Sports Continue On
Cardnation is smarting after two basketball losses over the weekend, but there is plenty of UofL sports to still be enjoyed this year. Both teams had incredible seasons despite the sad endings and it only fuels our enthusiasm for the 2015-16 season. Go Cards! In victory or defeat, these are our teams...
Softball
I have to be honest, while Coach Sandy Pearsall claims not to have expectations for the level of achievement of her team at this point in the season, I did, and they didn't include sitting on top of the ACC conference standings (tied with Florida State). To be fair, with the exception of North Carolina, the conference matchups that the Cards have seen so far basically constitute the bottom third of the ACC rankings. North Carolina, however, is sitting in 3rd place, immediately behind the Cards and Seminoles.
One of the main tests for the Ulmer-dwellers comes this week as UK comes to play Wednesday. The Cats bring a 23-9 record with them, but only sporting a 3-6 record in the ever-impressive Softball SEC softball standings. The Cards will make the return trip to Lexington on the 21st.
The other real test looming for these batters is the Florida State visit on April 11th-13th.
The winter weather has broken, and I can say with certainty that afternoons at Ulmer are, barring rain, an absolutely wonderful way to relax for a couple of hours. Most contests don't have any admission costs, but do be aware that the UK game this Wed. does carry a $5 ticket price, though sitting on the outfield berm remains free of charge.
Lacrosse
The Lacrosse team continues to be stuck in 10th place in the national rankings and are tied with Syracuse for 5th place in the ACC with a 1-2 conference record. Overall, the Louisville Laxers are sporting an 8-3 record.
They tangle with American this afternoon at 2 o'clock in Washington DC. The Eagles bring in an 8-3 overall record, 1-3 in the Patriot League. The fast scoring Cardinals hope to get another win tucked into their belt before returning to Floyd Street to welcome 2nd ranked North Carolina (3rd in the ACC) to town for what looks to be one of the toughest tests of Kellie Young's squad this year. The cards are coming off another narrow and very competitive loss at what was then 4th-ranked Northwestern (they fell to 6th after beating us and losing to top-of-the-leaderboard Maryland...I still don't get where these ranking movements are coming from).
By the end of the season, UofL will have played 6 of the other 9 teams ranked in the top-10 right now, skipping only Maryland, and 8th and 9th ranked Florida and Stony Brook. The rest of the top 10 are filled out with conference foes North Carolina, Boston College, Virginia, Duke and Syracuse, as well as the aforementioned Northwestern. The Cards will also finish the regular season with a game at currently 17th place Notre Dame.
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So don't give up on Cardinal Athletics for the year, there is plenty more sports to be played, and with Spring making its long-awaited debut, its a great time of year to be a Card fan.
I'll see you on Floyd Street!
Basketball
Three of the freshmen for the coming year are in Chicago in preparation for the McDonald's All-American game. Sam Fuerhing, Taja Cole, and Asia Durr are all participating in the all-star game, but Cole and Durr were also tabbed to compete in the 3rd point shooting competition last night. Durr also participated in the skills competition.
You wanted some outside shooting, it looks like you're going to get it. Asia Durr scored 16 points, including all of the 2 point bonus balls in her final round, to win the 3-point competition.
jmca
Cardinal Couple Pick 'Em Contest
The four teams headed to Tampa are UConn, Maryland, South Carolina and Notre Dame. They were all #1 seeds.
With three games left to play...here's how the leader board looks:
49-11 Sonja, Charlie McAdams and K. Starks
- Sonja and Charlie both have UConn and Notre Dame advancing to the final game. They also have UConn winning.
K. Starks has Notre Dame and UConn advancing...with the Irish winning. If Charlie and Sonja end up in a tie, we'll go to a points scored decision. Charlie predicts 135 points will be scored in the final. Sonja says 112. If Sonja wins, she has already stated she'll give the $25 Cracker Barrel gift card to the runner-up. Hope you like dining out, Charlie...
48-12 Kenny S. and Curtis F.
- Kenny S. has UConn and Notre Dame advancing to the final game with UConn winning. Curtis F. could be the spoiler here..with Maryland and South Carolina advancing and South Carolina cutting down the nets.
Several possibilities...three games away from a title. Does Curtis rally to get his second title as "King of the Bracket Pick 'Em" here? Can Charlie or Sonja take first ever titles?
Close but no cigar to the (6) entries that are 47-12. Who do you think will take the crown?
paulie
xxxxx
jmca
Cardinal Couple Pick 'Em Contest
The four teams headed to Tampa are UConn, Maryland, South Carolina and Notre Dame. They were all #1 seeds.
With three games left to play...here's how the leader board looks:
49-11 Sonja, Charlie McAdams and K. Starks
- Sonja and Charlie both have UConn and Notre Dame advancing to the final game. They also have UConn winning.
K. Starks has Notre Dame and UConn advancing...with the Irish winning. If Charlie and Sonja end up in a tie, we'll go to a points scored decision. Charlie predicts 135 points will be scored in the final. Sonja says 112. If Sonja wins, she has already stated she'll give the $25 Cracker Barrel gift card to the runner-up. Hope you like dining out, Charlie...
48-12 Kenny S. and Curtis F.
- Kenny S. has UConn and Notre Dame advancing to the final game with UConn winning. Curtis F. could be the spoiler here..with Maryland and South Carolina advancing and South Carolina cutting down the nets.
Several possibilities...three games away from a title. Does Curtis rally to get his second title as "King of the Bracket Pick 'Em" here? Can Charlie or Sonja take first ever titles?
Close but no cigar to the (6) entries that are 47-12. Who do you think will take the crown?
paulie
xxxxx