Friday Cardinal Couple -- Better late than never

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Starr Breedlove headed to campus


We broke the news Thursday evening and we're sticking by our informed source on the matter...Starr Breedlove, one of the 2013 recruits for the women's basketball team, will arrive on campus in the next couple of days and enroll for fall classes.

I know, the town has gone crazy about Louisville Football's opener against Ohio U. Sunday and, no...she isn't going to spell Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback.

What she will do is give the Cards depth at the point guard
position and provide Jeff Walz with 14 players for the limited player workouts he can do that began yesterday.

Lest we forget what the Teaneck, NJ resident is bringing to the 'Ville...here a scout on her from a recruiting source:

Everything that's been there in the past was on display. The speed, quickness and attack kept the Gauchos up tempo game going and she seemed more willing to sacrifice her own scoring to distribute the ball. The pull up was dependable on her penetration but she did struggle finishing in among the bigs on defensive rotations.

Breedlove is a lightning quick point-guard that committed to Louisville last year and has been involved in personal workouts in New Jersey ever since. We don't have all the details on the delayed arrival...let's just say that course crediting and clearance can take as long sometimes as trying to head southbound on I-65 during rush hour with two lanes blocked because of an accident.

Breedlove is no accident. She'll fit in well with the attacking, ball-hawking guards on the Cardinal roster. She can score, too...something that Coach Walz likes to see. As he once eloquently said:

"I can find shooters everywhere. I want scorers."

No, she isn't the 6'5" domineering post-player that some readers and commenters insistently think the program needs. Here's a news flash for all of you. The Lady Cards got to the final game of the NCAA Women's Tournament with team play and a hobbled Sherrone Vails...our current 6'5" roster dweller that will most likely redshirt this year because of her knee.

Shoni Schimmel is back. So are Bria, Sara, Jude and Nita.

Last I checked, none of them were 6'5" and the Cards did pretty well with them and the other returning players from the run...Cortnee and Megan. I checked. Neither of them are 6'5" either.

So, spare me the rhetoric that the Cards must have a towering post to achieve success. Seems to me I remember that Asia and Shawnta were pretty fair rebounders when they were previously active. They're healthy and back again. I doubt they've forgotten how to go to the boards. I'm fairly sure they aren't 6'5" either.

They may not need to much. If the three-point splendor that graced the Cards offense during the tournament run (yes...all the principals are back) comes back with a year's experience and Tia Gibbs re-discoverers her long-range bombing skills...the paint players may spend a lot of time jostling for position to watch threes trickle through the net.

The brilliance of a Jeff Walz attack is in the simple fact that if the players buy in, listen to the coaches and run the sets...it works. Don't doubt the mad scientist or his partners in plotting. They've got a plan. Or two. Or nine.

We wish Louisville Football well this weekend and all season long. As they roll up the wins...it serves as a reminder that...

Women's basketball season is getting closer. Whether they're 6'5" or not.

(We have a great 12 minute interview with Coach Walz that will be on our Saturday radio show. I spent another five minutes chatting with Coach that isn't on there. Turns out he had a pretty lively teenage enterprise cutting lawns. Sometimes he misses it. I gallently offered him the opportunity to take my Toro self-propelled around our yard if the angst got too strong. I'm still waiting for him to accept. I'd even throw in a Powerade or beer after he finishes...)

That's just the kind of guy I am. The offer is even extended to Starr Breedlove. Or anyone under 6'5".

-Paulie

...