Wednesday Cardina Couple -- Lacrosse moves into top 20...Hoops final tests

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Louisville Lacrosse checks in at #20

- Before the Huskies....the Bearcats




Al and the Pep Band are Lacrosse-friendly

WE were impressed with Louisville Lacrosse's Virginia road trip over the weekend. Convincing wins for the Cards at Old Dominion and William & Mary. The pollsters must have been, also...since the Cards have jumped into the top 20...at #20 in the latest lacrosse poll and rankings.

Louisville will host #18 Denver on Saturday afternoon @ 1 p.m. over at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium.

This final season in the BIG EAST is the calm before the storm. When the Cards migrate south into the ACC, they'll be facing the powerhouses of the women's lacrosse D1 world. They got a taste of the supremacy to start the season with a narrow loss to Duke.  

Despite my camera ineptitude, Lacrosee ladies still look pretty

Six of the top ten schools in the recent rankings are ACC. Notre Dame was knocking at the door at #12. Louisville will test the Irish in South Bend on March 8th. A win there, as well as a win Sunday over Denver will serve as an example that the LAX bunch are legit.

Finish. It's the lacrosse "word" of the season. After Sunday, they might add another word as well...

Travel.

Eight of the next nine after Denver are on the road.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I had a couple of co-workers grilling me about the upcoming UofL women's basketball game Monday night in the KFC YUM Center. These are die-hard men's basketball fans who haven't given the ladies a try in a live venue yet.

Upper deck? No problem. It's where they're perched for Pitino's games.

It is the talk around town.

May I suggest, though, that we focus on the next game before jumping directly into the dogsled and trying to mush those Huskies. Up the river from our fair city is Cincinnati. It's another underachieving year for the Bearcats, in terms of a won/loss conference record, but not a team that is residing in the AAC cellar.

In fact, Bearcat 6'2" forward Jeanise Randolph was the Player of the Week in the AAC last week. Nine double-doubles on the season. Alyesha Lovett put up 20 points against the Owls. Jasmine Whitfield has seen the double figure ledger several times and Kayla Cook can bomb away from beyond the arc.

Jamelle Elliott, UC head coach, is not going to stand by idly when the Cards come to visit this Saturday at 2 p.m. She rarely stays still as a rule when coaching...leading an observer at the UofL vs. Cincy game at the KFC YUM! Center to remark about the former UConn star...

"If her squad exerted as much energy as she does during a game, they'd be in contention for the conference title."

OK, I don't see that...but if there was ever a "trap" game scenario brewing, this is it. Highly favored team goes on the road, with a classic matchup two days after this one lined up. Underdog comes out hot, stays hot and delivers the upset over their rival.

I think A-Tayy would make a good news person, don't you?

It probably won't happen. Louisville beat UC in Louisville by nineteen. (Why is it that it seems we beat everyone by nineteen?). The Cards are a veteran, talented group that can reload many times with multiple attack weapons should a couple fail in the Queen City. Asia Taylor should school the UC front liners and Shoni bombed away for 21 last time.

But, never look too far ahead. UConn is still coming to the KFC YUM! on 3/3/14. Take care of business 3/1/14 first...

paulie
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