Not In the Cards -- Duke wins ACC Tournament 70-65 in overtime -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS RELINQUISH LEAD IN FOURTH QUARTER AND FALL TO DUKE

 Another ACC WBB Tournament...another Cards failure to take home the championship trophy. The #2 seed Cards vs. the #1 seed Blue devils and a 1 p.m. ESPN showcase slot on Sunday. 

Louisville fought the good fight for three and half quarters and found themselves leading #1 seed Duke 55-51 with 4:26 to play in the fourth quarter after a Mac Randolph jumper. The squads had just come out of a timeout and ten seconds later the Walz designed play worked to perfection.

That lead got cut in half but three minutes later...two Randolph free throws re-established the four-point lead at 57-53. It was too early, it turned out, to give this one to the Cards but it certainly was looking good for Walz's squad. 

Someone forget to relay the plot line to the Blue Devils. They regained the lead at 58-57 on a Nelson three and the Cards found their backs to the wall. But another drawn up play worked to perfection and Randolph continued her hot hands to make it 59-58 Cards with 23 seconds to play. It looked even better when Imari Berry went to the line for free throws with 14 seconds to go. Berry made one of two to set the tally at 60-58. All the Cards needed was a stop and they would be the tournament champs. 

It didn't happen. Duke inserted Delaney Thomas and Ashlon Jackson found her on a pass for a shot attempt with four second to play and Thomas tied the contest at 60-60. Louisville had four seconds for another possible game winner but Taj Roberts attempt was blocked. 

Hello overtime. 

The Cards had one lead in the extra five minutes, when a Ziegler three put them up 63-62 with 3:52 to go. Louisville did get back within two when Randolph got a putback to go to make it 67-65 Duke with 51 seconds to go, but could not score again. A Duke three by Nelson Riley with six seconds to go was the final score of the game Duke added the conerencce champonship to their regluar season championship with the 70-65 win.  

The Cards ended with four in double figures...Berry totaling 18, Randolph 17, Roberts 12 and Ziegler 10. Duke got four in doble digits as well, with 19 each from Mair and Thomas leading the way. 

(Even though Fred was in red...not a beautiful day in the neighboood for Cards)

THE FRED REPORT 

FREE THROWS --  The Cards shot nine (incredible, right?) and made six. That's 66.7%and not good enough for a letter. Duke had twenty something attempts. No discrepancy here, right?

REBOUNDS -- Louisville was outrebounded 42-34 by  Duke. Randolph had 11 for UofL. No letter here,either. 

EFFORT/EXECUTION -- The Cards shot 43% for the game and made 7 out of 21 threes. They had 16 turnovers and had 26 points in the paint. A good effort until the end, but not a winning one. Rebounding is so important. The Cards were lacking. We'll award a small case "e" .

DEFENSE -- The Cards held Duke to 39% shooting, but gave away four point leads twice and it ultimarely coast them. Giving up five points in overtime in the last 2:25 isn't horrible, but it was a Louisville loss and I can't award a letter on that

FINAL FRED REPORT -_-_e_-

POST GAME JEFF WALZ AND MACKENLY RANDOLPH

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