Louisville women's basketball -- The road to Indy gets steeper today....SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS VS. DEPAUL IN NCAA WBB ROUND II

In a second round contest that will match two teams who showed no difficulties in putting up points on Friday...defense may be the biggest key to victory today in the KFC YUM! CENTER. Louisville will face the DePaul Blue Demons at 2:30 in NCAA Tournament Second Round action for the chance to go to the Dallas Regional for Saturday, March 26th action. 

The Cards will need to figure out a way to stop the potent attack of Megan Podkowa, Jacqui Grant, Chanise Jenkins, Jessica January, Brooke Schulte, Ashton Millender and Mart'e Grays. Six of the seven scored in double figures against James Madison Friday and shot a sizzling 53.6% while defeating the Dukes by 30. Jenkins leads the Bue Demons n scoring with 14.7 a game and is one of three DePaul players who have over 100 assists on the season

DePaul passes the ball very well and creates wide open or easy looks with a very skilled and operative half court game. They also had 40 points in the paint against JMU and were 11 for 21 from three point range. 

Louisville will need to keep Myisha Hines-Allen on her hot streak...the ACC Player of the Year and Wade Watch candidate poured in 25 points in just 23 minutes against Central Arkansas Friday...Louisville dominated inside with a 50-18 scoring advantage and shot 54.8% against the Sugar Bears. 

Jeff Walz stressed it and Doug Bruno backed it up in their post game remarks. Defense will be the deciding factor today and, additionally, Louisville will need to overcome the slow start that they had against ACU...where they trailed after the first quarter and needed a 19-2 run to end the half to gain dominance. 

This looks like another of the classic Walz v. Bruno matchups that were exciting chess matches back in the days of the Big East. The Cards and Blue Demons last tangled back on Feb. 17th., 2013 in the KFC YUM! when the Cards helped Paulie celebrate birthday week with a 81-55 win. 

I don't think we'll see anything nearly that lop-sided today. DePaul got under-ranked in the selection process...a team I figured would get a #4 seed and certainly no worse than a #5...and they played well enough Friday to be worthy of such a seeding. Yet, here they are in Louisville...a hot #6 seed who stands in the Cards' way of going to face the winner of the St. Bonaventure vs Oregon State game today in Corvallis, OR. 

We'll be back later today with the recap. We urge you to try and get to the YUM! If not, ESPN 2 will have the feed. 

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CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

Our rebroadcast from the Saturday Cardinal Couple Radio Hour is now available at the Crescent Hill Radio website.

Here a direct link. LINK: https://soundcloud.com/chradio/cardinal-couple-20160319


It was a fast and fun show where we discussed hoops, softball, swimming, lacrosse and a French chicken. We also had great soundbytes from Mariya Moore, Jeff Walz, Myisha Hines-Allen, Sam Purcell, Howie Lindsey, Asia Durr, Dakota Weatherford, Paige Sherrard and Cardinal fans. 

It might be the best broadcast in the history of the world! OK...maybe it's not that good but give a listen and you'll see why 4 out of 5 people with headsets would probably listen to The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour on WCHQ 100.9 FM than opera.  

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PICK 'EM UPDATE

We have 32 games played and no one is undefeated. The Deb Factor leads the way with a 29-3 record (Seton Hall, Georgia and Miami didn't come through for her) and she is closely followed by Vivian and The Real Joe Hill at 28-4. We also have one contestant at 27-7 and four at 26-6. 

32 down, 31 to go. 38 contestants and 36 of them liked Miami...(me, too)...who was the major upset loss along with Florida in first round action. St. Bonnie advancing out of the #10 seed also stumped more than half of you. Just in case you are interested...Coin Flip is 18-14 and is tied for last with Arthur....who saw great things ahead for the Florida Gators. 

Good luck today!  


paulie
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