Cards Become Elite -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Durr and Hines-Allen Propel Cards Past Cardinal

Lucy shows Dad that lockdown defensive technique.
Nick Evans WILL NOT get by! 

It was a late start made even later by the preceding game dragging out, but Louisville overcame the timing favoring the West Coast team to take down Stanford in the first ever meeting between the two teams and advance to the Elite Eight. It was an eerily familiar position for Stanford, as they have now faced the number 1 seed ACC Champion in the second week of the tournament in Rupp Arena in the last three years. In the previous two matchups, Stanford disposed of Notre Dame to advance. This year, Jeff Walz and the Louisville Cardinals had something to say about that.

Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli have been on the call for the last few Louisville games that I can remember, and I don't have a problem with that. The two have knowledge of the women's game and show respect for each team in the games they call, and they also acknowledge poor officiating. The reason I bring them up is because they were fantastic last night. Mowins and Antonelli had clearly done their homework for this game (which is something that doesn't always seem true about tournament games) and could accurately diagnose plays and cite the scouting report for specific players. Prior to tip, they said this game would be one of significant offense, and that whichever team could limit the opponent the most should come out victorious. When the game started with a flurry of scoring and offensive rebounds, it was clear that this analysis would prove to be true.

This is MY court and ye shall not challenge that. 

Despite the clear analysis, it wasn't immediately obvious which team would fulfill the prophecy. Stanford started hot, with Alana Smith hitting Stanford's first three shots of the game. Smith would go on to finish with just one more basket for the rest of night. On the other side, both Myisha Hines-Allen and Asia Durr missed their first shots of the night. Hines-Allen followed up with an offensive rebound and a put back. Durr followed her miss with a steal and an assist. Louisville and Stanford played within a 3 point bubble of one another for the first eight minutes of the game. After the Cardinal cut the lead to one, an Arica Carter 3 pushed the lead to four, the largest of the night. Carter then drew an offensive foul which led to an Asia Durr three. Louisville had stretched their lead to seven, and they smelled blood in the water.

The two teams traded a couple of more baskets, and Louisville took a 25-19 lead into the quarter break. Stanford was accustomed to making comebacks this season and in NCAA history, so I hardly believed that a six point lead was safe. Of course, Louisville had no intention of maintaining just a six point lead. After an awkward start to the quarter, the Cards eventually began the second quarter scoring and stretched their lead to eight. Ultimately, they never looked back. Louisville won the second quarter by 5, pushing their halftime lead to 11. They were equally driven after the halftime break, winning both second half quarters by a score of 22-14. Louisville went on to defeat Stanford 86-59. After trailing by 1 with 2:40 left in the first quarter, Stanford could never even sniff a one possession game for the rest of the night.

Louisville was led in last night's game by the usual suspects. Asia Durr followed up her renaissance second round performance with an even better showing against Stanford. Durr had 24 points on 50% shooting from the floor and 7-7 shooting from the stripe. She finished with 4 boards and 5 assists, and, while she did have 3 turnovers, she added 2 steals and a block. Durr shook off a couple of hard fouls to play 32 minutes, with most of her rest coming after the game was decided and she was taken off the floor for the night. While Hines-Allen wasn't able to pick up a double-double last night (though she sprung out of the gate with a flurry of rebounds), she did end up with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Only 1-2 from the line and 2 turnovers aren't great numbers, but she was efficient on defense and away from the ball, plus she scored some of those fantastic jumpers in space that make her impossible to defend.

Arica Carter and Jazmine Jones also scored double digits with 13 and 10, respectively. Jones was a bit erratic at times, and drew some harsh words from coach when she completely botched a wide open breakaway layup, but she was efficient enough from the floor (4-10) and sunk her only two free throws. Her two steals made up for her two turnovers, and she peppered in 4 assists. Ironically, Carter finished the game with no assists, but provided extreme value at the point position and limited her mistakes to just one turnover. Like everyone else mentioned so far, she finished with 2 steals. Sam Fuehring continued her impressive tournament, nearly finishing with a double double. Sam was just one point away, and she brought down 11 boards to go with an assist and a block. Despite the announcers mentioning the depth both teams had, every Louisville starter played at least 30 minutes last night and they brought it every second they were on the floor.

The CASE Report

C - Care: At this point, since we just had a CASE Report earlier this week, we should be on board with the scoring. We are looking at how the Cards took care of the ball. Both teams struggled with turnovers this game, but the Cards finished with only 11 compared to Stanford's 19. Louisville limited Stanford's opportunities, as well, allowing only 6 points to be scored off of the turnovers. It is good to be able to prevent your opponent from capitalizing if you can't hold on to the ball. Unfortunately, Stanford has not been good at forcing turnovers, as they only averaged 13.18 per game on the season. Louisville committed 83% of the Stanford average, so they'll earn a lowercase 'c'.

A - Assists: Louisville turned the ball over a bit, so the gripe many of you have with my assist comparison did come in to play. The Cards finished with only 17 assists on the evening. As the 17 assists were on 33 made baskets, they did reach the 50% assist ratio mark, but the assist-to-turnover ratio was too low (1.54) to meet the second mark. Another half point, so that's a lowercase 'a'.

S - Steals: Defense was not a category in which the Cards were lacking last night. Though Stanford started off strong (and actually made quite a few baskets late), the Cards were able to resist 43% shooting from the Cardinal. In fact, Stanford only made 23 shots. Louisville stole the ball a total of 9 times, which is greater than the 7 of Stanford and the 7.5 benchmark. Capital 'S'.

E - Efficiency: I wrote on Tuesday that Louisville's shooting was not something that they could effectively change at this point. Hopefully, they are able to continue to find open shots, and shoot with confidence as they have so far in the tournament. Louisville was 36% from three last night, which is pretty good, but they were 51.6% from the floor which is even better. Louisville was 57.4% from two, scoring 34 points in the paint. The bigs have been key to Louisville's success so far, and it will be the same going forward. Louisville also shot 77.8% from the free throw, sneaking over the benchmark by one made free throw. Capital 'E'.

The Cards finished with c-a-S-E, an improvement over the first weekend. After Oregon State showed their abilities while knocking off Baylor last night, it is clear that Louisville will need to continue to perform well in the CASE (and FRED) Report as this tournament goes on. The teams remaining did not get here by accident. Each game in the NCAA tournament is potentially the last chance to give it all you've got, so that's what every team will be doing every night. Louisville needs just three more wins, but it starts on Sunday. There is no game if you don't get past the next opponent. Coach Jeff Walz will do his part to prepare the team with scouting, film, and direction, and it will be up to these players, who may truly be a part of something special, to finish the job.

Vince takes in the action

All of the pictures from today's article came directly from our resident photographer, Mr. Jared Anderson. He also provided the postgame locker room interviews which you can check out below. Be sure to tune in throughout the day to check in on comments, discussion, and any thoughts Paulie might like to add from his time in the arena last night!

A magnificent win against a quality opponent. A team effort and a defense and aggressiveness that the Cardinal will not soon forget. Onto Sunday we go...


Chopping Down the Trees

Case has done a wonderful job in describing the tone, tempo and action last night in Rupp Arena during the Cards 27 point win over Stanford. I'll add some personal thoughts and commentary here, after five hours sleep and a fitful rest at that (I kept seeing Jazmine Jones run by me like a Kentucky Derby contender flying toward the wire) =.

Stanford did come out ablaze early, shooting 72.7% in the first quarter but Louisville was equally impressive with a 64.7% from-the-field number. This one became the Cards (from Louisville) game when they broke open a close 13-12 game with 3:43 left in the first quarter and went on a 8-2 run for a 21-14 lead just two minutes later. Surprisingly, it ws about the same time Walz inserted Dana Evans and Bionca Dunham into the contest. Arica Caarter knocking down a jumper,, following that with a three and Asia Durr planting a three ball squarely in the "Trees" and the West Coast visittor never recovered.

Carter, the quiet but deadly assassin, hd 13 points in the affair...five in the first half...but it was the emotional and quite impressive Myisha Hines-Allen and her 11 first-half points that .had us talking on Media row. She'd finish with 17, one of four Cards in double figures. Give Sam a free throw and she'd been the fifth starter to reach double-figures, her work spoke for itself quite well -- seven of her nine points came in the first twenty minutes and she led both squads with 11 rebounds.

The lead of 42-31 at the half was quite encouraging, but you hd to wonder if Stanford had one last charge left in them. That notion was quickly dispelled as third quarter play began. Louisville raced out to a 11-5 start, holding the Cardinal to just one basket and a few free throws in the first four minutes of second half action. 53-36 and dreams of Sunday basketball against Oregon State had been fulfilled.

The fat lady had sung, to use an old expression, and the Cards steadily pulled away from "The Farm"...driving a John Deere and plowing up the soil that was formerly known as Rupp Arena and the Trees that were trying to grow there. .

Jazmine Jones was taking sprint affairs past the  Stanford guard set of McPhee, Sniezek and Williams with regularity and ended with 10 points. I asked DiJonai Carrington, talented Stanford sophomore, during the post-game presser if she sensed the UofL superior quickness, but she denied it.

Something she wasn't able to do on the court..

Then, there was "Nite-Nite". Calmly burying the Stanford defense with a variety of shots and assists.

There may not be a player in DI WBB that hits the floor more often than the talented Douglasville, GA junior... every time she goes to the hardwood, you hold your breath and murmur a prayer that she'll get back up.

Asia Durr got up last night. Asia Durr got down, as well...with 24 points and three threes. In typical Durr fashion, she preferred to talk about the team effort and deflect any attention headed her way.

When a team shoots 51.6% for the game, wins the points-in-paint by 12, goes on a 18-0 second-chance domination and captures the ponts-off-turnovers 22-6, I guess it's easy to talk about your teammates. Asia, though, set the bar high and cleared it easily with last night's effort. If there is a better college basketball player out there than "that girl"...point her out to me.

Just 13 bench points tonight, eight from the fabulous freshman Dana Evans. Walz stayed with a six-player rotation most of the night, until late. If it works, don't go changing it.

That's the way I saw it from the bowels of Rupp. I look forward to seeing more Sunday. I told Deb Antonelli we'd have breakfast together on Sunday. NCAA's Treat, don't ya know?

- Paulie


THE FRED REPORT

Nightmare on Main Street for
The Trees last night

F- FREE THROWS. Thank goodness there were only 27 fouls called last night. Credit "Silly" Joe Vaszily and his crew for letting them play. The Cards attempted 18 "free ones" and cashed in on 14. That's 77.8% and that definitely gets them a capital "F" for the night. Asia is probably still shooting them somewhere, maybe in her sleep, going 7 for 7.

R- REBOUNDING. It was Sammi Jean's night to retrieve loose shots and she did it well with 11. The Cards outrebounded Stanford 34-29, not the domination on the glass that they showed in the first two tournament games...and Myisha only pulled down five in 30 minutes, but it was a good enough overall effort to toss a small-case "r" up for grabs. I'll wager Sam comes down with it.

E- EFFORT/EXECUTION. The Cards swept the "hustle" stats, convincingly and committed only 11 turnovers. HAND OUT THE CAPITAL "E" Dilly, dilly!

D- DEFENSE. A superb effort. Louisville gained early control and shut down Smith and McPhee for the most part. Forcing 19 turnovers and getting nine steals. A team effort and A TEAM CAPITAL "D" is the decision here. 18-0 in second chance points is an incredible stat. 

FRED RECAP: F-R-e-D

Paulie

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

I'm still on the sideline recovering from my surgery, but that doesn't mean the Cardinal Couple Radio

Cards response to a Stanford win...

Hour will slow down. The guys will be back in the studio after a drive back up 64 early this morning. I would almost assure you that the main topic of discussion for this week's show will be the exciting Louisville women's basketball team, but there are other sports that deserve mention as well. Softball picked up two wins yesterday and lacrosse is in action as well. Tune in to 100.9 WCHQ FM for all of the joy and excitement of Louisville women's sports that you can't get just by reading. For those out of the LPFM broadcast area, you can also listen via wchqfm.com, the WCHQ app, or the Facebook live video feed on the WCHQ 100.9 FM page.

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-

Locker Room Interviews

Postgame with Dana Evans

Postgame with Jess Laemmle

Postgame with Jaz Jones

Postgame with Arica Carter

More Jared photos