Tartamella to lean on core players in 13th season at helm of Johnnies

Head coach Joe Tartamella addresses the media. (Photo by Sebastian Zelaya/The Torch)

By Kyler Fox (@kylerrfox)

NEW YORK — In today’s ever-changing college basketball climate, adaptability has moved to the forefront. How will those entrusted to lead young student-athletes react to the uncertainties that fuel the modern game?

For Joe Tartamella, relying on his veterans has helped ease the chaos of constant shuffling. 

As his St. John’s women’s basketball program prepares to embark on its 50th season, Tartamella has a tough task ahead of him. Replacing the contributions of Unique Drake and Jillian Archer is no easy job, but the man who has been involved with the program for nearly half of its existence has a vision. 

“I think every year is a retool at this point in terms of the landscape,” Tartamella said Tuesday at St. John’s annual media day. “You lean on the core players you have in terms of what they’ve done here.”

“We have a lot of guys who I think can help us in that department in terms of what their experiences were. We gotta make sure that we get them together from a chemistry standpoint to be ready to go by November 4 (St. John’s opener against Saint Peter’s).”

While the Drake-Archer combo was one of the best in 2023-24, its star power left the team slightly top-heavy. With the two departed, Tartamella is focusing on a more well-rounded attack. 

“My hope is that (this season) is much more balanced in terms of how we make up ground,” he said. “We’ve got four or five players that can score double digits in any game, (and) I think we’ve got enough bodies to play much quicker.”

The Red Storm added six new faces in the offseason — and those “core players” Tartamella mentioned have been integral in spreading its culture to the newcomers. 

“Telling them to trust the process, whether it’s helping them with plays or after practice getting shots up, just helping them understand what college is all about,” graduate guard Ber’Nyah Mayo said.

“Just being a helping hand, really,” added junior forward Tara Daye. “We have a common goal of winning and everything just comes together. Once you have a common goal, it’s kind of easy.”

The team’s blend of veteran leadership and fresh talent will be crucial to replacing Drake and Archer’s production. Come November 4, assuming all players buy in, one thing will become apparent. 

St. John’s isn’t just retooling — it is reloading.