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Dez Byrd is gone. Laura Terry gone. Chauntise Wright is but a distant memory.
In fact, only eight members of the University of Louisville’s women’s basketball team from last season will have returned when U of L tips off against Tennessee in the new KFC Yum Center on Nov. 12.
Coach Jeff Walz announced Thursday that Terry will be a student assistant coach after having extensive surgery on a knee over the past two seasons. Byrd, also injured last year, is off the team for personal reasons.
With the top five recruiting class Walz has landed, the reality is that both players would have faced stiff competition for playing time without injuries or personal challenges.
As will most of the other returnees.
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In case you missed it, Leonid Yelin’s volleyball team lost to Kentucky Wednesday for the first time in his 15 years at Louisville, losing the fifth of five sets and the match 3-2. U of L led 5-1 early in the final set.
No, it’s not a bad omen for Saturday. [/stextbox]
As impressed as I am with Walz I have to wonder about the number of players, some who got lots of PT like Byrd and Rainey, who have left the program for “personal reasons.” I hope this is not a situation that continues. I wouldn’t want to have continous turnover in personnel. That would make me think I am watching a Calipari team.
Eight as of now. We are hearing that there may be one more attrition possible with one of the returnees but can’t go with it until it is properly confirmed.
Don’t worry…it isn’t Burke, Reid or Taylor
8 players return right? (Hines, Johnson, Reid, Burke, Burton, Harper, Taylor and Story) and Tia Gibbs can play this season.
The observer wasn’t counting Gibbs since she didn’t play last season.