Let's Play Two - Sunday Cardinal Couple

("Let's Play Two" is the theme today. "Mr Cub" Ernie Banks was noted for the phrase but it certainly applies to University of Louisville basketball today.)

Basketball

Two games on tap at the KFC Yum! Center today.

The men start things off with a noon tip vs Boston College.  This one has been designated kids day.  The men started off the season looking pretty shaky.  Unsurprising given the drama occurring around the program just before the season started, but they've really started to put their game together and have looked pretty good the past couple of game.  Let's hope they get the day started off with a good victory.

Catch this one on WHAS 11 locally, or ACC Network Extra if you're not in the Louisville area.

The women have the later game today with a 5pm tip.  Tying in to the kids day theme for the men's game, this one is the annual Girl Scout game, so expect a lot of teen and pre-teen girls to be in the house.  The Girl Scouts always bring a lot of energy and excitement to the arena, and combined with a lower bowl sell out and upper bowl seats being sold (meaning attendance will be north of 11k), this should be another fun one.

The women are going for the 21-0 start with this one, to keep this best ever start to a UofL WBB season alive.  12th ranked Florida State will certainly provide a challenge.

The men have seemingly been reborn after the loss to UK after Christmas. Boston College another challenge today in the ACC for David Padgett's players.

Softball

Softball frequently plays double-headers, and the team is in practices and getting prepared for the start of the season less than 3 weeks away.  Double-headers will be less frequent in the schedule this year as the ACC has switched their scheduling to be a one-game-per-day Friday, Saturday, Sunday format, where they would previously play 2 on one of the days, and 1 on the other day (ie, 2 Saturday games, and a Sunday game...sometimes a Friday game, and 2 Saturday games).  The early season will still see the team doubling up some in the early season "tournaments" that can involve 5 games in a weekend.

Last night was only a single Softball event, however.  The annual softball event at the Brown and Williamson Club at PJCS.  Paulie, Jared, Sonya and myself all attended and as usual had a great time.  Interviews were had with Nicole "Poof" Pufahl, Jenna Jordan, Megan Hensley, and Coach Sandy Pearsall.  The keynote speaker of the event was legendary Fresno State coach Margie Wright, who spoke about what it took to have a championship mentality.  She highlighted a decision to "grow up" for these young women arriving on campus and being their own person, making their own decisions, and being responsible for their actions and willingness to do what it takes to excel.  She spoke of her history in athletics, including adding some perspective about growing up before Title IX, and how that related to her very serious childhood desire to grow up and be a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, saying that at 10 years old, she just had no concept that she was the "wrong gender" for that.

History and perspective, as well as an understanding of taking responsibility and "growing up" may be key for this very young softball team.

Some other random thoughts of mine from the banquet:

- Megan Hensley has hit the gym a bit during the off season.  I can only imagine her pitch speeds will be the beneficiary.

- Interviewing Jenna Jordan, about halfway through, I had to stop and question whether I was interviewing a player or a coach.  She demonstrated incredible insight into the game, her part of it, and how the team overall was developing and where they still needed to improve.  She was incredibly well-spoken, and it was a great interview.

- It's always a bit of challenge with Softball, but with so many new faces, I've got a lot of names and faces to figure out, learn, and match up.

- "Mike" and "Funk" where the two captains of the OKC Challenge in the fall and gave a presentation about the 4 day conditioning event (culminating in the ever-amusing 2+ mile truck push).  Related, "Mike and Funk" would make a great title for a video blog about...something.  "Mike" is Alison Szydlowski, and "Funk" is Celene Funke (say: FUNKY)


(A special "Thanks!) to Jared Anderson for the great Softball banquet photos from last night!)


THEY SAID IT: 

(Interviews from last night): 

Nicole Pufahl and Jenna Jordan

Megan Hensley

SANDY PEARSALL


--

JMcA