaps the most significant addition to this Canes squad is Quinnipiac transfer Gal Raviv. As a freshman with the Bobcats, she averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. She also had an incredibly strong summer with Israel’s national team, averaging an all-time high of 26.3 points per game. 

“I was impressed with her ability to shoot the ball,” Cullop said. “But in watching her FIBA games this summer, what really stuck out to me is what a great passer she is. She sees the ball really well…she has such a high IQ.”

Cullop envisions Raviv as a point guard who can both create and complement.

“There will be times she’s the recipient of what’s happening with someone else pushing the ball up the break and her being the first pass for a score up the sideline,” Cullop said. “But what I love about her is that she brings veteran experience. She’s played at a very high level.”

With Miami’s added depth and versatility, the expectations are clear for Cullop. 

“We have the depth to do something very special with this group and be a contender in the top half of the league and a contender for the postseason,” she said.