The Bulls will begin postseason play on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET against either Memphis or East Carolina in the AAC quarterfinals.
GAME 30 | TUE., MARCH 8, 2022 | 7 P.M. ET | ESPN+ ($)
AAC TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL | FORT WORTH, TEXAS | DICKIES ARENA
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: ESPN+ ($)
Tiffany Greene (PxP), Brooke Weisbrod (Color), Morgan Uber (Sideline)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
(2) -/RV USF BULLS | 22-7
Last Game: March 2 vs. Houston, W, 71-38
Next Game: March 8 vs. (7) Memphis/(10) ECU
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 414-283 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
VS.
(7) MEMPHIS TIGERS | 11-15
Last Game: March 2 vs. East Carolina, W, 56-53
Next Game: March 8 vs. USF (if nec.), 7 p.m. ET
Head Coach: Katrina Merriweather
Alma Mater: Cincinnati, 2001
Career Record: 128-58 (Sixth season)
at Memphis: 15-11 (First season)
OR
(10) ECU PIRATES | 11-17
Last Game: March 2 at Memphis, L, 56-53
Next Game: March 8 vs. USF (if nec.), 7 p.m. ET
Head Coach: Kim McNeill
Alma Mater: Richmond, 2000
Career Record: 87-90 (Sixth season)
at East Carolina: 28-52 (Third season)
By Joey Johnston
She had just become the 26th player in USF women’s basketball history to achieve 1,000 career points — and she did it with at least one season to spare. She would soon be named first-team All-American Athletic Conference, becoming only the sixth player in program history to be selected first-team all-conference in multiple seasons.
But for Bulls sophomore Elena Tsineke — 5-foot-8 guard from Thessaloniki, Greece, basketball artist, relentless perfectionist — that wasn’t enough to affect her well-worn routine of preparation.
“I’m very grateful for what I have done here and for the people who support me,’’ Tsineke said. “But I do play for myself. I know what I need to do and what I need to keep doing. The 1,000 points is a great achievement, but there is so much room for improvement.’’
The Bulls, who begin defense of their American Athletic Conference Tournament championship on Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, rely on Tsineke’s goal-oriented drive. She led USF in scoring (13.9 points per game) for the second straight season. But players view her approach almost as a curiosity.
“If you come home late from a game and you are tired, she is the one who wants to go to the gym and get up some shots,’’ Bulls forward Bethy Mununga said. “I think it could be 3 in the morning and she would be out there shooting. We are inspired by her. No one works harder.’’
Sometimes, USF coach Jose Fernandez said it’s a good idea for Tsineke to pull back and maybe rest a bit. Being on point — always — can be exhausting. Then again …
“El is her own hardest critic, very hard on herself,’’ Fernandez said. “But most guys who are really, really good in basketball, they take things personally. That’s why she’s really good.’’
There is another side to Tsineke, light-hearted, almost playful. She likes to dance. She likes to sing. “Usually when I’m by myself,’’ she said. “Oh, if you make me, I might sing for you. I like a lot of Christian songs.’’
Faith has always been vital for Tsineke. “It’s the first thing,’’ she said. She likes the traditions and dogma of the Greek Orthodox Church in her homeland, but for her, faith is about much more than organized religion.
“I like going to church, but it’s more about my personal relationship with God and doing the right thing for others,’’ Tsineke said.
Tsineke is quiet and studious, a friend to all, but always on schedule and properly polite. She values family and misses her parents — her father is an obstetrician and her mother is a tax officer — along with her three siblings.
She especially misses her twin sister, Katerina, who now plays at Montana after beginning her American collegiate career at East Carolina.
“My twin is my twin and nothing will change that,’’ Tsineke said. “I won’t ever be closer to any other person than my twin because she has been with me since the beginning. We didn’t want to play together (at the same school) because we wanted to go our separate ways to see what we can do.’’
At USF, Tsineke has done plenty. She has twice led the Bulls in scoring. This season, she has scored in double figures during 23 of the 28 games she has played, while shooting 82.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Bulls have gone 60-24 during her three seasons.
It’s exactly what she had in mind when USF coaches discovered her at the under-20 European Championships in Hungary. She had followed American college women’s basketball — UConn, of course — but wasn’t familiar with USF. She quickly became interested.
“I really liked the people,’’ Tsineke said. “I could sense it would be like family. The weather was more like Greece, warmer weather, so maybe it would seem like home.’’
Actually, Tampa is nothing like Thessaloniki, a Greek port city on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. Centuries ago, the city that was formed in 315 B.C., went on a building kick, constructing Aristotle Square, the Church of Saint Demetrius, Thessaloniki Concert Hall. The city was one of the early centers of Christianity. When the Apostle Paul wrote two letters to the new church at Thessaloniki, scholars believed that the First Epistle to the Thessalonians was in fact the first written book of the New Testament.
Tsineke and her family were surrounded by history, heritage and culture. She misses that occasionally, but basketball has prevented her from seeking out other Greek students on USF’s campus.
She has visited the Greek community at Tarpon Springs and is always heartened when she hears someone proclaim, “Opa!’’ It’s a Greek expression that symbolizes enthusiasm or surprise.
“When someone says that word, I think, ‘Oh, that’s my friend,’ ‘’ Tsineke said.
Overall, though, Tsineke said she is rarely homesick, other than the times that she misses her family.
“There are not as many opportunities in Greece,’’ Tsineke said. “I am very fortunate to be here. I would like to pursue basketball beyond college.
“I love basketball so much. It’s not just a sport. It’s a life thing. I feel like basketball affects all areas of my life. It’s a great combination and I can’t get enough of it.’’
Tsineke’s exacting standards can get overwhelming, though. Even she acknowledges that when she burns out with too much activity, her game tends to suffer. Her goal is to seek consistency and purpose.
At the moment, that means another AAC Tournament title for USF and a deep run into the NCAA Tournament.
“I will always put my heart out there and play super hard,’’ Tsineke said. “I will try not to be so hard on myself, but I can’t help it. I want to win. I want the best for myself and my teammates. We can’t be satisfied. We have to keep working and keep improving.’’
As always.
–#GoBulls –
