The first glimpses of camaraderie for the 2021-22 University of Toledo women’s basketball team were actually seen toward the end of last season.
Head coach Tricia Cullop and assistant Jessie Ivey noticed that the Rockets, despite enduring a turbulent year, were growing comfortable with one another and happy away from the basketball court.
Four of five starters returned from the 12-win team that failed to qualify for the Mid-American Conference tournament. And Cullop added a standout freshman and three high-impact transfers.
How would the influx of players affect the team’s sisterhood?
A day at Camp Miakonda was organized to find out. In October, the Rockets went through a low ropes course, ate a team meal, and went through a series of team-building activities that promoted problem-solving, communication, trust, leadership, and how to be a great teammate.
“We were trying to do everything we could to integrate the new kids,” Cullop said. “You hope that your kids are going to hang out off the court, which our kids do. But what we were trying to get out of that was fostering more communication and laughter so they could get to know each other on a deeper level. I came away from that day saying, ‘This team is going to be just fine.’ You could just see the foundation being laid.”
Five months later, Toledo is 25-4 overall, 19-1 in the MAC, the conference champion by three games, and a candidate to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The Rockets, who play Ohio at 11 a.m. Wednesday, are an overwhelming favorite to win the MAC tournament this week in Cleveland.
Talent is the overriding factor — UT won 10 of its 19 conference games by double digits, it has eight players who average at least 13 minutes per game, six who score at least six points per game, a methodical offense, and a dynamite defense. What can’t be underestimated, though, is the team’s unquestioned togetherness, a bond that players and coaches conclude has positively influenced the season.
“When you’re out on the court and playing with a group of people that you genuinely love, you want to go the extra mile,” junior guard Sophia Wiard said. “Nothing really bothers you when everyone is on the same page. We all have the same end goal and you know the person next to you will do everything they can for you.”
UC-Berkeley conducted a study of NBA teams and found that physical touch between teammates — high-fives, fist pumps, chest bumps, etc. — correlates to on-court success because it promotes cooperation, increased trust, and creates a soothing environment amid stressful situations. The findings are part of Toledo’s identity. A manager is assigned each game to count touches and a spark award is given to whichever player has the most contact with her teammates.
“It’s crucial,” Ivey said. “We talk a lot about wanting our program to be created by our culture. A big piece of that is trust. It’s one thing to sit there and say we’re a family, it’s another thing to actually be one. And you have to put in the work to do that. A big part of that is not only investing in the people around you but allowing them to invest in you as well.
“Those tough one- or two-possession games, you start to see [the togetherness] come out. Our game at Ball State, where we got down so early, you could have easily seen a team that folded. But instead, they grinded it out, trusting each other, and trusting the coaching staff during times when it was really tough.”
Previously, Cullop believes her closest teams were 2010-11 and 2016-17. It’s no coincidence that one of those teams won the WNIT and the other won the MAC tournament, advancing to March Madness for the first time since 2001.
“When you have talent, that’s one thing,” Cullop said. “You have to have talent to win. But when you also have that key ingredient of chemistry, everything goes that much smoother.”
And the affection is contagious. The assistant coach responsible for the scouting report doesn’t want to let the team down. Cullop has noticed more laughs this season that have contributed to productive coaches’ meetings and a livelier locker room.
The winning also doesn’t hurt.
“Determination and being there for each other helps us a lot,” junior guard Quinesha Lockett said.
Toledo only felt the sting of losing four times during the regular season, and after each occasion, Ivey saw a group that was deeply hurt and intent on finding out what went wrong so they could make corrections. The Rockets have done a remarkable job of bouncing back, refocusing their efforts, and staying disciplined.
They haven’t lost consecutive games all year, with winning streaks of 11 and eight games. Just as impressive and integral to their success has been the ability to find the proper adjustments after winning.
“Losses not only humble you, they make you hungry again,” Wiard said. “You tend to learn a lot more. I think coach Cullop has done a great job this year of letting us know we aren’t perfect when we win and that it’s not the end of the world when we do lose. There’s a balance of knowing that not everything is as good as it seems when we win, so we have things to improve on.”
The buy-in level makes seeing improvement easy, as does the solidarity built in part on an October day on West Sylvania Avenue.
“They understand the whole ‘we before me’ concept,” Cullop said. “You notice it when you look at the bench during the game. You don’t notice kids who are mopey because they aren’t playing. You see kids who are invested in the kids who are playing on the floor. Our kids are invested in each other. They really want to see each other succeed. More importantly, I don’t think they want to let each other down. When you care about the people that you’re playing with, you give a little extra effort.”
First Published March 8, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
