MYSTICS FALL DESPITE MYISHA'S DOUBLE DOUBLE -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CONNECTICUT 76 - WASHINGTON 63

It has been a struggle for the Washington Mystics to grab "W"'s  as we leave August and roll into September. Washington is 1-9 in their last ten games and took another one on the chin yesterday when short-handed Connecticut (they had just seven players available for the game) won every quarter in the 13-point victory.

Myisha Hines-Allen continues to impress, though, and yesterday was another shining example of how she's become a leader on the 2020 Mystics roster. She scored 12 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had six assists in 30 minutes for Washington. 

The "Myisha Mystics" are 4-11, though, and playoff hopes are starting to look pretty dim for her and her teammates. The WNBA takes the top eight teams in the standings for the playoffs and Washington is in 10th place, a game and a half back of eighth-place Dallas (6-10). 

Here hoping the Mystics can recover the winning ways that started the season for them and make a late push to gain playoff eligibility. 

No former Cardinals will be in action tonight (Monday)....as Chicago takes on Indy in the early game and Los Angeles battles Minnesota in the nightcap at the  "wubble". 

SCENARIOS

Current standings have it pretty tight at the top of the league, with Seattle (13-3), Las Vegas (12-3) and Los Angeles (12-3. These three have already clinched playoff berths.

Right behind them are Minnesota (10-5) and Chicago (10-6). The Phoenix Mercury are at 9-7 and on a three-game win streak....so the top six spots have pulled away from the bottom half of the league. 

Connecticut (7-9) holds seventh spot and then Dallas. 

The bottom four in the league (Indiana 5-10), Washington (4-11), Atlanta (3-13) and New York (2-13) have work to do. From a Cardinal player view, right now, only Angel McCoughtry would advance to the playoffs. 

This year, only 22 regular season games per team are being played. Theoretically, if the New York Liberty got "hot" and won out -- they'd be 9-13 and might be eligible for a first round playoff berth. We can only hope. I'd like to see Jaz and Kylee in the playoffs, but, they've been impressive in their rookie seasons regardless of the outcome. 

How do the playoffs work?

The first two rounds are single-elimination games...meaning seeds #1 and #2 receive byes to the semis and #3 and #4 receive byes to the second round. If the playoffs were to start today, the scenario would look like:

FIRST ROUND:  Single elimination game.

#5 Chicago vs #8 Dallas

#6 Phoenix vs #7 Connecticut

(It's interesting to note that six of the top eight from 2019 are still playoff bound)..  

SECOND ROUND:  Single elimination game

Winner of Chicago vs. Dallas plays Minnesota

Winner of Phoenix vs Connecticut plays Los Angeles  

It is, obviously, too early to set the "final eight" in stone and tables could turn dramatically for any or all of the nine teams fighting to automatically qualify. 

Have a meaningful Monday and it's Derby Week (I know, it seems strange to say that as we head into September). Mask up, keep washing and sanitizing if you're "out and about" and be kind. 

paulie

Friday Cardinal Couple -- A look at...Sydney Brackemyre

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- A LOOK AT SYDNEY BRACKEMYRE

- HEY, JUDE!

Several weeks back, we indicated that we'd be doing articles on the five high school seniors that will be part of the UofL WBB 2014-2015 team. Our first feature was Myisha Hines-Allen.

Today,we'll look at Sydney Brackemyre. They call her Syd the Kid...but she plays hoops like a full-grown adult. If you could compare her to any of the Cards that were on the 2013 squad...I'll offer Asia Taylor. Not for the power forward/center moves, though...Sydney will be coming in as a "3" or wing...but for that most ugly of things...high school injuries.

Her Clinton-Massie squad was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Ohio Girls High School Basketball Regionals...but Sydney was not at full strength...

Syd came into the game with a dislocated index finger on her shooting hand. The injury occurred in the first quarter of the District Final game last Friday night. She played through the pain, even breaking open the stitches at some point in the first quarter. She led the team in scoring with ten points. She had tweeted that this was going to be a toughness test. I would say she definitely passed.


Several months before that, a ACL injury put her on the shelf. The story parallels that of the injuries Asia Taylor suffered before starting her career at UofL.

Here's some more similaries:

- Both are 6'0" or 6'1"...depending who you talk to.

- Both played high school ball in Ohio.

- Both received a lot of awards their senior year

Clinton-Massie senior Sydney Brackemyre was named the Div. II Southwest District girls baskrtball player of the year by The Associated Press.


Brackemyre earned top player honors in the area after averaging 15.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.1 blocked shots during the regular season. She was instrumental in leading the 26-1 Lady Falcons to the regional semifinals, where they were defeated by Kettering Alter, 56-33. Brackemyre has signed to play next season at the University of Louisville

So...what is it that she'll be looked upon to do when she hits the KFC YUM! Center?


  Fundamental perimeter performer with smooth release point on jumper to the arc; keeps the defense honest with deceptively quick with triple-threat attack; defends, rebounds and handles in transition; makes plays on both ends of the floor; among the most complete performers in the 2014 class.


The above description makes her sound more like Tia Gibbs or Nita Slaughter than Asia. These skills she has are what the Cards will need in the 2014-15 season. The three main outside shooting threats for UofL WBB have graduated in Shoni, Nita and Tia. She'll be in the hunt for a wing spot with the Cards.

She'll be the first Sydney to ever play women's basketball at UofL. She also joins the "S" troops...(Shawnta, Sherrone, Starr and Sara).

She's a little too tall to be a member of the Attack Yorkies contingent (Starr, Monny, and Jude) but we expect her perseverance and tenacity will be just as fierce.

We expect she'll serve them well, and become a favorite with the Cardinal fanbase. With her sparkling personality and intense competitive drive...she's a welcome addition to the Cardinal roster.

( Parts of today's article were gathered from ESPN and BigIUFan29@wordpress.com )

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We've always thought that Jude Schimmel was a very attractive young woman. Looks like others feel that way as well. Glamour Magazine has given her a 'thumbs up' as well.

We don't want her wearing a cute, little black cocktail dress...mind you...when she's shutting down opposing guards and stealing the ball...but it's a very nice honor for her.

You can read about it over at www.UofLCardGame.com or go to the link below:

http://www.glamour.com/inspired/2014/04/jude-schimmel-top-10-college-women-2014


Lookin' good...lil' sis! Brains, beauty and a three-point threat. Could she also be a UofL Homecoming Queen entry this fall?

paulie

Field Hockey defeats Richmond...Dunbar decides

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Two freshmen score in 2-1 Field Hockey win

-Soccer cancelled due to rough weather

-Dunbar commits to...

-Louisville Football romps in season opener


HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!


Getting goals in the second half from Shannon Sloss and Jennifer Pels, Louisville Field Hockey defeated the Richmond Spiders yesterday in Richmond, VA. The Cards improve to 1-1 on the season with the victory.

Today's game was brutal," said U of L head coach Justine Sowry. "The conditions were some of the toughest we've experienced, but we endured. Richmond was the more poised team and showed more discipline on the day, however we showed a lot of toughness. We were resilient and kept fighting until the end which shows how much character this team has. It was not pretty by any means, but it is an outstanding result for the program."


Louisville trailed 1-0 at the half...the teams went the first 30 minutes of the game without a score. It took the Cards 11 minutes into the second half before Sloss got a pass inside the circle and belted it home to tie the contest.

The game winner came with seven minutes left...Pels getting a penalty corner pass from sophomore Elisa Garcia and finding the back of the net for the win.

Louisville returns to action Friday when William & Mary visit the Trager for a 1 p.m. tilt.

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The Kickin' Cards match against #10 Wake Forest was first delayed for two hours, eventually started but halted when weather became severe in Winston-Salem.

Louisville trailed 1-0 when the contest was stopped...the game will not be counted as official since less than 70 minutes were played.

Soccer head to Kentucky next for a Friday game against the Wildcats.

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On the recruiting front, Cardinal target Kortney Dunbar has decided on where she'll attend college and the Edwardsville, IL wing has chosen Tennessee has her hoops home. We wish her the best.

It is also rumored that Myisha Hines-Allen may announce where she will play basketball on Tuesday.

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Louisville football. Wow. Teddy for five TD's and the Cards deliver at 49-7 thumping to the Ohio Bobcats. Despite the heat, it was a fun day for football at the Pizza Oven.

80 Under 80 was rockin' and PJCS looked pretty full to me.

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Cardinal fans start early. Below...Reagan Yaste tries to get the family involved by doing the CARDS cheer. (At least we think that's an "R" she's trying to do.)

Have a great Labor Day, everybody!

-Paulie