Thursday Cardinal Couple

ACC updates

Syracuse loses to Virginia Tech

Syracuse seemingly had everything going their way through three quarters and held a 65-56 lead but 0-16 shooting in the final quarter and a 29-5 Tech run led to a 85-70 win for the Hokies. Coach Kenny Brooks attributed the switch to a box and one defense as key. Syracuse coach Quentin Hillsman took the blame for not having his team ready to play the second half. 

Virginia Tech draws Louisville next at 2 p.m. Friday



NC Advances over UNC

HIYA! 

NC State led from start to finish in sending North Carolina home in the first Thursday game. Four Wolfpack players hit double figures and they held a 36-18 points in the paint edge. Paris Kea ended with 27 for UNC.  After a 43-37 first half, NC State won the second half 34-27. The Wolfpack gets Duke next at 11 am Friday. If I had a vote on the All-ACC Tournament team, I'd be putting Paris Kea on there. Silky smooth and has a bit of that assassin mentality working for her as well. 


Virginia escapes against Georgia Tech

Give the Techsters credit. They made it a game for three quarters against Wahoo. Up 48-40 after three, GT finally wore out against JoAnne Boyle's Cavaliers and fell 60-58. Francesca Pan with another fine game and 25 points for GT but 34.4% shooting overall (compared to 43.8% for VA) and some late misses sends Virginia to the quarterfinals to face #2 seed Notre Dame Friday. Losing those finals quarters by 10 usually get you. Virginia survived one.


Miami survives scare

Another exciting one in the nightcap. Wake rallied late in the fourth to take a one point lead but Miami's front line prevailed and outscored Wake Forest 36-28 in the paint. 21 turnovers didn't help Wake at all. Miami gets to go up against #3 seed in the nightcap Friday. Foul shots were an issue here...Miami got 21 attempts and hit 17. Wake only went to the line nine times but did make them all. Final: Miami 68 - Wake 60. 

Wake will be tough as nails next year. 

Women's Tourney Time

The ACC Women's Basketball Tournament is in full swing, with our illustrious leader Paulie in attendance in Greensboro.  On tap today, are games between in-state rivals UNC and NC State at 11am, Syracuse and Virginia Tech at 2pm, with the winner to face UofL, Virginia and Georgia Tech at 6pm, winner takes on Notre Dame, and the nightcap, Miami vs Wake Forest at 8pm.

Two full days of basketball, with 4 games each day, today and tomorrow, and look for Paulie's updates later tonight with results.  Don't forget to check back to yesterday's articles for recaps and results for the three games yesterday.  (Hint: chalk is prevailing, so far)

Weekend Plans

In the past, I've tended to go through the weekend schedule when I would do Friday write-ups (work demands have necessitated me pulling back slightly), but the weekend is getting a little bit of an early start...maybe...today, so lets go ahead and do that here on Thursday.

Today

Softball, and this is where the "maybe" above comes in, will get started at 6pm with their home opener at Ulmer Stadium vs UAB.  This is very weather permitting, and there's some chance that weather will not permit, with rain in the forecast for much of the afternoon.  The National Weather Service does show it tapering off approaching game start time, so don't write this game off, just yet.  If, like me, you can't make it out to Ulmer, coverage will be available on ACC Network Extra, as I expect most games at Ulmer will be.  I believe this will be the debut for commentating by last year's pitching ace Maryssa Becker.  We expect Becker will do well, but by and large, the Cardinal Couple crew laments that our pal Daryl Foust won't be on the call.

Also in action tonight is MBB hosting Virginia.  This is an 8pm start with local coverage on WHAS, and ACC Network Extra if you're not in the Louisville area.

Friday

A busy day on tap, starting with the aforementioned WBB game at 2pm in Greensboro.  ACC Network Extra on this one and we will be facing the winner of that Syracuse/Virginia Tech game.

Softball continues the busy long weekend with a 3pm tilt vs Maryland, again on ACC Network Extra.  Their male compatriots at the other end of campus will also start their baseball game at 3pm hosting Western Carolina in Jim Patterson Stadium.  Just a reminder that Baseball games are ticketed starting this year, so no more just walking in and sitting down like in years past.

Men's Tennis host Virginia at 4pm in the Bass-Rudd.  There is a live video link available on the UofL Schedule page that isn't ACC Network Extra.  Will it be free?  Will it be pay?  Good questions that I don't currently have the answers to.

Finally, Softball will be wrapping up the day with a 2nd game at 5:30 again against UAB.  ACC Network Extra will keep their setup rolling for this one at Ulmer as well.

Saturday

Start off the day with the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour at 11am.  Paulie will still be in Greensboro, but we should have at least three of us in the studio, and we'll see if Paulie can manage to get good enough telephone signal to get on the line with us.

Presuming the WBB Cards win tomorrow, they'll be playing at noon, on ESPNU.  Opponent obviously to be determined based on the outcome of other games.

Baseball and Softball keep their weekend going, with Baseball continuing their series against Western Carolina at 1pm, and Softball hosting Miami of Ohio at 3pm.  Both will be covered on ACC Network Extra, as usual.

Finally, the Men's hoop squad hits the road for a 6pm game at NC State.  Catch this one on ESPN.

Sunday

To wrap up the weekend, Women's Tennis will be in Hotlanta to play Georgia Tech at noon.  GT does have some history of excellence in Women's Tennis, but I don't have any current read on the team.  The Cards are off to a pretty good start, though.  No video available for this one.

Men's Swimming are involved in a Championship Qualifying Meet all day.

Baseball will finish off their series with Western Carolina at 1, with the regular ACC Network Extra coverage.

Lacrosse hosts Notre Dame, also with a 1pm start.  No video for this one...there are only so many TV trucks to go around right now.

The WBB ACC Championship game will be at 2pm, on ESPN2.  Lets hope the Cards are involved.  If chalk continues to prevail, this would end up being UofL vs Notre Dame as well.

And then to wrap up the weekend, Softball will finish off their confab with Eastern Illinois at 5:30.  After this game, the crew will get to move the ACC Network Extra truck off of Floyd street until Friday.



So that's your weekend in UofL sports.  There's no excuse for you not to get out there and support your Cards.

--
Jeff