WBB home opener vs Southern Indiana -- Walz presser -- VB at Syracuse FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL

Hello readers, I am back with you this morning! It’s been a wild couple of weeks as I went out of town  but I am back and getting back into the swing of UofL athletics mode.  Actually I did make the trip to Boston College for the Cardinals football game Halloween weekend.  You know, the one they won in comeback fashion.  It was a lot of fun to celebrate my Bachelorette party there with my girls.   

The Cardinals golf program concluded its fall season with a tournament victory at the Robbie Tournament . it is the Cardinals first tournament win since 2021 when they finished tied for first at the Illini Invitational. It is the first solo tournament win since 2019 when they won the Cardinal Cup.  

I myself have also put the golf clubs away for the season.  Till next year!!!  🏌


WBB

Just before Walz met with the media Thursday afternoon the program announced another season opening matchup with a national powerhouse program, UCONN, to be exact in Germany, to open the 2025 season.   Another incredible opportunity for these players to travel the world and play basketball.  

Walz presser - video courtesy to WDRB   Jeff Walz 11/7/24 Press Conference

Highlights include:

-- Walz talked about the game vs UCLA in paris and felt like it was a great college basketball game and was proud of the team, said they took care of the ball and recognized 12 steals as a team. 

-- He also said it was an awesome trip and that this team is great together, mentioned that the hotel was in a great location to get to explore cafes and shops and had fun things planned like dinner halfway up the Eifel tower and a river cruise that were great but also wanted them to experience Paris with the friends and family that also made the trip. They knew they were there for a basketball game, of course,  but was proud of how they all got along abroad.  

-- Jayda Curry's hamstring did come shooting around on Wednesday and non- contact Thursday.  Do not want a season long lingering injury.   

-- Ja'Leah Williams transferring into the program a wonderful thing and how pleasant she has been to have on the squad. 

-- Playing in Germany next season against UConn and how its an opportunity you can't pass up.  It speaks volumes for the program and how we represent ourselves as a program in the communities  


Southern Indiana preview





In their first meeting, the Cards and Screaming Eagles will square off at 7 p.m. ET and it will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.

The Cardinals are 15-2 all-time in home openers under head coach Jeff Walz. Since the KFC Yum! Center opened in 2010, the Cardinals are 12-2 in openers at the Yum! Center. The Cardinals have won each of their last eight home openers, dating back to the 2015-16 season.

Southern Indiana comes into Friday's matchup with a 1-0 record after a 100-49 opening night victory over Brescia. USI had five players score in double figures and never trailed in the win. The Screaming Eagles are coming off a 2023-24 campaign where they went 25-7 overall, 17-1 in conference play and won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. They return all five starters from last year. 

Last year's leading scorer was now senior, Vanessa Shafford with 13.6 ppg. The Screaming Eagles return the top-three scorers from last season including Shafford, and graduate students Meredith Raley (12.2ppg) and Madison Webb (10.8ppg). Shafford was the team's leading rebounder last year with 7.7 per game and Webb had a team-best 3.5 assists per game.

VolleyCards

The volleyball squad is heading northeast for some ACC competition with the Syracuse Orange on Friday night.    The Orange are 13-11 after starting the 2024 season on a 12 match win streak, making it the team's best start since 2010.   

Ava Palm leads the Orange and is tied for #8 in the ACC with 278 kills. She has racked up double-digit kills in 17 of Syracuse's 24 contests. Palm has also stuffed the stat sheet defensively, as her 187 digs lead the Orange.

Palm has recorded six double-doubles this season, including in three of the last four matches. She has posted double-digit kills and digs in all three of those contests, with all six of her double-doubles coming by way of kills and digs.

The outside hitter is also tied for the lead on the Orange in aces with 25....with Skylar George. 

Enjoy this fall weekend!   

As always, 

Go Cards! 

~Daryl