Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Happy NEW YEAR !!

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- WBB faces the Owls today

Happy New Year to Cardinal Couple readers!

Yes, The Year of the Cardinal has come to an end. 2013 will be remembered for a lot of great UofL athletic acheivements.

Who says we can't make 2014 Year of the Cardinal: Part Deux? It starts today...Jeff Walz and his merry band of revelers conga line over to McGonigle Hall in Philadelphia to face the Temple Owls.

It'll be the second AAC conference game for Shoni & Company...Louisville's debut in The American resulted in a 71-51 dismantling of Keena Mays and her Mustangs from Dallas. The main jockeys in that one for the Cards were the "erstwhile" Shoni (18 points), The Hammer (14 points, 10 grabs) and smilin' Bria Smith (13 points, 11 grabs, 1 chipped tooth). The "erstwhile" tag on Schimmel comes from one of the SMU radio broadcast guys I was sitting next to at the game...who described her as erstwhile.

I guess.

It was the same guy who told his listeners that the Cards were proud to be a member of The American this season.

Yes sir, you betcha...


As the Cards settle into conference play, the elder Schimmel leads the way with 16.2 ppg. The Hammer follows with 11.0 and Bria adds 10.0. Asia Taylor has fallen out of double figures at 9.3 per game.

These Owls have roosted to a 7-4 record this season and downed Memphis last time out 63-56. Freshman Feyonda Fitzgerald leads these wise birds with 15.7 a game...followed by Senior Natasha Thames with 12.5

TODAY'S QUIZ:

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE LOUISVILLE AND TEMPLE MET IN WBB?

a) 14...with the Cards winning 77-33 in 2005 to make it 14 straight wins
b) 2....the Owls beating Louisville 56-55 in 1982 to even the series at 1-1
c) 1....Louisville defeating Temple 101-32 in 2008
d) 0....they have never met


(ANSWER AT THE END OF THE COLUMN)

Louisville is on a six game win streak and 13-1 overall. The game will be televised on the WatchESPN app (ESPN 3) via internet. You can also access it through CardsTV (for a fee) and free on Cards Radio 790 with Matt Andrews and AJ providing the call. Tip at 4 p.m.

Louisville will be looking to improve upon several aspects of their game against the Owls. Free throw shooting overall (62%) isn't where Jeff wants it...although three Cards are shooting 80% or better from the charity stripe (Shoni, Asia and Monny). Walz is still wanting more consistency from the squad for 40 minutes as well in the offensive sets...Louisville was held to just five points in the final seven minutes against the Mustangs and only one made basket.

( ANSWER TO THE QUIZ IS "D"...THE SCHOOLS HAVE NEVER PLAYED UNTIL TODAY)

paulie

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