First indication that things weren’t going to go well for the University of Louisville women’s basketball team was that Asia Durr wasn’t on the floor for the tipoff.
Absence of leadership from the start in an embarrassing fifth straight loss to Kentucky.
The UK women badly wanted this one, wanted it more than the Louisville women. Getting all the loose balls, all the bounces around the rim, all the three’s they could ever want. The UofL women playing in slow motion, lacking any fire, as if they were clueless about the rivalry and the repercussions.
UK never seriously challenged, smiling and high-fiving at the end with a lopsided 72-54 romp over the Cardinal wannabes.
Briahanna Jackson providing the only real energy. She is, in fact, the heart and soul of this team. Over 38 minutes, she would contribute a team-high 18 points while making four steals and two blocks. But she’s gotta have some help, some evidence from other players that they want it as badly as she does.
Not that Asia Durr doesn’t. She would report to the scorer’s table three minutes into game, but would be leaning over in pain shortly thereafter. She was never going to be a factor.
“We’ve got to get a lot tougher in a hurry, and I’ve been trying to explain that to them,” said Jeff Walz afterwards. “Unfortunately, we’re now at about the end of the rope.”
No. Toughness. At. All. Playing too polite and dainty, like a bunch of middle-aged women at a church picnic. This game is supposed to mean something to them.