DEPTH, SHOOTING AND QUICKNESS ON 2015-2016 ROSTER
What are we liable to see next week?
Makers, not shooters
One of Coach Walz's anecdotes concerns a young prospect a few that was tagged as a outstanding shooter. When this was pointed out to him, he replied that he liked shooters but he preferred makers.
There are plenty of "makers" on this squad. All five of the guards on the roster are capable of double digit efforts anytime they take the court. Briahanna Jackson has the skills to beat an opponent from multiple positions on the court. Asia Durr and Taja Cole are quick off the ball, can score from outside and were love the fast break, transition game. Arica Carter looks like a completely different guard this year and the outside shot has improved noticeably.
Dakota Weatherford is primarily an assist and defensive point guard...but can consistently hit the mid-range jumper and is also dangerous from the deep.
At wing, Mariya Moore continues to be an all-over-the court threat and improved the consistency of her shot behind the arc. Sydney Brackemyer has a nice shot from the corner and will help the Cards inside as well. Brianna Jones is another speed merchant who drives well to the hoop and can hit from mid-range. In the paint, Myisha Hines-Allen is still strong around the hoop and looks to be a little faster than last year. Cortnee Walton crashes the boards with authority and almost never misses on follow ups and putbacks. Erin DeGrate is rapidly picking up the college game pace and techniques and will surprise opponents with her agility and shooting accuracy. Sam Fuehring may be the best rebounder of this group and gets around opponents and to the hoop very impressively for a freshman.
The thing that I think I'm most impressed about when watching this team is how fast they get up and down the court, know where to pass and cut and get the ball up to the hoop very quickly. Think of the UConn teams over the last couple of years that just kept coming at opponents non-stop on each possession and created very few turnovers. This Louisville team shows those same skills.
Last year's team relied on superior senior defensive skills at times to win games. The defense this year may not be exactly where Walz wants it yet....with so much youth at his disposal...but lighting up the scoreboard shouldn't be a problem. 5-6 double figure scorers each game a distinct possibility. Fast, transition basketball a certainty. It all starts next Sunday.
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HEY....IS THIS THING ON? TESTING...
We hope. The gremlins ate it last week and yesterday's show featured Paulie on remote and Worldwide in the studio...so there are chances something went wrong.
We hope not. It was a fun and interview packed hour and we even threw in a tailgating "Cards Cheer" and station identification from a fan.
LINK:
THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR
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VOLLEYBALL VS VA TECH TODAY
Head down (but keep your head up if you're near the court) to the KFC YUM! Center for UofL Volleyball action today. The WideNet Cards face Virginia Tech at 2 p.m.Louisville (12-1) is atop the ACC Conference...Va.Tech (6-7) back a bit in the middle of the pack...but still a dangerous opponent.
paulie
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Paulie, I pretty much agree with everything you said. Based on what I saw at last Saturday's practice, I agree with your guess at the starting lineup, although Durr will push for a starting role once she gets back to 100%. Guard play should be the team's strength. I won't be surprised if Fuehring is the team's leading rebounder. I didn't see the same shooting accuracy from DeGrate that you saw. She is more agile and active than I expected, but it looked to me like she has a ways to go on defense.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear DeGrate is more active . I heard she was just a space eater and not much else so that is positive news.
DeleteCortnee Walton and Myshia Hines-Allen have really been working with DeGrate and it shows.
DeleteMitchell at Kentucky and that recruiting guru whatever his name is they got from Dayton are getting it done with a 2017 recruiting class already of #10,#30 and #58 ranked players. They picked up Lindsey Duvall from Mt Washington Ky a junior and ranked #10 in Hoopgurlz. She was also considering Louisville and other top schools. The Pitino thing is going to hurt our recruiting on the girls side. Especially in state.
ReplyDeleteThe 2015-16 season hasn't even started yet. Why worry about 2017 recruits? Especially those for another school? Cards got Ciera Johnson after the MBB "scandal" broke - and she could have gone to Duke, ND, etc. The word on other boards is that Duvall may have been afraid of the competition at guard here - Durr, Cole, Carter, Zambrotta, Jones.
DeleteDuvall is good but Walz has his eyes on others
DeletePaulie
Interesting info on Kylee Shook and Zambrotta from Hoopgurlz:
ReplyDeleteChou isn't the only senior who has crashed the top of the prospects list. Louisville recruit Kylee Shook went into the summer ranked 42nd and comes out 18th. Shook, a 6-4 center from Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs, Colorado) who led her school to its first state title in any team sport as a sophomore, has the quickness of a guard and a defensive presence in the key. She has excellent timing and elevation to block and alter shots. She even broke the state record for career blocks last year as a junior. On offense, she finishes plays in the block with regularity, elevating over defenders.
In the bonus: Fellow Louisville recruit Sydney Zambrotta of Christ the King (Middle Village, New York) is moving up the prospect rankings as well. Zambrotta, who leaps from 58 to 29, brings a left-handed game to the backcourt and a dose of New York City swagger. Did we mention she's a scoring machine? Her game is infectious to her teammates, who feed off her toughness.