Card Game

Exclusive Lady Card Reports from Sonja:

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Women’s Championship Game Not Exactly What We Expected
It was supposed to be:

Geno vs. Pat.

BIG EAST vs. SEC. Candace vs.Maya.

Someone forgot to tell Stanford, and LSU got the memo just in the nick of time. Instead, we get Candace vs. Candice…Tara vs. Pat and the Trees vs. the Vols. Does anyone else feel cheated like I do?

Give Stanford credit for slaying UConn. They learned from an early season beating in the Virgin Island, and hit the clutch shots, made the defensive stops and got the ball inside against the Huskies. Somewhere, Rebecca Lobo is wringing
out her handerchief, and ESPN is changing all the pre-recorded advertising about the anticipated matchup. UConn got beat fair and square, and although I’d love to blame this loss on Maya Moore, I can’t. She was spectacular in defeat, and will have 3 years to seek her revenge.

LSU had it won. Two clutch freethrows with 7 seconds to go and a one-point lead. Candace Parker did her Tyus Edney imitation, though…with a variation at the end, and got the ball to Nicky Anosike for a wide open game winning layup. Oops.
Make that a game winning tip by Alexis Hornbuckle with 0.7 left. It was Alexis’s first points of the game, and gave the Vols the chance to repeat as National Champs.

It won’t be easy for them. Wiggins is dangerous from anywhere on the court. Appel is a aggressive rebounder and putback artist. Pederson and Hones will kill you from outside if allowed open looks. Heck, the Lopez brothers might even show
up in wigs and take on Parker, Hornbuckle and Anosike in the paint.

Speaking of Parker, the shoulder has to be of great concern to Summitt. So does the 47 total points in last night’s game. UT went 3-12 from the three point area..all Shannon Bobbit’s…and Stanford was 8-21. UT was 2-7 from the charity
stripe…Stanford 18-22. Wiggins had 25 points and 13 rebounds. Parker 13 points and 15 boards. The bigs will get theirs in the title game, and it will come down to who gets the best effort from the other starters and bench.

I see Tennessee and Pat getting their trophy tomorrow night if Parker can be effective, but if the shoulder affects her performance, throw the trophy to the Trees.
Going Where No Lady Cards Have Gone Before

Put Captain James T. Kirk in the command chair. Tell Scotty that you need all the power he can muster. Forget about Mr. Spock’s logic…tournament time had appeared on the horizon for the Cards, and they were ready to boldly go where no Cardinal team had gone before.

Louisville entered as a #7 seed, and we all know the story behind #7 seeds. They’ll either get knocked off in the first round, or limp thru and provide fodder on the second day for the #2 seed.

Someone forgot to explain the script to the Cards, as they finished the first day of BIG EAST action with a 63-47 win over St. John. It wasn’t a masterpiece or total blowout, but Walz played everyone except concussion sidelined Courtney Simmons and the Cards were never seriously challenged. Next, loomed the mighty C. Vivian Stringer and Rutgers. The Cards and Scarlet Knight went back and forth in an absolute

ly thrilling game, and key plays by Candyce Bingham, Laura Terry and several by Angel McCoughtry fired the shot heard around the BIG EAST, as Louisville squeaked out a 57-56 win.

Next, West Virginia University … which had defeated Louisville just 9 days earlier. The Cards came out on fire, and rolled to a 20 point halftime lead over the veteran, talented Mountaineers. You had to wonder if it would last, and WVU did come roaring back in the second half, but never grabbed the lead. Louisville had won its 3rd game in three days…67-60 over the Eers.

Tuesday night saw the Cards in a rematch with #1 seed UConn on ESPN2. The powerful Huskies looked a bit out of sync against the Cards, and although they had several double digits leads in the second half, a ferocious Louisville rally put the Cards down by only one several times late in the contest. UConn survived, winning 65-59, but Louisville won a great deal of respect and admiration from a nationwide audience. Inexplicably, Angel got snubbed for MOP of the tournament, the award going to Charde Houston…who had a big second half against the Cards.

Over 400 people packed the Parrish House on Floyd St. to watch the NCAA Women’s Tournament Selection Show on a Monday night. After being surprised to see BIG EAST powerhouses UConn and Rutgers lumped into the same regi

on, a deafening roar shook the walls as the Cards were shown as a #4 seed and would begin tournament play in Bridgeport, CT. against Miami of Ohio.

Even though the Cards looked much best on paper, the RedHawks had pulled a few upsets to get to the Big Dance, and couldn’t be overlooked. Louisville survived 25 turnovers and advanced with a double digit pasting of Miami, and got ready for Kansas St.

The #5 seed, Kansas St. was one of 8 Big 12 teams to make it to the Big Dance. With their best player out for the season, the Wildcats struggled to make it to the second round with a close win over Chattanooga. Louisville jumped on K-State early, led by 13 at the half, and coasted home with a 80-63 win. Four Cards scored in double figures, and #1 seed North Carolina awaited them in New Orleans. As long as Angel’s ankle held out..the Cards had a chance.

Much has been said about this game. The Cards big 18 point first half lead, the big discrepancy in free throws and fouls and lack of team scoring by Louisville…but know this. The Cards were simply beat by a talented team that made some excellent halftime adjustments and preyed on Louisville defensive weakness in the paint. The Cards never gave up, and cut a late 10 point deficit to 2, but could not climb back past the TarHeels and lost 78-74. The season was over, but Angel’s 35 points and Bingham’s 17 points and 20 rebounds were heroic efforts. Louisville ended the year 26-10, and created history by reaching the finals of the BIG EAST tournament and NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in Lady Cards history.

What will next year look like? The catchy song “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” easily fits here. Losing only 1 starter….assist machine Patrika Barlow, and key reserve…Courtney Simmons…the Cards return 9 players, welcome five freshmen and get fierce backline forward Yuliya Tokova back. Even Kala Faulkner is contemplating a return after sitting out last year. The freshmen are talented…Monique Reid is the best in Kentucky, Tiera Stephens and Mary Jackson
are athletic, good shooting prospects and Kentuckians Gwen Rucker and Janae Howard will provide minutes and depth for Angel, Tise and Candyce.

What will it take for the Cards to continue to go boldly where no Cardinal team has been before? Several things.

-Tise needs to continue to work on her weight and defense. She could be another Courtney Paris if she just keeps on with the remaking of herself.

-Dez Byrd or Tiera Stephens need to pick up where Patrika left off. A good point guard floor general makes the whole team better, and provides the valuable assists needed to score. Dez can do it if she works hard in the off-season, but
expect a big run from the freshman Stephens.

-Angel and Candyce must elevate their games even higher, if possible. Angel needs to eliminate the silly fouls she was prone to commit last year. Candyce needs to pick up on her outside shot skills. She showed flashes of it against
UNC, and it could prove to be a valuable weapon in ‘08-’09. We could go on and on about the subtile and minor changes needed to make this a top 5 team…but let’s just let superb Jeff Walz and his experienced coaching staff apply the
primer, paint and polish these girls into the shiny machine we all want to see next year.

A memorable season. Next year could be super special, and this group will be extremely entertaining to watch. I can hardly wait to get it started, and I’ve enjoyed sharing the results and my opinions on the Lady Cards this year. We’ll see ya further on down the road, and get out and buy those season tickets for next year!

-Sonja

Part 2: Cards Battle In The Big East

With a 10-game win streak under their belt and the BIG EAST ahead, coach Jeff Walz had to feel good about his first year as the Cards skipper. January proved to be a rocky month for the Lady Cards, though…but the lessons learned would prove invaluable come February and March.

Louisville began BIG EAST conference play with a trip to the 2007 doormat of the league… Syracuse. After a close first half, the Orange literally blew the Cards out of the Carrier Dome and put a shocking 23 point beating on Louisville. Returning home to regroup and refocus, Louisville hosted Notre Dame, and in a close game…the Irish bested the Cards by 8 in Freedom Hall. It didn’t get any easier for the Cards next time out…19,000 packed Freedom Hall to see visiting UConn, and although the Cards fought bravely, the #1 team in the nation outscored Angel and the girls by 21. The thrid game of the home stand brought rebuilding Cincinnati to town, and UofL got their first conference win with a 30-point pasting of the Bearcats.

Althought the Cards lost their next effort at Rutgers by 13, the score isn’t indicative of how close the game really was…Louisville pulled to within three with two minutes to go, but ran out of gas late on ESPNU. At 1-4, and facing a dangerous Marquette team on a win streak, one had to wonder if the Cardinal Express had fallen off the tracks, but the Cards got their 2nd conference win
over a stubborn Golden Eagles squad by 10.

The Cards returned to ESPNU to visit the Pitt Panthers, and..once again, Angel and crew collapsed late in the game, giving Pitt a nine-point victory. A trip to Cincy got the Cards back on the right track, defeating the Bearcats by 23 but ending January with a 3-5 conference record.

Coach Denny Crum used to judge his Louisville Cardinals by how well they played in February, and Jeff Walz’s ladies started the month with a 34 blow romp over South Florida in Freedom Hall. A crucial match up at DePaul on ESPN2 saw the Cards get 41 points from Angel McCoughtry and upset the Blue Demons by 11. Next, Louisville traveled to the Big Apple and got balanced scoring and excellent defense in a 22-point win over the Red Storm.

With four straight BIG EAST wins, the Cards returned to the Hall and dispatched the Hoyas on “Think Pink” night by 14. Once again, Angel McCoughtry went to the locker room during action, this time from a teeth loosening elbow from a Hoya thug, but returned to finish the game. A snowy, flight delayed trip to Jersey and Seton Hall was next on the schedule, and Louisville delivered a “Sopranos style” 36-point hit on the Pirates. The Cards closed out February by besting Providence by 25 in Freedom
Hall…winning all 6 contest during the month, and improving to 9-5 in the BIG EAST.

To acheive any shot at securing a first round bye in the BIG EAST tournament, the Cards had to win the final two regular season games, and get a little help from Notre Dame and Pitt. Neither were cooperative, and Louisville couldn’t find a way to stop West Virginia in Morgantown…losing to Olynika Sanni and the Eers by 9. Regular season play ended with the Cards dominating Villanova by 32 on senior night at Freedom Hall.

Louisville prepared for BIG EAST play as the #7 seed…with #10 St. John as the first opponent, and the possiblity of 4 games in 4 days. Walz’s girls had won eight out of their last nine, and were ready to roll.

IN PART 3, We’ll recap the Cards efforts in the BIG EAST and NCAA tournaments, and peer into the future.

AP Writers Honor Walz, McCoughtry

Angel has been selected by the Associated Press to the second team All-American squad for the second year in a row. It’s a travesy and a crying shame she didn’t garner first team honors…she’s easliy a better player than Courtney Paris of Oklahoma…but these things are usually a popularity contest anyway…and darlings Maya Moore and the Paris sisters have received considerably more national and television attention than McCoughtry this year. If I hear one more time that Courtney and her sister are Bubba Paris’s daughters…I’m going to throw an illegal screen on my television or chop block Bubba the next time I see him in public!

I have no problem with the Candace selections. Both Wiggins and Parker are exciting and dymanic players that have gotten their teams to the final four. Even with a seperated shoulder, Parker returned to the game last night with Tennessee struggling to stay ahead of Texas A&M and led them to victory.

Same goes for “Big Syl.” LSU’s Sylvia Fowles has game changing skills and led LSU past a very good UNC team to reach the final four. If they were letting me make the picks…the above mentioned three and Angel and Crystal Langhorne of
Maryland are you’re 1st team.

(That probably isn’t exactly true…I’d stuff the ballot box with Angel, Tise and Candyce Bingham)

For Walz, the bestowing of Rookie Coach of the Year in women’s D1 basketball is a very deserving honor. No rookie coach had more wins or took a team further than Walz did this year. Give the Cards 26 extra free throw attempts to even the
total that UNC got in the game, and we’re in the Great Eight.

U Conn had 3 players on the first 3 All-American teams, with Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles receiving 3rd team honors. If you ask me, Montgomery is the better all around player than Maya Moore, and was key in the comeback victory
over Rutgers last night. Moore’s stats? 7 points. Montgomery had 15. Sure, Moore’s tiebreaking 3 with 2 minutes to go was huge…but she sank 0 of the 14-14 UConn free throw attempts in the final three minutes.

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Lady Cards Look To Next Season

It was a season to remember for Women’s basketball at UofL. The team made its first ever visit to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and Big East tournament finals. Here’s a short recap of the charging Cards in 2007-08:

The Lady Cards weren’t really sure what to expect going into this basketball season. Head coach Tom Collen had packed up his staff and left for Arkansas three days after Louisville had bowed out of the 2007 NCAA tournament in the second round. Although Angel McCoughtry, BIG EAST player of the year was returning, starter Yuliya Tokova was doubtful with knee and back issues, Jazz Covington had graduated and key components Katie Olsen, Helen Johnson and Toni Slaughter were gone, too.

When Jeff Walz accepted the head coaching position, he knew that there were several key issues to solve before the first practice was ever called. The recruits that Collen had courted had to be contacted and kept in place. A staff had to be assembled. The returning players needed to know just what Walz expected of them…and summer conditioning needed to be maintained.

The girls soon found out that there was a difference in coaching styles facing them. Walz demanded that they be in the best shape possible before hitting the court, and the Cards ran, lifted and ran some more.

This flock of birds got the season off to an impressive start with exhibition wins agaisnt the Indiana All-Starts and the All-Star Girls Report. Tise had lost weight and was asserting herself on both ends of the court. Newcomer Keisha Hines showed ability in the paint and Candyce Bingham was locking down the power forward spot with her play. The Cards went on the road to Muncie, and came home with an impressive win against Ball State. The next month was a scheduling nightmare, with 8 out the next 10 on the road, and 2 tournaments to play.

Louisville went to Minnesota expecting an easy time against Western Carolina. It was far from that and the Cards took their first loss by 5. Minnesota knocked off the Cards in the second round of the Subway Classic by 5 also…and a few eyebrows raised. Were the girls buying in to what Walz was offering?

A different type of bread, the Panera Challenge gave the Cards two games in Chattanooga. Whatever was amiss in Minnesota quickly righted itself, as the Cards dispatched Murray State by 25 and Chattanooga by 27 to take the title.

December started with the Cards getting two home games in a row. Florida fell by 17 and a week later Xavier left Freedom Hall with a 22 point defeat. Angel looked to be just as unstoppable as last year, and Tise was getting more time on the court and playing with a lot more authority. Candyce’s improvement was extremely noticable and the Cards were rolling.

A 4 game road trip loomed ahead and the Cards started it in fine fashion with a 25 point trouncing of Vermont.
Next, a trip to Bowling Green to visit Crystal Kelly and WKU. The Cards shut the talented senior down and won by 16. The UK Wildcats were next and the Cards ruled Rupp Arena by 15, in a game where Angel McCoughtry took 21 stitches and still came back to preserve the win. A final journey to Baltimore let Walz, Angel and Tise play in front of family and friends…and they set Coppin State aside by 18. With 4 wins on the road in 10 days, this team was beginning to show that they were a little more than just the Angel Show and could perform on the road in pressure packed situations.

After a six-day break, the Cards hosted Mercer on the day after Christmas…and put up 99 points in a 25 point win. Four days later, Amber Holt and a MTSU team that had defeated LSU came to the Hall, and in a incredible 32 point display by both Holt and Angel…the Cards won their 10th straight and prepared for the new year and the BIG EAST.

NEXT TIME:

We’ll look at the BIG EAST Campaign and the Cards slow start.

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Angel: Bring On The Heat, Carolina

Jeff Walz’s next opponent reminds me of a line in the classic movie Ferris Buehler’s Day Off. When Cameron accidently sends his Dad’s expensive sports car through the plate glass garage window and into a clump of trees 20 feet below, Cameron responds that he’ll take the heat for it. Ferris quickly points out, “You don’t want this much heat, Cameron.”

Such is the situation for Louisville Saturday. They really don’t want the heat that the Lady Heels can provide, but…want it or not, to advance and survive they’ll have to find a way to turn down the thermostat and keep the UNC freight train from crashing thru the plate glass window.

UNC will run you all day long if you give them the opportunity. Erlana Larkins is the driver in the UNC sports car, and she’s got a definite lead foot. Pass, shoot, draw the foul or take it to the rim…Larkins can do it all, and do it very effectively. Patrika Barlow will have probably her toughest guarding
assignment of the year against Larkins…ok maybe Maya Moore was a little rougher, and it won’t get any easier when PB is directing the Cards offense.
Larkins will tie you up, strip the ball and clog the passing lanes.

Rashanda McCants is just plain big and aggressive. Tise has faced several centers like her this year, but none with the jumping ability and rebounding
skills of McCants. Watching her take apart Georgia’s front line Sunday on both ends of the court…a front line that wasn’t that bad…made me think that
Keisha Hines may see considerable court time Sunday, because Tise will be exhausted early trying to keep up with her.

LaToya Pringle is the Heels defensive stopper. The ACC thinks so, too…because she was voted ACC Defensive Player of the YEar. They’ll probably stick her on
Angel, and will most likely double team when the ball goes to her. Angel has seen it all this year, but the hands in your face…bump, bruise and bully style
of Pringle will be tough to overcome.

I have no doubt that the vast majority of women’s college basketball fans out there inked in UNC over UofL in their brackets. What must the Cards do to pull
the upset. These are Sonja’s 5 keys to victory:

1) Find Bingham! UNC will collaspe heavily on Barlow at the point and Angel. McCants will hold Tise in check. Candyce needs to get herself in a position to
get the ball and make good decisions when she receives it.

2) Get back! UNC will run. Louisville needs to be ready for that and make sure the guards are not burned after UNC defensive rebounds. Expect Courtney Simmons to log a lot of court time, because Brandie Radde is just a step too slow to be able to contain the UNC back court.

3) Stay on Larkins. Barlow, Byrd…whoever is on her needs to stick to her like glue and lessen the chances on her ability to create. Walz should borrow the old
Gene Hackman philosophy in Hoosier and demand such close defense that the defender will be able to tell what kind of gum Erlana is chewing.

4) Open up the lane with some outside bombing. Patrika Barlow showed how essential that is against K-State. During Radde’s court time she needs to do the same. Angel isn’t a high percentage three point shooter, but some 15-17 footers could help spread the TarHeels out some.

5) Prevent the runs and try to create some of your own. Not talking about panty hose or bowel movements here. Louisville had three nice offensive runs against
K-State…the 16-0 one was the key to the win. It would be great if the Cards could put together a couple of those against the Heels, but just as importantly,
they’ll need to prevent UNC from making runs of their own.

UofL has faced as tough and tougher this year. UConn and Rutgers. If the Cards can put together the games they played against both in the BIG EAST tournament they’ll be right there with a chance to win at the end. The key is getting Angel involved as a passer, shooter, decoy and aggressor and motivator. It’s a lot of hats to wear, but if we’ve learn anything about her this year we’ve found out that she’ll do whatever it takes to win.

Jeff Walz can sleep a little easier by knowing that if he does get by Hatchell, he’ll most likely face Van Chancellor of LSU next. The comedic, affable good ol’
boy of the Tigers simply puts his players on the court and tells them to go create something, and if the Cards get past UNC, I really love our chances of
taking down the Tigers. After that, hey.. it’s probably only Pat and Geno to defea to win the national championship.

And you thought your job was hard.

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Collen Started Road To Success

He’s like the 500-pound elephant sitting on your front porch that you try to ignore. He was the first coach to leave Louisville for Arkansas, and he is the guy who brought in most of the talent that is shining for the Lady Cards this year. He also endured a real roller coaster ride during his first year at Arkansas, but still needs due credit for getting the Cards to the Sweet Sizteen.

I’m talking about Tom Collen, of course….Louisville coach before Jeff Walz. He wasn’t a media grabbing, sideline pacing, all out intensity kind of guy…but he was responsible for getting Angel to the Ville, accepting Candyce Bingham’s transfer from Xavier, and giving Tise Wright guidance and a chance to play basketball.

There was some animosity and anger about Collen jumping ship just a few days after the Cards bowed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. I figured something was up when he stopped answering my e-mails, and assistant Greg Collins wouldn’t answer when I speculated that Tom might be testing the waters. But, Collen had a prior history with the LadyBacks…serving as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach from 1993-1997, before moving on to the head coaching job at Colorado State. His wife Nikki liked the Fayetteville area, and Collen had lined up some good friends and contacts while coaching there.

Then there was the money thing. It never really came out, and Tom never made mention of it, but Collen was pretty well compensated as the Cardinals coach….however, the story is that Arkansas tossed him a bone that Jurich refused to fetch financially.

There were rumors in the Cardinal camp that, although Jurich was pleased with Collen’s 87-37 record over four years, there was concern about the rather lax and laid back attitude and discipline on the Cardinal squad. Rumors of in-team squabbles, factions and a fight between two of the players during a road trip.

I know, this kind of thing goes on with just about every program out there, but you know Tom Jurich had a replacement list for probably everything in his life…from coaches to couches….and Walz had been building a name for himself as an assistant at Maryland. He had a ton of Kentucky ties, too.

Collen took over a Cardinal team that had been rocked by the departure of husband and wife team Martin Clapp and Sara White Clapp after a disappointing season that saw the Cards lose 7 out of their last 8 and miss post season play. Collen had Sara Nord, Connie Neal, Angel Bradley and Jessica Huggins returning as his top players…4 great guards, but a definite lack of height.

So, Collen went to work. Yuliya Tokoya and Jazz Covington were recruited and came to campus. Missy Taylor transfered from Purdue. Katie Olson trucked in from Colorado, where Collen had recruited her when he was at Colorado State. Slowly, the Cards improved. A WNIT bid…then 3 straight NCAA bids. Attendance for games increased every year. Collen wasn’t afraid to bring in transfers, jucos, European players…anything to continue the improve. He even replaced his own wife as an assistant and sent her to the radio broadcast team with Jim Kelch (Glad that experiment is over…) and things were looking very bright and rosy for Lady Cards hoops.

Jeff Walz inheirited a very talented group of basketball players, but…there was still work that needed to be done. The conditioning wasn’t where he wanted it to be, so the Cards ran. Weight room skills were below Walz standards, so
they lifted. Intensity on the court was below his mark, so they ran some more. Walz wanted more than just the Angel show each night, so he sat down with the star regularly…and tried to get her to buy into the concept of team basketball. It worked.

Meanwhile, Tom Collen had the LadyBacks off to a 15-0 start. Impressive, but against a pretty weak non-conference schedule. Then, right before conference play, All-American candidate Lauren Ervin blew out an ACL and was done for the
season. Other injuries followed, and Arkansas won a total of two SEC games. From the top of the mountain to the bed of the river.

Collen will bounce back. He’ll do it his way…a more laid back, philosophical, and less pressured approach. He’s already nabbed one of Louisville’s best high school players in Keira Ricketts from Fairdale. He’s got the same staff he had at UofL with him in Fayetteville, and they’ll eventually produce good results. Not sure what he’s got Nikki doing…hopefully, just raising their twins.

Cardinal hoops has advanced lightyears this season, but some of the quantum speed jump has to be credited to the previous starship captian. Collen was the right fit for the Cards at the time, and…at least in my book..he’ll go down as
one of the best to ever stand in front of the Cards bench.
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Lady Cards In Sweet 16

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Jeff Walz has a credo. He asks the University of Louisville women’s basketball team to give him 100% on the court and not worry about the score. Says that they can deal with that when they hit the locker room.

Tuesday night in Bridgeport, Conn., the Lady Cards didn’t worry about the score, never trailing against Kansas State and winning easily 80-63. This marks the Lady Cards first trip ever to the Sweet Sixteen, and they are bound for New Orleans.

Before the game, the Cards really weren’t sure just how much they could get from Angel McCoughtry. A twisted ankle isn’t exactly the best thing to run up and down a basketball court. How’s 24 points sound? McCoughtry showed no ill effects, and dazzled the crowd with her twisting baseline jumpers, layups and blocked shots?

Wondering how Tise Wright would respond after 28 minutes two nights ago? Just fine, thank you…13 points and total paint domination. Could Candyce Bingham bounce back from a subpar performance against the Miami Redhawks? Give her a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Give K-State credit for hitting 10 three-pointers against the Cards. It seemed to be the only way they could score against the aggressive, ball-hawking Cardinal defense. The Cards put together runs of 13-0 and 10-0 in the first half, and
outscored the Wildcats 20-13 during the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Louisville got excellent bench play tonight from guards Courtney Simmons and Dez Byrd…Byrd scoring 9 points, and Simmons flying all over the court with her pressing defense.

Give a big high five to Patrika Barlow as well. The senior guard nailed three nice three-pointers and ended up with 13 points.

Louisville awaits the winner of UNC v. Georgia. Either team should be very worried, because the Cards are streaking right now, and tonight showed the nation that even if Angel’s wings are a bit clipped, there is plenty of ground support for her on this Cardinal team.

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Lady Cards Advance To Round 2 With Win Over Red Hawks

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Tise Wright tallies 21 and Angel adds 20 as the Cards are never seriously challenged by Miami(O)today in Bridgeport.

The Cards trailed once in this one, at the very start after a Jenna Schon opening three put the Cards in their only deficit of the game. Louisville rallied quickly with a McCoughtry 3, a Radde layup after a Card steal and a Bingham layup after another steal to command a 7-3 lead at the 17:47 mark.

After another Schone hoop, the Cards took off again with 2 Angel freethrows, A Hines putback an a Courtney Simmons jumper for another 7-0 run and led 14-5 with 15:05 left.

Angel started another Card run by making a layup after a Barlow steal, and Tise Wright scored twice underneath the basket at 10:30 to put the Cards ahead 22-11.

A Barlow basket made it 24-11, but Miami rallied with a 7-0 run to cut it to 24-18. The RedHawks could get no closer as Tise connected inside to give the Cards a 26-18 advantage with 7:33 left. Wright scored the next 2 UofL hoops and
even Laura Terry got into the act with a 3, as the Cards went on a 13-5 run to lead 37-23.

Louisville took a 41-28 lead to the locker room, despite 17 first half turnovers, with Angel getting 14 in the first half and Tise 10.

The teams started off trading baskets in the second half…Louisville leading 49-36 after a another inside score by Tise with 16:53 to go. The Red Hawks rallied to cut the margin to 8 at 49-41 after a Amanda Jackson, but they would get no closer the rest of the way.

Bingham drilled a jumper in the paint and McCoughtry followed with a 3 to push the lead back to 12, and then Brandie Radde turned loose, hitting three consecutive threes to push the Card lead to 64-49 with 7:48 left.

Louisville enjoyed their largest lead of the game 70-51 after a McCoughtry steal and layup, but the RedHawks crawled back with a 5-0 run of their own.

During the run, Angel McCoughtry came down on Kiera Evans foot while grabbing a rebound and Angel went to the Cardinal bench with an ankle sprain at the 4:39 mark. McCoughtry would not return, but the Cards held on for the win…never
letting Miami closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Tise led the Cards with 21 points and dominated the paint on both ends of the court. Angel finished with 20 and was able to join the post game handshake line, so the ankle doesn’t appear to be too seriuosly hurt. Brandie Radde added 14 for
the Cards and Candyce finished with 8 points.

Louisville advances to play a Kansas State squad that struggled at times with Chattanooga. Tuesday game time hasn’t been set yet. A nice solid win for Jeff Walz’s squad today, and some big efforts from Radde, Wright and Angel.

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Being The Unexpected Guest Nothing New For Lady Red Hawks

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They are the party crashers, the ones you’re sure you didn’t send an invitation to but showed up…the dog that showed up at the front porch and decided to hang out for awhile. They’re perfectly comfortable in that role, and are looking to send popular guest University of Louisville home early from the party.

You go back and look at Miami of Ohio in 2005-1006 and 2006-2007 and you find nothing to indicate that a tournament team is in the making. They struggled to win 20 games…for both seasons combined. Even this year, they started the season with a resounding thud against Notre Dame. But, something happened on the way to the cellar. The RedHawks began to
get it, especially late in the year…as they won 12 out of their last 13 games.

Finishing 2nd in the MAC East Division, the RedHawks were a surprise to most, but few figured they take the tournament title over powerhouse Bowling Green or Ohio U. Guess who took the tournament crown? That’s right,the
unheralded RedHawks, knocking off the Bobcats in the title game and earning their first ever NCAA appearance.

You won’t mistake the RedHawks for UConn or Rutgers. They’re a guard oriented group, led by seniors Amanda Jackson and Jenna Schone. Louisville should have no problem in the paint with the RedHawks, but if the talented guards start to
light it up from outside…they could make it interesting.

Let’s stop for a reality check. Miami lost to Notre Dame by 48. Chattanooga downed them by 25. Unless Angel has missed the team flight, Candyce went to tour ESPN, Tise checked into a Jenny Craig weekend seminar, and Patrika has abandoned
hoops for her second love softball for the rest of the year, the Cards should win pretty easily here. Walz will need his master motivator skills to keep the Cards interested in this one by halftime…most likely.

He can point to Hartford, though…who has already knocked Syracuse out of the tourney or Pitt, who had all they wanted from Wyoming before hanging on to win.

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Breaking Down The Women’s Tournament

____________________________________________March 20

You say you’ve decided to try playing the Women’s Tournament pick’em? Unsure ofany of these teams outside of the BIG EAST or the state? Well, don’t fret or flip a coin…allow me to provide a little Women’s NCAA Tourney 101 for you.

*Note…the commentary and selections expressed here are for entertainment purposes only…and don’t you dare work on your bracket while at work.

GREENSBORO REGION

The first thing that stands out here is a potential UCONN/RUTGERS match up in the regional final. RUTGERS, however, is thin on players and has a pretty tough trip to get that far. I’m gonna concede that UCONN will make it to the regional
final…knocking off CORNELL, MINNESOTA (who could keep it close) and OLD DOMINION along the way. RUTGERS should skate past ROBERT MORRIS (Hey, what’s a guy doing in this bracket!)and IOWA ST., but could run into a long night against #6 seed GEORGE WASHINGTON (another guy?) who I think will knock off #3 CALIFORNIA. I’ll going to pencil RUTGERS in to face UCONN in the regional final, and move UCONN into the final four.

BEST TEAM IN REGION: UCONN
SLEEPER: GEORGE WASHINGTON

SPOKANE REGION

MARYLAND is a dubious #1 seed here, and I’m not totally sold on STANFORD as a #2, so I think there could be more upsets in this region than any other. #5 WEST VIRGINIA and #4 VANDY should advance from the first round and match up in what will be a pure dogfight. I also believe the winner of this one will knock off VANDY, and I’m going with WVU…senior leadership, a beast of a center in Olaynika Sanni, and two excellent three point threats in Bulger and Cole. In the lower half of the bracket, I see PITT rolling past WYOMING, upsetting #3 BAYLOR, and matching up against #10 seed WKU, who will dispose of UTEP, shock STANFORD before losing to PITT. An all BIG EAST regional final here, with WVU advancing to the final four.

BEST TEAM: A tossup.
SLEEPER: Several, including WKU.

NEW ORLEANS REGION

NORTH CAROLINA deserved their #1 seed, and I think #2 LSU should have received one also.Both should advance easily until UNC meets LOUISVILLE and LSU runs into OKLAHOMA STATE. Expect DEPAUL to give LSU a tough contest but fall just short, and FLORIDA STATE to knock off OHIO STATE in a first round upset. Unfortunately, I don’t think LOUISVILLE will advance to the great 8, but will win against MIAMI (O) and KANSAS ST. I see the regional final pitting UNC vs. LSU, and the UNC Tarheels getting to the final four.

BEST TEAM: UNC
SLEEPER: DEPAUL

OKLAHOMA CITY REGIONAL

Should have been renamed the Pat Summitt Invitational, as the selection committee made this the weakest region by far. TENN rolls to the regional final to take on #5 seed ARIZONA STATE which should advance by topping TEMPLE, downing
#3 DUKE, and taking down #2 TEXAS A&M. TENNESSEE doesn’t get seriously challenged in any of the of the regional contests and makes the final four.

BEST TEAM: TENNESSEE
SLEEPER: ARIZONA STATE

Final Four

For the FINAL FOUR, I see TENNESSEE squeaking by LSU to reach the championship game, and UCONN handling WVU to get there. Geno vs. Pat…and UCONN’S depth, experience and withering defense takes down the TENNESSEE Vols and gives the BIG EAST the title back.

SOME TEAMS TO WATCH FOR 1ST ROUND UPSETS

WKU over UTEP
FLORIDA ST over OHIO STATE
DEPAUL over MARIST
HARTFORD over SYRACUSE (Personal vendetta against the Orange here..probably won’t happen.)

Good luck in your brackets, and I sincerely hope I’m wrong in picking UNC over LOUISVILLE.

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Lady Cards Open NCAA Quest In Bridgeport Sunday At 2:30

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March 19

It has the makings of an excellent Easter Sunday. Angel, Candyce and Tise start the Cardinal doubleheader on ESPN at 2:30, and the guys (who most certainly will get past Boise State) in the nightcap. Here’s some tidbits I picked up on during the NCAA Bracket Watch party:

Had a nice chat with Kayla Faulkner after the selections were announced. You remember Kayla don’t you? As a reserve freshman guard last year, she came off the bench and gave the Cards valuable minutes, especially in the NCAA Tournament. Kayla hopes to come back as a Card next year, and seems to still be a team favorite. Seeing her standing next to Tise Wright was quite the contrast…Kayla maybe 5′5″ and Tise probably 6′4″ now. She’s a point guard, and could help smooth the transition of losing Patrika Barlow to graduation, if her game picks up where it left off.

Yuliya Tokova also hopes to return to the hardwood next year. Plagued with knee problems in her freshman and junior years, let’s hope the ACL’s are sound and she can regain that rebounding and shot blocking ability that helped the Cards get to the NCAA last year. Here’s a trivia question for you…Who led the Cards in blocked shots last year? Nope, not Angel. It was ol #5 Yuliya Tokova with 24. It’s a good problem that Walz may have next year, where to fit in the talented forward with Angel McCoughtry and Candyce Bingham returning.

Jeff Walz is a big fan of Cards Radio color analyst Adrienne Johnson. Loves her comments during the games when he’s standing next to the announcers table courtside. One of her classics? Commenting on an opposing player who had been torching the Cards from outside, she says:

“What does it take for someone on this team to realize she’s a three-point specialist, she’s hot and someone needs to go out and guard her?”

Yep, A.J calls ‘em as she sees ‘em…and plans on a massive expansion of the Fastbreak Club for UofL Women’s season ticket holders next year.

Adrienne was no slouch on the court, starring for Louisville Butler before becoming a standout at Ohio State and spending 8 years in the WNBA. They list “A.J.” at 5′10″..but she looks taller than that in person standing next to you.

The Parrish House was packed to way past capacity for the Selection Show, but hats off to the Parrish House crew who kept things running smoothly, did a very professional and courteous job at the bar, and remained jovial throughtout the whole 2 1/2 hours. Al, you may need to build an addition to the House for next year’s crowd. Teresa Lowry and the UofL marketing staff did an excellent job putting everything together, as well. Did someone say Brown & Williamson Club for next year?

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U of L Women Draw Miami (O),
Get No. 4 Seed In NCAA

___________________________________

March 17

An energetic, overflow crowd packed the Parrish House Monday night to see UofL receive its highest NCAA Tournament seed in the history of the program, and to find out that they were headed back to the land of their most recent successes.

UofL will start its quest in the New Orleans Region, but actually play in Bridgeport, CT on Sunday, March 23rd against the #13 seed Miami of Ohio Red Hawks.

A lusty roar erupted from the crowd of players, coaches, staff and fans of the program when the Cards’ name popped up on the screen as a #4. President Ramsey, Julie Herrmann, Coach Walz, the coaches and players…heck, even T-Will couldn’t stop grinning when they found out the Lady Cards would face the Red Hawks in first round play.

Miami of Ohio won the MAC Tournament Saturday, knocking off the Ohio University Bobcats 67-56. The Red Hawks (23-10, 12-4) are a small but very aggressive squad that only won 12 game last year and they do share a couple of common opponents with the Cards this year … getting thumped pretty handily by both Murray State and Notre Dame early in the season.

Louisville joins fellow Big East member DePaul in the region, who drew in as a #10. The Blue Demons go up against a underrated #7 Marist team.

The crowd at the Parrish House had seen moments earlier the pairing of #1 UConn and #2 Rutgers in the Greensboro Region, and it was the hot topic before the Cards received their bid.

Western Kentucky and Crystal Kelly got a chance to dance also, getting the #10 seed in the Spokane Region and facing UTEP.

The Cards would face the winner of K-State vs. Chattanooga if they advance past the Red Hawks, and then most likely North Carolina in New Orleans. A tough road, but fortunately without Tennessee, UConn or Stanford in the way.

Jeff Walz was effusive in his praise of the big turnout that gathered to watch the draw, not only for their presence this evening but for the 2007-2008 season.

The Cards get a break in the fact that none of the Big East teams that defeated them earlier in the season are in their bracket, and if the should reach the regional finals, they would most likely play a very beatable LSU or Oklahoma
State. Powerhouses Duke and Oklahoma also landed in different regions than the Cards.

Game times aren’t available yet, or any news about TV…but the big news is that the Cards are a #4 seed, and well deserved at that.

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Angel Snubbed On ESPN’s First Team … Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That

____________________________________
March 16

By now, Angel’s gotten used to it. She loses Big East Player of the Year to a freshman who only started part of the season in MAya Moore, but a freshman who became the unrequited love interest of every talking head, led by ex U-Conn hoopster Rebecca Lobo, ESPN designated to call women’s hoops.

Angel suffers the second dig at the tournament conclusion, when Charde Houston gets tournament MVP. No one outscored, outplayed or outshone Angel in four days of conference play, but Charde’s decent nimutes in the second half of the final game were obviously much more impressive and worthy of the honors.

Yeah, and I’m Angelina Jolie….

So, it comes as no surprise that Angel gets the bump to second team and the precious U-Conn fresham replaces her on the first team. The same freshman who violated NCAA rules by taking a UConn arranged trip to ESPN as a sophomore in high school.

The Cards played against two other pretty decent players who also were snubbed in recognition…both from the area, in Crystal Kelly from Western Kentucky and Amber Holt from MTSU. Kelly got her Hilltoppers to the Sun Belt championship. Holt came in second, but she hung 41 on LSU this year, 32 on UofL, 28 on Tennessee, 27 on Arizona and 16 on Maryland.> The NCAA Women’s selection show starts at 7 PM Monday night.

Al Parrish and his merry band of pranksters will have the UofL game watching party at the Parrish House, with doors opening at 6. I’ll have “flies on the wall” reporting to me about the party. It’s gotta be a lot more fun than the selection watching party last year at a local restaurant near Papa’s John that was way too crowded and woefully understaffed.

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March 15

Debate Rages: Lady Cards or U of L Women?

______________________________________
I was momentarily stunned. A group of us were sitting around the dinner table at a restaurant, discussing sports, politics, the waiter’s interesting hair style…and as we got to the subject of Angel and the girls’ amazing run thru the Big East tourney, one of us kept referring to the “Lady Cards”. Finally, another of us stopped the first person and politely told them that the term “lady anything” in sports was politically incorrect. I had to chip in my 2 cents
worth, recalling that C. Vivian Stringer disappoved of the monicker, but Pat Summitt saw no problem with it. I also mentioned that I used to use the term “Lady Cards” until I was called out over it by one of the moderators (a man) on
a sports web site I like to visit.The 8 of us at the table discussed the pros and cons of the term. We had a 5-3
vote on it. 5 OK with it, 3 Not so OK with it. We even asked the waiter with the interesting hair style, who made a very interesting comment.

“What gets me is that you’ve got Lady Orangemen, Lady Minutemen, and Lady freshmen on teams. Isn’t that a bit redundant?”

I went to the dictionary when I got home. “Lady” is a term applied by courtesy to any woman, esp. one of social refinement. Lady can also be an adjective to describe the women that one loves; sweeetheart; wife. Woman is an adult human female.

I’m not sure how many of the female college basketball players are royalty or socially refined. I guess Epiphany Prince of Rutgers fits that. Emily Queen over at MTSU fits here to. Princess Moore, who plays for New Mexico State gets a nod here, too. I’ll even throw in LaToya Jackson from Mercer.

Not satisfied with the results I had, I decided to ask several current and former women’s basketball players that I know. I’m gonna withhold names here, just in case someone disagrees with their philosophy.

(Player 1) “It really doesn’t matter to me. I just like the publicity for the program. We don’t get as much pub as the guys.”

(Player 2) ” I’m from the south, and lady is, you know, like a term of respect or something down there. I mean, I’m OK with it and it don’t upset me none.”

(Former player 1) ” I see the PC part of it, but you’ve got like the Lady Vols who market a great deal of merchandise with Lady Vols on it…I did have to laugh though, when people referred to the Lady Buckeyes. I never knew nuts had a gender…”

(Former player 2) ” Since the Stringer incident, I think women’s is the best way to go. When I played being a Lady Tiger didn’t bother me in the least, most people don’t know the proper term “tigress” anyway, so it was OK.”

So, I guess the debate goes on. People will have their own views and opinions over it. I’ll go with the philosophy of “Lady” being a perfectly fine way to describe a female athletic team. If you’ve got an opinion on it, I welcome you
to respond to this post. So, ladies and gentlemen (or women and men) here’s your chance to sound off.

 

March 12

 

Houston Named Big East MVP

To the victors go the spoils, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that Charde Houston of UConn was named the MVP of the Big East Women’s Tournament.

Now, let’s call in Mr. Obvious. If asked, he’s going to tell you that the long, lanky battler with the chip on her shoulder and the 35 on her back should get that award. 4 outstanding games in 4 days. Even my yorkie, who has no crossover or bracketology skills (but a punishing first step) would be able to bark out “McCoughtry” if asked who was the dominant player of this tournament.

It’s OK, Angel. Those who know hoops, know talent and determination know you were the best. And, it just might give you the emphasis to take the fight to the Big Dance and show an even bigger national audience that the second coming of
“35? is one of the best five players in the women’s college basketball nation.

So, it’s time for the men to play. We’ll watch DP, E5, T-Will and DC tomorrow night. But, if you’re like me,
Tuesday night will still be lingering in your memories.

March 11th, 2008 ·

Lady Cards Take Giant Steps

For those Card fans who recognized early on that women’s basketball has a great future at U of L, this has already been a memorable year. The Lady Cards, over the last half of the season and during the conference tournament, began taking the steps that will usher in a new era.

No longer will Lady Card teams be intimidated by the Rutgers, the UConns, the wildness at West Virginia. The returning talent on this team, which will be further strengthened by a top 10 recruiting class, is committed to making U of L a national contender in women’s basketball in short order. But first comes this year’s NCAA tournament and some more fine tuning.

Sonja’s Comments:

“I really can’t say it much better than that. David nearly took down Goliath tonight. In Goliath’s back yard, in front of family, friends and a bewildered ESPN crew. I wish Rebecca Lobo would just go ahead and get married, ya know? Give Angel and the girls all the props you can find for them. And stay tuned, folks…because the Big Dance is gonna love the way the Cards take to the floor. Rest well, ladies. You put on one heck of a show fora nationwide viewers tonight, and let’s hope the Selection Committee was watching.

“Of course, it wouldn’t matter to Angel if we get a #4 seed or a #14. She’s gonna lace ‘em up, set her jaw and come after you whether it’s Tennessee or Tennessee-Martin. Whether it’s in Hartford, the heartland or Hart County. And, her teammates feed off the frenzy.

“Geno, you won your Invitational, got your title and #1 seed. But, I hope you learned something more than all that. I hope you realize that there’s a new star rising in the Big East, and it’s directly over the Ohio River. I hope we get you again. In the tourney, on a neutral court and without Rebecca Lobo fawning your every move. A rookie coach almost stole your crown, danced with your prom queen and finished your punch and cookies. Sleep well, Geno. Maybe with one eye open …”

* * *

A shame the Women’s Big East Conference Tournament has to be played on any team’s home court. It’s not good in either women’s or men’s basketball for that matter. Officials are swayed. It’s a weakness, a human frailty, impossible to deny or overcome. What’s really laughable or downright sad — take your pick — is that the home court bias or lack of fortitude is so obvious in far too many cases.

? No CommentsTags: Angel McCoughtry · Louisville basketball · Rebecca Lobo

Lady Cards 67, WVU 60, UConn Up Next

March 10th, 2008 · No Comments

When You’re Hot, You’re Hot!

Special Commentary By Sonja

Remember the old Jerry Reed song from the seventies? It certainly describes the UofL Women’s team in the first half of the semi-final game against WVU tonight. The Cards could do no wrong, in jumping out to a 41-21 lead against the Eers. I fully expected Buford T. Justice to come running out during the action and slap the cuffs on Angel! Brandie Radde drilling threes like Jordan in his prime, Tise (Chauntise Wright) controlling the boards with majestic authority…Lord! It made you wish it would never would end.

But, you knew the Eers would rally. Four 1,000 point scorers. Sanni the Beast on the boards. Like me, you wondered if this tired Cardinal squad could withstand the onslaught of the second half…Well, look at the scoreboard. 67-60. Enuff said.

Tonight will be tough. 4 games in 4 days. UConn and the mighty Geno. Let’s celebrate this one, and wait for tomorrow. Given the heart, guts, soul and grit of these Cards…..anything is possible.

Cards’ Biggest Win Ever

Someone once said there is no “I” in team, and with 33 seconds to go in XL Arena, Hartford, Conn…there was no “I” in Angel McCoughtry. The Cards were down by 1, in a severe dogfight with #4 Rutgers, and the ball …the game…was in Angel McCoughtry’s hands. The long, lanky junior penetrated the paint, drew the double team and soared to the sky to sink the go ahead basket. So we all thought. Standing on the opposite block was Candyce Bingham. A Bingham hobbled by second half leg cramps, but wide open underneath the basket . Two Rutgers defenders watched helplessly as Angel tossed a dead on pass to Candyce, who flipped a soft shot thru the hoop to score the game’s final two points.

You have to understand the McCoughtry mentality. Win at all cost, by whatever means necessary…until you collapse to the locker room floor after the game from sheer exhaustion. You sacrifice teeth, take stitches, and spend more time on the floor than the LadyBirds during a dance routine. Last year, even two months ago, Angel takes that shot. But, a teammate had a better look, and a wide open one at that. The decision was obvious. The decision was a winner, just like McCoughtry and Bingham have become.

Give all the Cards credit for the monumental win. Patrika Barlow taking and making the wide open shots the Rutgers “d” was giving here. PB’s lob pass to Bingham late in the game to give the Cards another lead in a topsy turvy, 27 lead changes affair.

Keisha Hines, off the bench in the first half, with the big defense in keeping Rutgers out of the paint. Rebounding and playing like a senior, not a freshman. Dez Byrd off the bench, providing secure ballhandling and drilling a key basket late in the going. Tise Wright battling toe to toe with the Rutgers front line, scoring underneath and making a key strip of a rebound with 8 seconds left to get the ball back in the Cards possesion.

Credit the team. There is no “I” in Candyce, Angel, Dez, Laura…and toss out the “I”’s in Tise, Keisha, Brandie, Tiera and Patrika tonight. Replace them with a”W”‘ to signify tonight’s win.

(Excuse the dreadfully tardy post. This one needed some well due celebration, savoring, and toasting)

Walz Plays Hold ‘Em: Cards Win, Advance

You gotta figure Jeff Walz has seen his share of high stakes Texas Hold’em games. He played again Saturday night, the venue being Hartford, CT. and the opponent St. John’s. Saddled with two fouls each, Walz elected to have the “the
three amigos”

Angel McCoughtry, Candyce Bingham and Tise Wright watch the final 8 minutes of the first half next to him on the bench, and Louisville’s 4 freshman got the Cards to a very shaky 23-21 first half lead.

Candyce was the first to fold, going to the pines at the 12:40 mark. Then, within a minute of each other, Tise and Angel tossed their cards in and it was up to Keisha Hines, Brandie Radde, Laura Terry, Patrika Barlow, Dez Byrd, and
Kiara Evans. Give them credit, they stopped a 10-1 Red Storm run, and outscored St. John 8-5 over the final 8 minutes.

Walz pulled out his chips again in the second half after Angel picked up her 3rd foul with 18:48 to go in the second half, and let Candyce Bingham deal for ten minutes while Angel sat, and with 8:55 left, the Cards clung to a shaky
40-35 lead.

Then, Walz decided to put the Cardinal’s Ace of Hearts back into the deck. TimE to up the ante, go all in, and put on the sunglasses!

All Angel did was pop in 19 of Louisville’s final 23 points, and rake the pot.

Give Walz a nod and a wink. It was a good test for the youngsters. With senior Courtney Simmons on the bench, dressed but still feeling the effects of Monday’s head bump against Villanova…he took on a talented St. John’s squad with one
senior, one sophomore and four freshmen during a very key stretch of the game. He got McCoughtry simmering and steaming for a 10 minute stretch of the second half, and then took the lid off and let her boil over.

Jeff Walz has 22 wins in this his rookie year. No other 1st year coach in women’s basketball this year can match that. And, I’d wager that he’d probably take most them also in a game of guts, hold’em or 7 card stud.

Let’s just hope he put the deck away tomorrow against Rutgers and let’s the “three amigos” collect more than splinters. Getting into a bluffing game with C.

Vivian Stringer could be very expensive.

Ask Don Imus. Ask Geno.

Lady Card Fans Say Goodbye
To Two Dependable Guards Tonight

It’s senior night for two valuable and dependable guards on the women’s basketball team. Their impact on this season has been dramatic, and…hopefully…their final chapters will be long ones.

PATRIKA BARLOW came to Louisville in the 2004-2005 season, a sharp shooting guard from Barren County that carried first team all-state honors with her, and also the school’s season home run record in softball. As a freshman, she saw
valuable time as a back up guard and learned both positions under Tom Collen. Her sophomore season provided a chance to participate in all 29 games for the Cards, and she started gaining a reputation as a crafty, quick playmaker who
could make plays on both ends of the court and run the offense. Collen inserted her into the starting lineup her junior year, and Patrika responded by taking over the point guard slot, leading the team in assists and guiding the Cards to
a 10-6 Big East record and NCAA apperance.

This year, Patrika leads the conference and nation in assists, and controls the court for Jeff Walz and the Cards. Defensively, she draws the best guard the opposition has, and is easily the best free throw threat the Cards have.
Opponents have also learned that leaving her alone outside the arc can be a costly mistake. Her dedication and on court leadership of the Cards has been essential this year, and she’ll be awfully hard to replace.

COURTNEY SIMMONS took a winding road to end up as a Cardinal, but her inspired reserve play has been an important facet of this year’s team. Originally a member of the Tulane Green Wave, she transfered to Trinity Valley junior college
and joined the Cards as a junior in 2006-2007. Hobbled by a knee injury and academic reasons, Simmons only saw action in 14 games last year for the Cards, but came back this year to be the first guard off the bench for the Cards,
showcasing her tough defensive skills and ability to play either the point or two guard. A vocal team leader who often passes on good shots to set up her teammates, Courtney embodies what “team player” is all about, and her experience
and enthusiasm will be greatly missed.

Thanks to “Court” and “PB” for the wonderful memories and effort you’ve given us during your time as Cardinals, and good fortunes and success as you graduate and go out into the world after college!

Walz, Cards Survive Fighting Friars,– Elbows, Body Blows and All

Maybe we should have known that the Tuesday night UofL Women’s game in Freedom Hall was going to be a bumpy affair when Tise Wright came out during the player introductions and knocked two of her teammates to the floor. Another indicator could have been the increased police presence in the Hall..(supposedly for a halftime tribute). Wait, was that Chuck Norris and Lucy Liu in referee shirts?

Even the stormy weather Tuesday night gave indications that this Big East tilt would be more of a roller derby match than a college basketball game. But, by using quickness and 60 points from the “Three Amigos” (Angel McCoughtry, Candyce Bingham and Tise Wright) goodness and justice prevailed in the Hall, as the Cards dispatched a surly bunch of Friars 82-57.

Give the Friars credit for a couple of things. They did start out well against the Cards, using a patient, passing offense that allowed them to jump out to an 8 point lead early. They also managed to keep the Cards out of their run and gun
offense early on. Unfortunately, when you’re last in the Big East in scoring offense, and second in the league in fouls, you probably needed an 18 point lead to survive what was about to come.

And, it came…Consider this, UofL’s front line had 60 of the Cards first 63 points. Two of the starting front line players for Providence fouled out, and the other had 4 fouls…part of 25 total fouls for the Friars. Mi-Khida Hankins managed her 5 in only 15 minutes, and got a solid elbow planted squarely in Angel McCoughtry’s face that was not called, and sent the Cardinal star to the locker room briefly in the second half. Tise Wright, Patrika Barlow and Candyce Bingham all spent time prone on Denny Crum Court or receiving attention from the Cardinal doctors and trainers.

Sadly, thug tactics against the Cards is nothing new this year. “If you can’t contain ‘em, clock ‘em” has been the motto of recent opponents Georgetown, DePaul and USF. But, Walz’s crew keeps popping back up, and most importantly, just concentrates on playing good basketball and not retribution tactics.

The win is the 7th straight for Louisville. One would assume the Cards are a lock for the Big Dance, and is still in the hunt for a first round bye in the Big East tournament. The talking heads on ESPN all seem to agree that teams with
solid front lines will do well in post season, and Louisville boasts one of the best in Angel, Tise and Candyce. They’ll face another excellent front line Saturday, when they travel to Morgantown to face WVU. The Eers lost ground on
the top two last night, suffering a loss to Pitt in overtime, but don’t expect them to mope around and come out flat for the Cardinal contest.

WVU hoopsters Sanni, Bulger, Owens and Cole all average in double figures, and all four were part of the beatdown that WVU put on Louisville two years ago in Morgantown. Put on the headgear and lace up the gloves, looks like the Cards are in for another brawl in West Virginia this Saturday

WBB Big East Coach of the Year? And the nominees are…

It used to be the women’s coach of the year in the Big East came down to who had a better record, Geno at UConn, or C. Viv at Rutgers. That is partially true this year as well, but let’s take a look at 3 other candidates that have had success in the 07-08 regular season.

-Mike Carey (WVU) He has put together a 21-4 (10-2 Big East) record this year for the Eers, and adds a 9 point win over Rutgers as well. In his 7th year as the WVU skipper, his teams always have the fast break, transition game down to a science, and this year he has an All-American candidate at center (Sonni) and a lights out shooter from the perimeter (Bulger). WVU will most likely get a first round bye in the BE tournament, and should receive a high seed in the Big Dance.

-Muffett McGraw (Notre Dame) The Irish are having an excellent season, and McGraw is the ultimate bench coach, getting the best out of her players and using situational substitutions as well as anyone in the nation. They’re on the cusp of getting a 1st round bye in the tournament, and should be a lock for the Big Dance.

-Quentin Hillman (Syracuse) The definite surprise of Big East Womens’ Basketball this year, Hillman has brought the Orange out of the Big East cellar and proudly boast a 19-6, (7-5 Big East) record. Although the Orange have lost their last two to Notre Dame and and (suprisingly) to Providence…The “Q” has a very dangerous and aggressive team that y lost to UConn earlier this year by only 6. He’s a fiery coach, and his team and gotten the message and mirrors his enthusiasm.

The above 3 coaches, along with Geno and C. Viv, make up your nominees for Big East Coach of the Year. Hey, maybe we can get Dickie V. to host the awards ceremony! You’re probably right…bad idea. Or how about Godfather Rick?

Lady Cards Catch A Break

The women’s basketball team, fresh off a win at home Sunday over a scrappy Georgetown team, gets a well deserved rest until Saturday, Feb. 23rd, when they travel to Seton Hall to face the struggling Pirates. Losing their last game to Marquette 88-71, the Pirates have lost 5 in a row. To make things worse, leading scorer, senior guard Ela Mukosiej went sown in the first minute of the game and did not return.

The Pirates have depended on the “diaper dandies” lately…freshman guard Ebonie Williams logged 40 minutes in the last 3 games each, sophomores Shatel Brown and Nicole Emery are also seeing increased playing time for the thin-ranked Pirates (13-11, 3-9).

The Cards stand an excellent chance of going 8-2, or 9-1 in their final 10 games before the BigEast tournament. Louisville hasn’t lost since dropping on the road to Pitt on 1/27. West Virginia did lose to DePaul recently, and the Eers appear to be toughest of the 4 regular season games left. Sadly, it is in Morgantown, and although it won’t be 60,000 screaming fans in yellow and blue, the WVU WBB fans get pretty rowdy too. It’s rumored even “Huggs” gets into the act and shows up to see the women play.
(Are ya listening, Godfather Rick?)

 

The die has been cast for the future with Jeff Walz as the new U of L women’s basketball coach. This season is laying the groundwork for continuous improvement, including a first-time sellout of Freedom Hall with more than 19,000 fans on hand. Walz has recruited a top 10 class for next year to go with a existing group of quality players led by All-American Angel McCoughtry and three-point specialist Brandie Radde.