USF squares off against Lady Cards tonight in KFC YUM! Center

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Bulls come to town with new weapon, hopes.

-BIG EAST Tuesday results

Jose Fernandez is the head coach of the USF Bulls. One wouldn't blame him if he gets a bit confused at times. His twin sister act that led USF last season is down to one sister...and she shares the same name as a UofL Football wide receiver. His leading scorer per game has played just once in a USF uniform and Jose shares the same name as a popular economics professor at UofL and Paraguyan political power broker. Plus, USF usually comes up as University of San Francisco when you do a "google" search.

Andrell Smith is one of
Charlie Strong's wide
receivers.

One thing is for certain, however. Jose brings a talented team into the KFC YUM Center Weds. evening to face a Louisville squad coming off a somewhat surprising loss to conference foe St. John's on the road.

USF (9-7, 1-1) has played some pretty good competition this year. Unfortunately for them...they've lost to it (Fla. St., Arkansas, Miami, FL., Auburn, Dayton, Georgetown). Idaho State has also corralled the Bulls. They do have a win over Cincinnati at Cincinnati. The rest of the wins have been against the pastries that most school fill their non-conference plates with.

Inga hit six threes
in her first game as
a Bull.

They recently gained the services of 6'3" guard Inga Orekhova...who sat out the first 15 games because of transfer rules. She made an immediate impact, scoring 18 against the Hoyas...all from 3-point range. Just what Louisville needs to face, a tall guard who can shoot from outside. Here's a look at some other Lady Bulls of note... 

Wynne is a talented
point guard who can score

Jasmine Wynne is a 5'7" senior point guard averaging 15.9 ppg for Hernandez. She's a three point threat also...going 14-50 from beyond the arc.

Kaneshia Saunders also hits for double figures for USF with 12.1 ppg. She's a 5'7" junior guard.

Andrell Smith, the
USF guard.

The remaining twin - Andrell Smith - can fill it up from outside also. With 8.4 ppg and a impressive 24-80 from the deep, she provides stability and experience. Her twin sister Andrea is sitting out the season with a knee injury after leading USF in scoring last season. They're not related to the Cards wide receiver. All three are from Florida...the girls from Lakeland and transferred in to USF from Gulf Coast C.C. The Cards receiver hails from Miami.

Tiffany Conner comes off the bench for the Bulls and can also fire from trifecta range...going 11-38 this year.

USF averages 65.6 a game while allowing opponents 62.1 points per contest. Opponents are outrebounding them 44.1 to 40.6 a game. The Bulls have forced an impressive 364 turnovers a game (23 a game) while committing just 294. Aggressive guard play seems to be the key to USF success, they have plenty of shooters when they get the ball.

Jose Fernandez took over head coaching duties in 2000 after serving as an assistant and then interim coach that season. He is 1-3 against Walz, the Bulls are 3-21 lifetime against Louisville. Louisville won last year in the USF SunDome 66-55 behind Monique Reid's 27 points. Shoni had 16.

Sonja sees it:

So, how do you stop a 6'3" guard who loves to shoot from outside when your tallest starting guard is 5'11"? Simple, you keep her from getting the ball. An aggressive full court defense, trapping the point guard and chance-taking man-to-man pressure when they cross the timeline. You can't sit back and let them bomb you all night. You lose if you do. The 'stop Shoni' syndrome will probably be employed tonight...time for the rest of the offense to step it up. On Bria, on Becky...on Asia and Dyer. Make this one not a nail-biter down to the wire. Lady Cards 77- Bulls 59.

Paul predicts:

So, how do you stop a 6"3" guard who loves to shoot from the outside? In the words of Tony Soprano...fagettaboutit. It's her first road game. She hasn't seen the likes of 12,000 howling at her. Take care of the other defensive assignments and the win will come. Play your game, outscore the opponent and use the crowd to your advantage. This is a game where Louisville's much mal-aligned front line could gain some redemption. Feed the bigs, go to the boards, give Louie the Cardinal Bird a sign that says BLOCK OUT LOUISVILLE and make him carry it the whole game. If Inga wants 30 points, give them to her. Just keep the rest of the team to about the same and score 65 or better. Walz 66 - Fernandez 60.

(We'll have a full recap of the action...and comments from Jenny and Sandy after the game tonight. You need to get out there and watch it if you can. If not WHAS-TV locally and CARDS RADIO 790 AM/101.7 FM will have the broadcast.)

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We went a perfect 5-0 in predictions last night on BIG EAST WBB action. (Pat on the back, hearty handshake!) We needed a last second miracle to get there...Katie Young drilled a 40 foot buzzer beater to lead Marquette past Villanova 51-50. In other action...

-Notre Dame romped the Hoyas 80-60. 22 for Skylar, 13 for Sugar.

-UConn cooked the Friars 96-35. Hartley and Hayes with 19 each.

-Rutgers invaded the Pete and won 63-39 vs. Pitt. Rushdan with 14.

-WVU put four in double figures in a 79-63 win over Seton Hall.

Tonight, besides the Lady Cards vs. Bulls...Syracuse hosts St. John's. We'll take the streaking Red Storm here over the Orange.

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