Louisville loves their basketball

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE




-Lady Cards fans support WBB in record numbers


-Breaking down the Irish


Hey Cardinal Fans!

ESPNW has been posting articles all season about their “Sweet 16” teams, coining the project “Hoops Across America”. They have been visiting the traditional powerhouse programs, small up and coming programs and teams on the verge of “breaking through”. This week’s installment is all about Louisville Women’s Basketball.

The KFC YUM!Center will
be rocking Monday
afternoon!

I don’t have to tell you, readers, about my love for this program. As a hometown girl myself, like current Cardinals Monique Reid and Tia Gibbs, it is only natural as a fan of the game to rally around my local team.

If you allow yourself to show up at a game this season (there are only two opportunities left to do so this season) you will get a first hand showing as to the excitement this program brings to the city of Louisville. The program has done a fabulous job of marketing to fans and allowing the players to be accessible. After every game the team can be found on the sidelines or in the lobby signing autographs and visiting with fans.


The joy I see in young girls and boys eyes connecting with these players, getting their pictures taken, getting autographs is priceless. More than worth the season ticket price of admission.

It is no doubt that Louisville loves their Cardinals. It is equally no doubt that these young women are humble and gracious for all the fan adoration. It is a two way street in downtown Louisville and these young women give back both on and off the court.

Your next chance to come out and support Cardinal basketball is today, Monday, for a 2:00 p.m. tip against 4^th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This ESPN covered event is a “Big Monday” matchup. This is national exposure for a program that is second in attendance in the nation and has been ranked in the top 25 all season, even with significant injuries and transfers out of the program.

Let’s show up, Louisville, and show the nation just how much we love our Cardinals! Once you do, I assure you it won’t take long to get hooked on this team. Come on out, I dare you!

http://espn.go.com/espnw/mobile/touch/womens-college-basketball/7577821/confluence-events-makes-louisville-hoops-heaven-hoops-america

(CARDINAL COUPLE WILL HAVE A FULL GAME REPORT AFTER THE GAME TOMORROW. THANKS TO JENNY, DAVID AND SANDY FOR THEIR REPORTING!)

Here is a interview Walz did on ESPN 680 Radio Sunday morning:

http://www.straitpinkie.com/featured/sunday-morning-hangover-021912

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"Gimme enough bullets and I'll blast
them Irish back to South Bend!"

We know all about Skylar Diggins, Natalie Novosel and Devereaux Peters, the three leaders of Muffet McGraw's Norte Dame women's basketball team. They've been the main catalysts in the Irish's #4 ranking and 26-2 overall record and 12-1 Big East start. Others that can hurt opponents include Brittany Mallory, Natalie Achonwa and Kayla McBride.

Notre Dame leads the nation in scoring offense (81.9 ppg) and is second in scoring margin (+30.9 a game) and field goal percentage (.484). They rank third in assists (19.2) and steals (13.9). Their offensive assault can be devertasting and withering at times and although Diggins may be the leader...any of seven Irish are capable of 20+ points a night.

What exactly is Geno doing to
Muffet here?

They've defeated eight top 25 opponents this season and five of those wins were by 20+ points. Rutgers lost by 30 and Tennessee by 28. Of their 26 wins, 19 have come by 20+ points or more.

In the series, Notre Dame holds a 7-4 advantage. The last time out, the Irish knocked Louisville out of the BIG EAST tournament with a 63-53 win on March 6th., 2011 in the quarterfinals. Devereaux Peters had 19 points and nine rebounds in the victory. Louisville had climbed within 26-24 with two minutes remaining in the first half...but the Irish put a 22-5 run together over the final two minues and first six minutes of the second half.

So, how does Louisville stop the Muffet McGraw squad? Walz has stated that they need to shut down everyone but Diggins and see if she can beat them by herself. It was a tactic West Virginia used in the Notre Dame loss to them. She had 33 but WVU did a good job in containing the rest of the Irish.

Louisville must do all the things they sometimes have trouble with to precise perfection Monday afternoon. Offensive rebounding, second chance points, limit the turnovers and shoot well from outside.

The crowd can only bolster the Cardinal chances. A rowdy, packed KFC YUM! Center will aid in sparking the home team and, hopefully, give the visiting Irish fits.

SONJA SEES IT:

"I think the Lady Cards will battle head-to-head with McGraw's crew to the wire and just narrowly lose. Louisville matches up well with Notre Dame and if the Cards can keep the Irish out of going on their patented runs, they have a chance at the upset. Walz may try to make it a physical, low-scoring contest like he did against UConn."

PAUL PREDICTS:

"It's not the strength of weapons they have in their arsenal...it's the number of them. Notre Dame's first seven may be the strongest in the nation. Walz has had a long time to prepare for this one, though, and he usually fares pretty well when given the extra couple of days to get ready for an opponent. I'm sure he has a great game plan, let's hope the girls follow it and it works. The Cards lose but not in 120-44 fashion. They keep it with 15."
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