The Redemption Train Ends Its Run
Notre Dame did what no other ACC team has been able to do this year, hand the Cards a loss.
The Cards went really cold shooting in the last 6 or 7 minutes of the game, but you can't blame the loss all on cold shooting as there were defensive lapses, and some easy shots, "E" in our FRED metric, that were missed. Overall, however, the Cards played well, and should feel no shame in the loss to a well coached team with a great deal of talent.
After the opening few points, the Cards did do quite well, wreaking havoc on Notre Dame with defensive intensity and winning the first quarter by 5 points taking a 24-19 lead. The 2nd quarter was a tie (11 points each), the Irish started to claw their way back a little bit in the 3rd quarter winning it 15-14, and finally putting the game away in the final frame 21-12.
What About FRED?
Under 62% certainly isn't gonna get you the "F" for Free Throws, not even close.
The Cards led the rebounding battle, as you might expect from the individual stats above, 44-35, so we easily award the capital "R", and maybe even think about underlining it for emphasis.
Points in the paint is our best stat for judging the "E" and this stat went to the Irish, 36-28. There was a chance, despite a few missed early easy shots, for the Cards to collect at least a lower-case "e", and maybe an upper case, but the cold shooting in the closing minutes, drops this letter from contention.
Lastly, on defense, maybe we can award a lower-case "d", with turnovers even at 12. Otherwise, the Cards suffocating defensive pressure flustered Notre Dame for much of the game, but with a few critical defensive lapses, I don't think we can award the upper-case.
What's to Like
While Briahanna Jackson still isn't quite back to her early season self, she played well. There's room for improvement still, but she is certainly contributing well to the success of the team.
We liked the overall competitiveness against one of the best teams in the country, even in the face of challenges and mistakes, the Cards continued to find a way to make it a competitive matchup down to the final seconds.
Obviously, we dislike losing any game and especially to Notre Dame, who has owned Louisville for quite a few years now.
Obviously, we dislike losing any game and especially to Notre Dame, who has owned Louisville for quite a few years now.
The crowd of almost 14,000 made a great atmosphere.This is another stat that always has room for improvement...well, until it gets up around 22,000...but I love that the UofL crowd knows when the cheer, both in response to the team's play, as well as encourage the team when they're struggling.
The Cards head up to the land of three rivers to take on a 2-8 (in conference) Pitt team, Thursday evening. Unless the wheels really fall off, the Cards are still quite likely to collect the double bye in the ACC tournament in Greensboro. The next home game is a 9pm out of conference matchup with USF on the 15th.
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JMcA
Really good effort against a really good team. If they make a couple more shots in the last 2-3 minutes they probably win. And they got several good looks, shots just didn't fall.
ReplyDeleteThe fifth foul on Hines-Allen at 3:07 was huge, obviously. Could have been called a held ball with possession to Louisville.
I loved the effort. Two big missed layups when Cardinals had nine point leads were huge - the one by DeGrate late first half when she walked before the shot, and one by Walton mid-second half. A few bad plays in transition by Carter and couple poor decisions by Jackson. That's all it takes against a good team.
The Hines-Allen fifth foul I thought was a good call. You're right the missed three's at the end Durr, Carter, Jackson, Moore just wouldn't drop.
DeleteI liked the intensity throughout the game. I thought the game looked a little too big for Asia today. She hit some shots for sure but looked rattled driving to the hoop several times and made poor decisions and got turnovers. Next year she will not be doing that stuff. At the same time I thought Durr should have had the ball more for more chances to get off her shot.
We just didn't finish and that's the thing that separates the experienced programs from the rest. And I don't say that as a knock. We're an elite program but we're gaining our sea legs so to speak. I loved our Defense. We had opportunities. We had chances. I won't get into bad referring. There was definitely some questionable calls, but we were always just on the verge of breaking the game wide open when we would miss an easy lay up, or throw the ball away. Great thing is that these are correctable and we have two more regular season opportunities to play some ranked opponents and solidify ourselves heading into the ACC tourney
ReplyDeleteThe South Florida game will be a good test for us. I'm glad that's on the schedule.
Deletethought this was an interesting quote from a non Card fan on our team
ReplyDelete"there strength is in there two forwards and Asia Durr coming off the bench. Mariya Moore is 6' 0" and the stronger of the two. Hines-Allen is 6-2 and usually gets around 10 to 14 points per game. Durr is 5-10 and usually gets around 20 points. I would definely have Madison on either Moore or Durr and Bri on Allen. If we can slow down those two, I think we will be in good shape. There two guards and the other forward do not factor much, we should be in good shape there."
My take is Walton is terrific in her role but we need her to develop a put back mentality. We arent getting any put backs from her. If that's not her game she needs to develop it for next year.
we need Carter, Walton and Jackson to get more efficient and better. Otherwise we always lean on the big 3 now Durr Moore Hines-Allen
thought this was an interesting quote from a non Card fan on our team
ReplyDelete"there strength is in there two forwards and Asia Durr coming off the bench. Mariya Moore is 6' 0" and the stronger of the two. Hines-Allen is 6-2 and usually gets around 10 to 14 points per game. Durr is 5-10 and usually gets around 20 points. I would definely have Madison on either Moore or Durr and Bri on Allen. If we can slow down those two, I think we will be in good shape. There two guards and the other forward do not factor much, we should be in good shape there."
My take is Walton is terrific in her role but we need her to develop a put back mentality. We arent getting any put backs from her. If that's not her game she needs to develop it for next year.
we need Carter, Walton and Jackson to get more efficient and better. Otherwise we always lean on the big 3 now Durr Moore Hines-Allen
One thing I notice about Walton and Carter for that matter is that they'll both dribble to into the paint, get deep, then pick up their dribble and look for someone to pass it to. Walton is a hustle player. She isn't really athletic, and has very little lift. She positions herself well, boxes out, and just does a great job of making sure that she's in a position to get the rebound. But if you need her to make a lay up, don't bet your mortgage on it - you'll be homeless. I say that frankly, but will all due respect to what she does bring to team, with the way she offensive rebounds, she could be a double-double threat every night.
DeletePost-game Muffet McGraw:
ReplyDelete"I definitely think Louisvville is a top-five team
Post-game Walz reaction:
That was very nice of her to say that.
This game is 58-57 Cards with 3:07 left when MHA fouls out. I turned to Sonja and said..."It's over." Cable hits both free throws. We miss a layup on a steal, then a three and another three. Walton fouls, they hit a free throw. We miss a layup, we foul an they hit a free throw to go up 64-58.
That's your ball game, folks. A two-minute stretch, in crunch times, where we go 0-5 from the floor and they hit four free throws and a big three by Cable.
Even with Jackson's three with 29 seconds left, we miss our final four shots and Durr fouls out.
The Cards got out-played in crunch time. #3 teams in the nation will do that to do. Louisville "won" 37 minutes of this contest. Unfortunately, the final three belonged to the visitors.
REgroup, refocus and move on. One game does not a season make, unless it's the final game of the year and, by my count, the Cards still have six regular season games left and an ACC Tournament to play in. Notre Dame still has Miami and Florida State to tangle with an either are capable of hanging a loss on the Irish.
It ain't over...far from it.
Paulie
Paulie, I thought you were going to have Madison Cable in you lap down in the end on the possession when she went hurdling out of bounds. LOL. No shame in losing to the third best team in the nation. Probably about to become the second best team in the nation after UConn vs. SC tonight.
DeleteI thought the foul that benched Myisha could have easily been called a tie-up and change of possession. Was it Bruce Morris who made the call or Denise Brooks?
Nick O.
Yeah, she slammed into the portable table and it slid backwards and nearly knocked Sonja out of her chair. I saw her coming and had my hands out to catch her but she had her hands low enough to grab the table and keep herself from flipping over it. One of those bang-bang sequences...but she was close enough to us where I got a little perspiration flung on me.
DeleteIt was Morris who made the call on MHA. In all fairness, MHA did kind of swung her and the mutually held ball around and hurl both to the floor. Without the sling, it's a tie-up. He made some pretty controversial calls all day. He was also the ref that Sylvia Hatchell bumped at the end of the Duke game.
Paulie
Paulie
5-22 in the fourth Cards shooting and not being able to stop Brianna Turner was the difference.
ReplyDeleteCurtis Franklin
Seems like I recall Turner picking up a quick foul or two. I was wondering why Coach Walz didn't put in Erin and/or Sam to try to pick up another foul or two on Turner. I am not second guessing him by any means. It was just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI never, ever question Walz's decisions but my friend and I were puzzled by something that happened late in yesterday's game. Team was down either four or five points and there was either a missed ND shot or a turnover. Anyway, Durr was driving left side of the lane on a 3-on-2 break and a timeout was called. Anybody have any ideas about that? Looked to us like Durr had an advantage on the defender. After the timeout Jackson tried the reverse layup that was blocked.
ReplyDeleteGot my answer. Walz was trying to get a timeout called early in that possession, but by the time it was seen by a player and acknowledged by a referee Durr was in her drive to the basket. Makes sense.
DeleteYes, that was with about a minute to go. From where we were sitting you could see (but not hear) Walz trying to get someone's attention for a time out. The refs noticed it when it looked like we had the 3 to 2 fast break advantage.
DeleteArike Ogunbowale (ND leading scorer with 15) had an interesting post game comment. When asked if it was the most physical game she had been in so far....she didn't hesitate and replied "Yeah, I think I can say that."
That explains it cause looked to me like we had a good fast break going.
DeleteI can't figure why U of L is always considered the agressor when commentators, opposing players and coaches talk about physical play. Yes, they play physical but show me a team more physical that ND. There aren't too many. Should have been a flagrant foul on Ogunbowale for flinging one of our players (can't rememer who) to the ground out of frustration. Totally uncalled for.
DeleteI notice that also. We are always considered "aggressive" if it comes up by a commentator. I don't think we're overly aggressive.
DeleteI thought with 4 fouls that was too aggressive by Hines-Allen and she did twirl the girl to the ground. I'll take that tie up call Weatherby made to save the NC STATE game instead. Still can't believe ref made correct call on that after the whole game not
ReplyDelete