Saturday Cardinal Couple -- DePaul vs. Louisville

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- DePaul hosts Louisville Saturday

(We bring you two reports on the upcoming DePaul vs. Louisville game...one from Quentin Voigt and one from Paulie. Game time is 6 p.m. and the contest will be shown on WHAS TV locally.)

Dance with DePaul 1/5/13
by Quentin Voigt

USA Olympic Asst. Coach and DePaul head coach Doug Bruno is readying his charges for a visit from the #10 (A.P.)/11(Coaches) ranked Louisville Cardinals. The Blue Demons are toting a record of 11-3. Their losses have come against Dayton (92-80), South Carolina (50-46) and Kentucky (at Rupp Arena -- 96-64).

In the UK game, the Wildcats jumped on DePaul early and often, buoyed by a record attendance for UK women's basketball (18,468) and it was over before the first half ended.

None of DePaul's wins are over top ranked opponents and since the Cardinals are a top 10 team, Coach Bruno is likely warning his players of the Cardinal's ability.

DePaul starters are likely 6'3" Katherine Harry ( 13.9 ppg, 5.14 assists and a Big East leading 11.3 rebounds a game.), 6'1" Jasmine Penny (15.1 ppg, 4.9 rebounds), Anna Martin ( a Nicholasville, KY resident who is a pre-season All-BIG East selection who scores 16.2 ppg and dishes out 4.6 assists), Brittany Hrynko ( 13.9 ppg and 5.14 assists) and 5'5" speedball Chanise Jenkins (8.9 ppg and 5.5 rebounds).

As a team, DePaul averages 77.8 ppg, 41.7 rebounds and 19.6 assists. They'll face the Cards in cozy McGrath-Phillips Arena with a seating capacity of 3000.

Post player Harry seems to love playing Louisville and has had some of her best games against the Cards. The injury bug has hit the Blue Demons again this season and left their roster a bit weak as of this writing.

I believe Coach Bruno will have the Blue Demons ready to tumble with the Cardinals on Saturday night. If Louisville plays with the same cohesion and spirit they've been demonstrating lately, they should move out to a 10-15 point lead by the end of this one and get the win.

Paulie:

OK. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to get into a run-out,  fast break contest with UK, Coach Dougie...Walz figured that out and slowed it down in a game many thought Louisville should have won. The only real question here is whether you'll allow the Cards to play fast-break, transition hoops against you.

My guess is you won't. I know it's your preferred style, but you don't want to try and fly with these high-wire Birds.

We've learned several things over the last few years when UofL plays DePaul. Katherine Harry rebounds well. She grabbed 35 in two games against UofL last year. Maybe she bought the Dennis Rodman instructional video. We've also learned that the home team usually wins this game. The last time the visiting team took a "W" was in 2008...when Louisville won up in Chi-town 79-56. The Cards had a gal named Angel McCoughtry on that team. She's not walking back through that door. Unless it's as a spectator.

Keys to a Louisville win? Rebound, shoot well and play defense. I know, brilliant observation...Paul, but taking care of the basics are essential tonight. Despite Ms. Harry, the Cards actually had a three rebound advantage in the two games last year. Shoni, this one could fall on you. The three-ball fell pretty easily for you against WSU, Wagner and TSU. Wanna take that act on the road? We hope so.

The "Hammer" could play a key role in today's game also. She's about the only Card who can match up physically with Harry except for Asia and Shawnta.  A-Tayy has just been cleared to practice again...so we doubt we'll see 30 plus minutes out of her like we did in the final game between these two last year. A game Louisville won 75-62, with Taylor scoring eight points, grabbing seven boards and frustrating the Blue Demons defensively all day.

Shawnta, of course, won't see any minutes. She had 20 points and 13 rebounds in two games last year against DePaul. It'd be nice to have the trio banging on Harry and Penny all night...but you go with what you have.

 If Bria can find her way into the paint for a few jumpers, Megan and Nita find the range from outside and Mo can duplicate her 'in the paint' scoring ability on the road, I like UofL's chances. Would love to see Jude have a smart and efficient 20 minutes also. I ask for a lot, don't I?

Penny, Harry, Martin and Hrynko all had 32 minutes plus against the Cards in the second game last year. They had 28 minutes plus in the 86-61 pasting they put on the Cards in Lincoln Park the first time they played last year. So, they're pretty familiar with the UofL squad.  That game was Cierra Warren's final appearance for the Lady Cards. She picked up 14 points in garbage minutes at the end of the game after the outcome was pretty much decided.  

A win?  I see UofL getting one. Not by 10 or 15, though. I'll take a 2-4 point win in a hostile environment from a young team that just may have to settle for 60 points instead of 106.

Hey...a win's a win. L1C4, ladies...Rebound, Mo. Play smart, Shoni.  Block out, Sara.

It's BIG EAST time. Keep the icepacks, bandages and Teena Murray nearby. This isn't Wagner, TSU or Austin Peay.
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