FRIDAYS WITH DARYL
Good morning L'ville fans.. It has been a roller coaster of basketball experience over the past week so I'll give a few thoughts on that. Want to also include a personal note that my work schedule has picked back up since last year's shut down. I'm excited to get back out at the ballfield at Slugger this year for Bats baseball games as well as continuing to work at the ACCN building for Olympic sport video production. I plan on being out there for the entire ACC tournament!
Now that basketball is over in the Ville, I'm flipping to the diamond sport mode!
A quick reflection- We were blessed with an Elite 8 berth by the WBB program, a #1 ranking and regular season title, another ACC Championship appearance and the fierce, fabulous and classy career of Dana Evans, who took this program to new heights.
On Sunday the Cards beat the Ducks to advance to face the tournament's overall #1 seed, Stanford. I do believe we witnessed Dana return to the confident scoring machine we know and love as well as the establishment of next year's team leader, Mykasa Robinson.
Speaking of next year's squad... The Cards did end up being a landing spot for a couple grad transfers! One of them I am particularly a fan of!
Engstler, a 6-foot-1 guard from New York, N.Y., started all 31 games for the Orange as a sophomore prior to coming off the bench as a junior last season and earning ACC Co-Sixth Player of the Year honors.
As a junior, she nearly averaged a double-double with 10.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. She had 12 double-digit scoring games and seven double-doubles last season. She finished with a season-high 21 points, while adding 10 rebounds in the ACC Tournament matchup against Louisville. She also had 16 points, 11 rebounds and a steal on 7-14 shooting % against the Cards as the team debut their first ever #1 ranking.
Engstler was named the 2018 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American.
"We are thrilled to add such a talented player and quality person to our roster. Emily is one of the top rebounders and shot blockers in the country," said head coach Jeff Walz. "Emily's versatility, size and strength will be a huge addition to our team. Her passing, basketball IQ and toughness will be contagious. We are looking forward to getting her on campus and beginning her new journey in a Cardinal uniform."
"I'm grateful to be given a new opportunity during this time in my life," said Engstler. "I hope for a new beginning that's filled with hope and much to celebrate."
As a junior, she started all 30 games and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll after leading the team in free throw percentage (.813), assists (117) and minutes (972). Her 3.9 assists per game ranked eighth in the SEC. She averaged 10.6 points per game and reached double-figures in 18 games, including two 20-point performances.
In 2020-21, Hall started all eight games of Vanderbilt's shortened season. She reached 1,000 career points on January 10 against Alabama.
Hall attended Seffner Christian in Tampa, Fla., and was a first team all-state selection as a junior and senior.
"I am grateful and excited for this new journey," said Hall. "I can't wait to be a part of this special program."
Miami hit .127 with four aces and eight blocks. The Canes were led by Elizaveta Lukianova's 18 kills and four blocks.
The win clinches at least a share of the ACC crown as the Cardinals move to 12-2 in the league as Notre Dame (13-3) swept Georgia Tech to bump the Yellow Jackets out of the top two. Louisville will need to take down North Carolina to clinch the ACC's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.
SOFTBALL
The Cards will return home following the series to face #8 Kentucky on Wednesday night April 7th at 7 PM. The Cats will face the #21 Tennessee Volunteers on the road this weekend before meeting the Cards at Ulmer Stadium for a midweek matchup.
NCAA WOMENS FINAL FOUR
If you happen to still care... the WBB Final Four starts tonight in San Antonio. Personally, I'll be rooting for Dawn Staley and the USC Gamecocks to cut down the nets. Not sure I'll actually tune in for the games, however.
Stanford vs South Carolina 6:00PM
UCONN vs Arizona 9:30PM
I have a few meetings planned for Saturday with softball out of town so I am out for radio, Jared might be tied up with family so it should be Jeff Paul and Case to dissect the weeks events.
Until next time Cardinals fans!
~Daryl
Hey Ho!
ReplyDeleteIt's Dave-O
(From the land of broken bracket dreams, elderly farts on the beach wishing they looked good in a speedo and/or bikini and unrelenting and ferocious sand traps...I shoo away a pesky alligator from the garage and emerge, dazed and confused, to drop illustrious words of wisdom on a unappreciative group of disappointed Cardinals fans. I have Kleenex and liquor, cheer up!)
I am still in askance about the second half against Tara Windowsmear's elite group of West Coast ballers. Ducking while I state that, since Brink or Prechtel are liable to send something hurtling back my way after I casually toss it in the air. I say, without hesitation or doubt that the Trees will be cut down by a bunch of surly South Carolina foresters tonight and Dawn Staley will mask her way to the final against Paige Buckets and her merry band of dogs. Somewhere, Mulkey the Monkey is trying vainly to adjust her mask as she plunders into the night to hunt down and intimidate the officials who stole her Final Four possibilities.
Mr. Walz has shook the disappointment of getting thumped in the Elite Eight and gone hunting. He's emerged from the jungle of WBB DI free agency with a couple of nice trinkets and adds them to a crowded phone booth of All Americans and desperados who will spend the summer wearing out the backboards in the tanning salon on Floyd Street that has been concerted into a hardwood house of horrors. Free fit-bits to the first five players who join the portal. Michael J. Fox is waiting there in the Delorean. Quentin Hillsman is staggering around in a daze with no glasses on, clutching his playbook.
The WBB squad should just take over the entire complex and send the Mack to a nearby high school to practice and Teeter to Churchill Downs' infield to practice.
I really fell in love with Emily Engstler watching her at Syracuse and Q's loss is Louisville's gain. She's basketball smart and obviously willing to do the work to hone her game to a top level. Hall? Well, the jury's still out on this lass, but anyone who can shoot 49.5% from the floor and 83% from the charity line is a pretty good addition. I doubt she'll be on the scout team with Brady and Lamont.
Paulie, we're contemplating a trip to Muncie to visit the wife's kin in May. Meaning, we'll roll through Derby City (if we drive) and would love to spend a few hours sampling craft beer and visiting the oval on Central if you can free yourself from the dreary task of trying to interpret what Worldwide is talking about, keeping Case away from encounters with the Louisville women's soccer staff, pleading with Jared to stop taking selfies and monitoring whatever in the hell it is that Daryl does beside slurp banana milkshakes and push buttons. .
Be warned and a bit nervous, Cardnation. The Watson and his entourage are going on tour and maybe headed to your city. Consult Ticketmaster for more details and are you guys driving on the right side of the road up there yet in Kaintuck with any regularity?
I'm fully vaccinated, as is the wifey, and I'm ready to spend these hard-earned retirement dollars on something besides disinfectant, fresh seafood, eight-tracks and Netflex.
Dave-O
Great stuff, Mr. Watson. I love it when the Geritol kicks in. Bring sand for our potholes and cash.
Deletepaulie
xxxxx
😂😂😂😂😂👍
DeleteStanford vs UConn, Tara beats Geno. And I am watching.
ReplyDeleteDon't know anything about Hall, barely remember playing Vandy, but sounds as if she is gonna be a good fit as a seasoned floor general, not sure whose minutes she gets, it ain't gonna be Hailey's or Mykasa's.
Engstler, YES!
Watched enough Syracuse games. Nice get and damn that was fast. Plays bigger than 6'1.
Not afraid to mix it up. Has some range.
Was actually wondering if Walz was interested in her, and BINGO!
She'll DEFINITELY be getting minutes.
The future looks bright for the Cards indeed💯👍
That's great news Emily Engstler wow i love her game,also she's very hard to guard and a good rebounder has well.
ReplyDeleteMerv
PS a burger girl.
DeleteOops as well.
DeleteHall's another Dana. Creates and makes her own shot and very good from three point range. Engstler is a brawler like Sam F was, at 6'2". Played guard for Q.
ReplyDeleteWalz is gonna have many options. My guess is Russell is gone, hope Parker and Williams stay, I think both could be good here. 14-15 is a lot to juggle on a roster.
Curtis "Be Kind" Franklin
Glad to see the two WBB additions.
ReplyDeleteHow about we lay off the transfer speculation. The Boneyard has a longstanding hard-and-fast rule about that. It's a great rule.
Dave O just pumped up because he edged me by one lousy stroke yesterday. On a 15 foot putt. Now he thinks he's ready for the senior tour. Maybe the senility tour.
ReplyDelete-- The Real Joe Hill --