LATE LAPSE LEADS TO LOUISVILLE LOSS
The "It" is the Louisville win streak and the number now reads 20-1 for the Cards. In a day of college basketball giveaways and Girl Scouts, Louisville drops from the undefeated ranks with a 50-49 loss to #11 FSU Sunday afternoon in the KFC YUM! Center. The largest crowd of the season and lowest point total for the Cards.
This game wasn't pretty. Not by any stretch. Not even when Louisville jumped out to a 20-5 lead with less than a minute in the first quarter. (O.K., maybe that was a little pretty). The shots were dropping and DOOO-BLAY was well on her way toward amassing the digits desired for a double-double but, unlike the majority of opponents before...Florida State hadn't curled up into the fetal position and started sucking their thumbs. They tried something different.
Revolutionary.
They came up with the idea that if Asia Durr doesn't get the ball, or has a hard time moving when she does...there just might be a way to cut into that double-digit lead and (dare we say it?) maybe even win the game?It was "one of multiple plans we had to stop Durr" according to FSU head coach Sue Semerau, and this one was showing signs of working. That and controlling the boards. Louisville ended losing the rebounding battle 52-42 and Chatrice White (16), Shakayla Thomas (11) and that doggone (Ama) Degbeon (10) had over 70% of the grab.
Five FSU seniors, that play significant minutes and that had a purpose, came into the KFC YUM! Center, eventually gained control of the contest and held on to win.
The Noles shot horribly (19-68 for 27.9%) but forced 16 Louisville turnovers and managed 16 points off them. If you need a stat in addition to rebounds to point to, use that one.
In the end...the final two minutes...when it really mattered and when the game was decided, the teams combined for two three-pointers, a meaningless jumper for two and one out of two free throws. Nicki Ekhomu, another senior, scored the winner after clanging her first free throw off the rim but sinking her second with 7.6 left to give Florida State a three point lead. A Durr three pointer ensues that misses the mark and pointless Hines-Allen follow up two as time expires has White screaming in elation from mid-court and Thomas double fist-pumping while five Cardinals slowly and forlornly leave the court.
Free throws, however, did not lose this game for Louisville. Neither did 2-15 three-point shooting nor 2-12 marksmanship in the third quarter. This game was won by effort, and the Cards seemed a step slow, a bit disjointed and out-hustled and muscled at the end.
A team that has had a couple of close escapes on the road can't cheat the hangman in front of maybe the loudest crowd of the season on Sunday. They'll move on, the season is certainly not over and 10 more conference games and a ACC Tournament appearance awaits Louisville...beginning with the "Did I read that right?" 11 a.m. start Thursday at Miami. The key is....how will the Cards respond?
THE FRED REPORT
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| FRED THOMPSON. His expression mirrors my Monday Morning attitude. |
R - Rebounds. In short, Louisville got their "a$$" kicked on the glass. MHA and JJ did give it a go, getting 15 and 11 respectively...but the final numbers were 52-52 in favor of Chief Osceola's bunch. The 20-11 FSU advantage on the offensive end was largely due to White's yeoman effort of nine. The Shelby, Nebraska native and Illinois transfer tied her season high of 16 total in the game (against Sacred Heart...and we're pretty sure that wasn't the Lexington, Rd high school). No letter here.
E- Effort/Execution. Overall, the Cards turned in 10 great minutes and 30 minutes of getting outplayed. What was up with Durr's 5-21 shooting and the six-point third quarter. Still, it wasn't a blow out and UofL had a chance to send it into overtime with less than ten seconds to play against a top 15, two-loss team. We'll release a lower-case "e" here.
D- Defense. The Cards didn't have many answers for keeping Thomas and White, the two main Seminole shooters, at bay but held FSU to less than 30%. Those two were 10-33 and the other seven FSU players were 9-35. You'd usually expect a "W" for Louisville after a defensive effort like that and it was the fourth lowest opponent total of the year. I just can't award a letter for a loss, no matter how stellar the stat was. No letter.
FINAL FRED REPORT: -_-_-e-_
You play for all 40 minutes. The sooner Louisville understands that, the better. There were no last minute heroics, senior moments (unless you include FSU's) or magical plays to pull the Cards out of this one yesterday. Just a wistful glance at what was and what might have been. 20-1 isn't the end of the world. It's a damn fine season so far. But, to 14,248...it was a rotten way to end a Sunday.
I went back and looked at my pre-season prediction. I had the Cards at 18-3 to this point of the season (with losses to FSU, Notre Dame and Ohio State) and two more to come before ACC Tourney Play starts (to UConn and Syracuse). So, I'm ahead of what I predicted, but disappointed in the loss.
Drop the hot potato and move on to the next entree. The time to eat is always so short...
paulie
xxxxx
IMHO the cards shots didn't fall one of those game on offense cards missed a lot of bunnies, but they played good Defense.
ReplyDeleteThis is the ACC a strong conference no cupcakes no time to cry.
Go best Miami
MLW
looking back on this FSU game the cards let this victory slip through their hands.This team played so so on Offense and almost won that game. If that was their worst game look out.
DeleteMLW
Oops Go beat Miami
ReplyDeleteGo Cardinals!
The 11 am start time Thursday is because Miami invites a bunch of grade schools to this game. UofL did it a few years ago for an exhibition game. Kind of strange for a big ACC match up but cool that the kids get to go.
ReplyDeleteI'm not even thinking about blaming the officials for the disparity in free throws. FSU got fouled on second-chance opportunities following offensive rebounds, and on some dribble penetration. Cards mostly played on the perimeter and shot jump shots.
ReplyDeleteOffense never looked fluid. Semrau must get some credit for that.
Even with all the offensive problems, the two late turnovers on passes into the paint were killers.
Mike D - By that time this game was pretty much over even though it wasn't. The game was lost earlier in the half. When Fl State got back in the game at halftime they were chomping at the bit. They sure did a fine job on Asia and Myisha. I was very happy with a few plays Jaz pulled off under the basket. Need more Jazzy!
DeleteOne game @ a time Theory.
ReplyDeleteNotre Dame bounce right back after they lost to the Cardinals 3-0 after the lost.
Go Cards
Anyone know why Sydney didn't play? She might have provided some offense with the others struggling the last 3 quarters.
ReplyDeleteGood Question ????????
DeleteMLW
A question we considered (River City Cards owner Mike Gilpatrick and I) asking Walz about Syd but we kept our mouths and let the "so called" experts bring their stuff. None of them have have theknowledge that we do about women's basketball and it was the first time we'd seen a couple of them at UofL WBB this year...but their self-professed importance is actaully quite comical and the only possible redeeming factor is the increased coverage for women's sports. Only Walz can say for sure why Syd never got minutes. He's the coach and he had his reasons.
ReplyDeleteThe two tosses in the paint that failed near the end were interesting. Were they player error or coaching blunder?
Paulie
Choked. If no one else will say it, I will. That last two minutes were a comedy of errors, bad decisions and lack of coaching skills. Walz did nothing to calm them down, he created even more of a panic mode and distraction. C'mon, Coach, you're better than that.
DeletePaulie. actually I’ve changed my stance. Don’t waste your time challenging Holly with anything but a puff question. Her ego couldn’t handle it and YOU would be on her doghouse because deep down she is very insecure. She’s not worth wasting time on and jeapordizing your working relationship with her. I think you did the wise thing. She’s a coward
DeletePaulie, I take offense at you possibly questioning Coach Walz the last two minutes. Although by that time I was already punch drunk so can't remember any of it. Still, keep your critisizms to yourself. Very bad form!
DeleteMy take on coach for the last couple of years (and it has escalated this year) is that he micromanages the team. He calls a TO or shouts a play and then directs them to the point of distraction. He has them wait way too late into the shot clock when they get rolling sometimes also.
DeleteIt was much riskier to die a slow death keeping Durr and especially Hines Allen in the game with no breather. Anyone who couldn’t see this team had no confidence and was only going to get worse Iwas not living in reality. Holly Walz was paralyzed throughout the second half. She coached like a coward. What crap in Jef post game. He’s was a total nut job in that second half mot using Dunham when Hines Allen was screaming with her play to get a rest.
ReplyDeleteYou know that the funniest thing Holly said in her press conference? "The team had total confidence at the end of the 3rd quarter". Sure coach.
DeleteFl State coach deserves credit for shutting Asia down and destroying her confidence in the entire second half. Asia was damaged goods and not going to be effective without a chance to regroup on the bench. Walz panicked and was AFRAID to take her out. He was AGRAID to take Hunes Allen out. Chatrice White did t have a prayer with Dunham on the floor. Total mismatch. Unfortunately White had no trouble matching up with Hines Allen. Wake up Coach !
ReplyDeleteWow that crazy player's have off nights ,Asia is not a robot.You make this Assessment after one lost wow that deep!
DeleteMLW
I can't agree with a lot of your assessments, Wade. I DO think he could have done a better job of managing the last two minutes, though. Our fair-haired boy got out-coached
DeleteIt's one loss. Raise your hand if you thought UofL would finish undefeated. If your hand is up, you're being untrue to yourself. Losing sucks. Losing when you could have won sucks even more.
Delete-- The Real Joe Hill --
I agree CJW should have used he bench more. live and learn coaching is a ongoing process.
DeleteMLW
You got 14,200 people in the stands. He spends so much effort marketing this team which is a testament to him. Just try to stay awake for the whole game next time.
DeleteVery few agree with my assessments so you are in a great majority
DeleteAsia had an off night and it happens however who leaves a player in the game when your 5 for 21?!Good Lord that was painful to watch... Agreed you have Syd and Dana why not give them a try? Not to many players I know stay on the court when your having a night like that! Ouch!
ReplyDeleteDenise, I can answer that. She was scared sh--less to take her out. He lost his nerve and couldn't bare to be without his security blanket so held out all hope even when everyone in the freaking arena was waiting for him to do the obvious. It's pretty comical actually. He makes a million dollars a year. No coach in WBB should make a million a year besides Geno. He giggle his way to sleep every night and I don't blame him. He also thinks he's a better coach than he is.
DeleteHeck 20-1 is great. No way would I have thought this team would be close to that. I just think Holly screwed up YESTERDAY. Paulie, take my advice don't cross her with any intelligent questions that may question her coaching ability. Of course, if Holly got an intelligent question from you if might throw her off big time ANYWAY. I'm joking Paulie. I say that because I know you can laugh at it hopefully!
ReplyDeleteLast night. who would have figured your best two players would have gone a combined 10 for 34? That says a lot. 22 minutes from "the bench" is low but we aren't around these players day-in and day-out. I hope for a strong return against Miami.
DeleteP.S. I can only ask certain questions due to my glaring lack of knowledge about basketball. Ask anyone.
Paulie.
Paulie , I motion to nominate you as diplomat of the year. I don’t mean it as a complement but I think your answer is big picture smart
DeleteAgain 5 for 21 ugh give her a break....I'm sure a lesson is to be learned here and move on!Good luck Thursday ladies!
DeleteGive her great. Just like the real Holly, Walz can recruit
ReplyDeleteNow he's learning to coach good players and getting past that stage of underachieving with good players the WBB world caught on to the last few years. There are some tremendous coaches out there at lower level Power 5 schools but can't get the talent. Walz getting so good recruiting.
Wow after one loss fans can be so critical of the coach and the coaching staff and the players one loss wow that blows my mind!
ReplyDeleteMLW
I kind of disagreed with Walz being labeled an underachiever the past 3 years leading up to this year. I thought until this year the talent level was still too young overall and overrated. So, was he really underachieving ? I don’t think he was.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else notice that Wade has been pretty silent most of the year until a Louisville WBB loss? Wolf in sheep's clothing?
ReplyDeleteActually I have been very visible on Cardinal Authority all season. (Much to their disgust) lol
DeleteThey try running me off at least every three weeks. They succeed with some poor fella's but not me.
DeleteYes I for one noticed that.
ReplyDeleteMLW
How many times must I state it I am a fair weather fan when it comes to Louisville. I noticed the same thing. When things are good I don't have the need to post. When I see something terrible wrong i go crazy.
ReplyDeleteLast year they stunk so bad (in my opinion only) I checked out half through the season because the games weren't entertaining enough to waste my time. I'm sure many will disagree but it was not good basketball to watch.
ReplyDeleteAgain, just my personal opinion and not meant to be harsh in any way.
My bad! Voice your opinion.
DeleteMLW