Thursday, February 4, 2016

Louisville Women's Basketball visits reeling UNC tonight -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE



CARDS PUT 14 GAME WIN STREAK ON LINE AGAINST UNC
You could look at tonight's Louisville Women's Basketball game against UNC as a tale of two directions. Consider the Cardinals...9-0 in ACC play, #13 in the nation and holders of a 14 game win streak. Turn to the TarHeels, losers of their last six...most recently pounded by NC State at the delightful Holiday Gym in Broughton High School 78-49. I wonder if the big guy in the corner was there...yelling non-stop at the refs and opposing coach like he did when Louisville visited. I'm sure the "Where's Waldo?" pep band did their usual fine job.

 Risk analysts would advise the Cards would be the safest investment for success in this match-up. I'd really hate for risk analysts to take over women's college basketball, though. Pie charts and bar graphs just don't match up to transition fast-breaks and deep threes for excitement...

 UNC has suffered double-digit losses in their last four...three of those on the road...against ACC foes. With a 2-6 ACC record (12-11 overall) Sylvia Hatchell's squad has been one of the biggest under-performers in the conference this season. The ACC Preseason poll saw UNC as seventh best...they currently sit with four other teams at the bottom of the conference...just two games from being last. 

In addition to the defeats, Hatchell was issued a one-game suspension for bumping an official after a loss to Duke. She'll serve that after the TarHeels play Louisville. She also drew a one-game suspension for a Level III violation of rules pertaining to activities that simulate game day activities during a recruiting visit....which was enforced during the loss to NC State. This wasn't the road Hatchell envisioned after her stellar 2013 recruiting class of Stephanie Mavunga, Diamond DeShields, Allisha Gray and Jessica Washington...who would all be juniors this year at Chapel Hill but have all departed the team. 
For Louisville to have success in the Carmichael Arena, they'll need to keep an eye on Jamie Cherry (14.5 ppg) and Stephanie Watts...two-time ACC Rookie of the Week awardee and second leading rebounder in the conference. Destinee Walker had 12 points against NC State and Hilary Summers grabs 7.4 boards a game...seventh best in the conference. 

 Louisville will look for another balanced effort that led them to the 24-point win over Wake Forest Sunday. Myisha Hines-Allen and Mariya Moore are in the top ten in the ACC in scoring and Asia Durr comes off a 18-point performance against Wake.

 Risky business for the Cards tonight? Not really, unless you consider the "Tar-Wars" promotion UNC is having tonight. 

 - Half price concessions items featuring $3 souvenir Tar Wars cups
- Star Wars characters photo booth
- 400 ’Tar Wars’ shirts for students
- 100 ‘Tar Wars’ shirts for Faculty/Staff
- Tar Wars package shirt & drink voucher pickup
- ‘Tar Wars’ shirts ($14) for sale at merchandise tables

 Let's hope Darth Vader stays home and the Cards have the force with them in this one. 

 We'll be back after the action for the recap. You can catch the game on ESPN 3...as well as on Cards Radio 790 or the Tune-In app. Tip off is 7 p.m.

 paulie 
xxxxx
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous2/04/2016 8:12 AM

    If "Bubba" the battered A.D. for UNC has any sense left at all, he'd show Sylvia the "Denny Crum" exit package and start anew after this season. Provided Bubba is still there, of course. How Syracuse lost to them is uncomprehendable. Louisville really isn't blowing anyone out when they go on the road in ACC play lately so I'll say Cards by 15.

    -- The Real Joe Hill --

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cardinal Couple2/04/2016 8:28 AM

      Maybe, Joe...but consider that Sylvia is less than 25 wins away from 1000 career victories. Over 700 wins at UNC. Do you shelf her with that in reach? I'd like to think that she'd be afforded the opportunity to call her own exit from coaching...but given the quagmire that is North Carolina athletics these days...we'll probably see a lot of changes in the landscape of TarHeel land pretty soon.

      Paulie

      Delete

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