CARDS put 393 on first semester honor roll

WEDNESDAY @ C.C.

-Honors...

.

-WBB after 19 games...

.

-David Watson commentary

The University of Louisville had 393 scholar athletes make the honor roll with 3.0 or better grades during the first semester. Jeff Walz had eight of his Lady Cards hoopsters named to the list. Becky Burke, Shawnta Dyer, Tia Gibbs, Shelby Harper, Keisha Hines, LaToya Johnson, Shoni Schimmel and Antonita Slaughter all acheived the grades. Other womens sports:

(Burke and Schimmel...they shoot and study!)

-Volleyball (9)

-Tennis (8)

-Softball (11)

-Soccer (23)

Golf (7)

Rowing (32)

Field Hockey (16)

Swimming/Diviing (23)

Track and Field (23)

Congratulations to all scholars and keep up the good work!

.

***************************************************************************

.

Some numbers after 19 games for WBB:

.

-Six Lady Cards have played in all 19 games...Reid, Schimmel, Gibbs, Burke, Hines and Vails.

.

-Reid (16.2) leads the team in scoring, Schimmel in double figures also (16.0). 308 points for Reid, 304 for Schimmel.

.

-Slaughter leads in 3-point percentage (20-48) .417. Gibbs (27-67) .403, Burke (36-90). 400 and Schimmel (50-136) .368 follow. LaToya Johnson is 1-1 (1.000).

.

-Keisha Hines has 123 rebounds (6.5) followed by Monique Reid with 102 (5.4). Hines also leads the way with fouls (71) followed by Vails (47).

.

-Louisville has outscored their opponents 1459-1173. An average of 15.1 per game...76.8 to 61.7.

.

-The Cards have 252 steals this year...tops in the BIG EAST and 99 more than their opponents. They've also forced opponents into 447 turnovers while committing 342.

.

-Five LADY CARDS average 20 minutes a game or better. Schimmel (29.7), Reid (26.2), Gibbs (25.8), Burke (25.0) and Hines (21.1). Vails nearly makes the list with (19.3) a game.

.

****************************************************************************

.

Watson weighs in:

.

I'm not much of a stat tracker or follower, but there are two stats about this year's Lady Cards team that do catch my eye. In games in the KFC YUM! Center...Louisville is 8-1. The loss came to top ten ranked Tennessee. Outside of the KFC YUM! Center they are 4-6. Louisville has 11 games remaining in the regular season and six are at home. Based on my highly unscientific formula, I can now offer that the University of Louisville womens' basketball team will finish the regular season 19-11. I'll further offer that they win two games in the BIG EAST Tournament and two in the NCAA Tournament. Nothing like sticking your nexk out there, is there?

.

What say you, David and why? I figure the Cards, based on the numbers above, will go 5-1 at home the rest of the year. It'll probably be DePaul who dishes out that loss. If not, WVU would be glad to step in. I generously predict that Louisville will go 2-3 on the road the rest of the year. I HOPE I'm wrong on this but, once again, I'm just playing the numbers. Let's say wins over Providence and Villanova and losses to Syracuse, USF and Marquette. Once again, just the numbers talking. 19-11 ( 10-6 in conference) is a heck of a regular season.

.

My own opinion, taking the numbers out of play, is a 20-10 finish. Louisville will handle Cincinnati, Marquette, Rutgers, Georgetown, Villanova, USF, Seton Hall and Providence. They will struggle with WVU, DePaul and Syracuse.

.

So, what does 20-10 ( 11-5 in conference) get you? The record should be good for a top 5 berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. Put Connecticut, WVU, Notre Dame and DePaul above you. The numbers should also easily guarantee a NCAA Tournament appearance, too. Same scenario as above, two wins in the BIG EAST and two wins in the NCAA Tournaments.

.

I've also designed a "doomsday" outcome as well. Let's say the Cards can handle Cincinnati, Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence and USF. Let's say they lose to WVU, Syracuse, Marquette, DePaul, Rutgers and Georgetown. This makes UofL 17-13 (8-8 in conference). They're squarely on the bubble for the NCAA...but get slighted and go one to win 4 games in the NIT. This one is evil, ignore it please.

.

The philosophy I like best is that of my youngest daughter. She says that UofL will win all eleven games and the BIG EAST tournament. They make the FINAL FOUR in the NCAA but lose to Stanford. She's got a future with the BCS Bowl Selection Committee. Someone get me Lou Holtz's number and please pry this calculator out of my hands.

.

(David Watson is a special contributor to CARDINAL COUPLE. He also claims to be able to tour most golf courses in 90 or under. Maybe Putt-Putt, David...we've seen your swing and it ain't pretty...)

.