Cardinal Couple Saturday -- A nothing game? No way...

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Cincy vs. Louisville WBB Saturday 2 p.m.


( DAVID WATSON IS PINCH-HITTING FOR PAULIE WITH THE PREVIEW OF THE UOFL VS. CINCINNATI WOMENS' BASKETBALL GAME. FEEL BETTER, PAULIE. )


I got the call Friday night from Sonja to head to the bullpen and get loose. It seems the fearless (or foolish) co-leader of COUPLED CARDINALS is down and out with a bit of a nasty bug. His other two columnist are otherwise occupied with matters of their own, so "the boss" is calling in the veteran righty to bring this one home.

Hey, why are all the fans headed to the exits?

Louisville WBB, the win machine that the mad scientist has concocted from deep in the laboratories on Floyd Street, goes rumbling up to Cincin-snotty today to batter around a few Bearcats for weekend pleasure. I guess it beats snipe hunting or watching submarine races down by the Ohio.

Make no mistake of it. This variety of Cats has had their tail pulled and been de-clawed most of the season. Losing leading scored Dayeesha Hollins to a season-ending knee injury didn't exactly make UC a force to be feared. The change in conferences didn't exactly upgrade the UC stock portfolio either. At least there is a Houston and UCF present to keep them completely out of the gutter.

The Bearcats do a passable job of defending people, so the beatdown probably won't be a 30 point affair. Seriously, though, Louisville hasn't beat anyone by 30 since Bill Clinton was in Arkansas and Hillary played point guard for Harvard -- so to expect a huge Cardinal blowout would be like expecting Santa Claus to shave his beard and dye his hair black.

I know what is in the minds of all of my fellow Cardinal WBB fans and it isn't a weekend trip to the city where Dustin Hoffman memorized "Who's On First?". That doesn't mean today's game isn't important, though. A Cardinal slip-up could make the UConn game a moot point if Walz's women want a share of the regular-season conference title.

If you guys haven't sold out the KFC YUM! Center yet for the Monday Night Madness -- well, what are you waiting for? I'd fly in from Bradenton if I had the extra cash.

No -- today's game isn't steak and lobster. It's more like burgers and chili -- which reminds me that Cincinnati has some pretty good chili up there. If you are going to today's game or live in Cincy, how about sending ol' Dave here a 5-way or a few Coney Dogs?

A game of maintaining. Of not allowing Kayla Cook to bombard the Cards too heavily from past the arc. A game where Jeanise Randolph will need to be controlled. A game where the recent one-two punch of Sara and Asia needs to be employed. Add 15-20 from Shoni, an improving effort from Bria. Sprinkle in Nita and Tia connecting on a few long shots. Toss in a few steals and assists from Jude, hope that E. keeps up her point a minute pace and round up all the other usual suspects. The Cards will walk out of Fifth-Third Arena with another win deposited into their account.

It was 64-45 in Louisville two months ago. A repeat will work just fine.

Enjoy the burgers and chili while on the road. The main course is being served up Monday night.

And, feel better, Paulie. Sonja deserves a break from the "Mr. Grumpy" she told me about when she called me to pinch-hit.

David

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THERE WILL BE NO CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO BROADCAST TODAY AT 11 AM. THE CREW OFFERS THEIR REGRETS AND WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE SORRY THAT WE WON'T HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF LOUISVILLE LACROSSE TODAY BUT WE WILL RECAP THE OUTCOME AND ALSO SOFTBALL RESULTS IN THE SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE. WE'LL ALSO HAVE A RECAP OF THE UC VS. UOFL GAME.

LACROSSE HAS AN IMPORTANT HOME GAME AGAINST #18 DENVER TODAY AT 1 P.M. AT THE UOFL LACROSSE STADIUM. PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND!

SONJA

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