Cards Guards young but...how about Marquette? - Thursday Cardinal Couple

The combination of Asia Durr, Taja Cole, Brianna Jones and Arica Carter at guards for Louisville this year is the youngest guard class in Jeff Walz's tenure at UofL. Three freshmen and a sophomore. It might turn out to be the most talented guard class by the time they reach senior status...but, as for now...youth is served.

We could fill three columns discussing the award and honors the three freshmen picked up in their high school careers. Carter came in highly decorated and honored as well. 

It's for real, now. D1. ACC. Can talent overcome lack of college experience? My money is on the talent.

For Carter, it must seem a bit amusing yet bewildering at times. A season ago, she was gathering replacement minutes when either Jude or Bria were out. Battling Megan Deines for the back up guard spot....Arica had some up and down performances. 

Now, she's the elder statesmen of the guard contingent. 

Nine of the eleven players on the listed UofL WBB roster are freshmen or sophomore. With the mad scientist at the helm...there's always the possibility a player or two could be added before the season starts. Given the transfer rate we've seen this summer...anything is possible. 

If you think the Cards are young, though...let's take a look at our former Big East foe from Milwaukee...the Marquette Golden Eagles. 

Terri Mitchell was replaced at head coach last year by Carolyn Kieger. Kieger was an outstanding guard at Marquette from 2002-2006 and led the squad in assists each year she played there. She played against Angel McCoughtry and now she's a head coach. CK also served under Katie Meier down at the "U" for four years as an assistant. Her first season at Marquette she went 9-22. 

This upcoming season, she'll have eight incoming freshmen, a juco transfer and two returning players that were pretty much reserves in 2014-15 to work with. They may be wearing name tags in the first few practices. 

Former assistant and son of the legendary Pat...Tyler Summit is now the head coach at Louisiana Tech. Katherine Plouffe, the most recognizable name (at least for me) in the past few years of Marquette women's basketball is in Romania playing Euroleague ball. Funny how a few years ago, we worried about Marquette's height and rebounding power when we faced them in the Big East. Now, their tallest player is 6'2" and had a season high of 11 points against Northern Kentucky as a freshman last year. 

If we happen to surmise about the youth movement on the UofL WBB squad this year...try to remember that, compared to Marquette...Louisville is a veteran and experienced squad. 


The Cards guards may be young...but between Cole, Durr and Jones....they scored a combined 5,214 points in high school. I expect Carter to return to the form that had West Coast hoop experts raving about her last year when she chose Louisville. 

All four (Taja, Asia, Brianna and Arica) have first names that end in "A". I expect that's also a pretty good grade to give these four in terms of talent. This 2015-16 Louisville WBB squad looks to be one that will get it up and down the court pretty quickly. Fast break, transition basketball. Not a lot of half court sets that use up the shot clock. All four of the guards seem quite adept at that style of play. Get ready for some track meets in the KFC YUM! Center...

paulie
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