CARDINAL COUPLE

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Friday, March 30, 2018

WBB Final Four -- Other News and Schedules -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WBB Faces Mississippi State

Nationwide Arena Seating Chart
Paulie gave a great preview of Mississippi State in yesterday's article.  The Bulldogs will be one of the toughest tasks UofL has faced all season as they are a well-rounded team.  Against Oregon State, UofL was able to shut down Marie Gulich and from there halted the Beavers' NCAA run.  During the Sweet Sixteen, Louisville was tasked with stopping Brittany McPhee and Dijonai Carrington, which they did for the most part, but did not have to worry about scoring threats from the rest of the players on the floor.  Mississippi State has five players on the court at all times that can do it all instead of relying on just one or two players.

Mississippi State ranks high on several categories on the year: 82 points per game (10th), 56.1 points allowed (15th), 25.9 scoring margin (3rd), 39.5% on three-pointers (6th), 10.6 turnovers (3rd fewest), 541 made free throws (5th).

Louisville's success in the Lexington Regional came from limiting turnovers and stepping up their defense.  Against Oregon State, Louisville committed a school record and tied an NCAA record with three turnovers, all by Asia Durr.  They held Oregon State to a season-low 43 points while giving up 59 against Stanford including hold the Cardinal to 14 or fewer in the final three quarters.

Jeff Walz and his wife, Lauren
Just like the game against Stanford this is the first meeting between Louisville and their next foe.

Paulie and I will be in attendance at the game.  Mr. Cardinal Couple will be somewhere along media row giving you live updates on the game.  I also expect him to have some quirky question that will send Jeff Walz on a tangent during the post-game press conference.  I will be somewhere in the arena taking pictures.  Only the big media will be in the boxes on the court taking photos while all of the smaller sites have a location behind section 115 to post up.  You all will get treated to pics from a different angle than my normal spot so let's hope for the best!

The 7:00 tip-off is set to be shown of ESPN2.  If you cannot get to a tv to watch I highly encourage you to tune into the radio to hear Nick Curran and AJ continue their excellent coverage of the game like they have done all season.  For Twitter, follow Paulie (@cardinalcouple) for his tweets and sly comments during the game.


Asia Durr named to WBCA All-American Team 


Asia Durr was one of ten players named to the WBCA Coaches All-American team yesterday afternoon. Myisha Hines-Allen was named to the Honorable Mention list. She's the second Cardinal ever to be named to the squad. Angel McCoughtry made the team three times during her career at Louisville. 

Durr joins these players on the team: 


Name
Institution
Year
Position
Kalani Brown
Baylor
Junior
Center
Asia Durr
Louisville
Junior
Guard
Sabrina Ionescu
Oregon
Sophomore
Guard
Teaira McCowan
Mississippi State
Junior
Center
Kelsey Mitchell
Ohio State
Senior
Guard
Arike Ogunbowale
Notre Dame
Junior
Guard
Katie Lou Samuelson
Connecticut
Junior
Guard/Forward
Victoria Vivians
Mississippi State
Senior
Guard
Gabby Williams
Connecticut
Senior
Forward
A'ja Wilson
South Carolina
Senior
Forward


For Myisha, A bit of sadness that she, too, did not make the ten-team roster. Here's the Honorable Mention list:  



Name
Institution
Year
Position
Kristine Anigwe
California
Junior
Forward, Center
Ariel Atkins
Texas
Senior
Guard
Jill Barta
Gonzaga
Junior
Forward
Kenisha Bell
Minnesota
Junior
Guard
Monique Billings
UCLA
Senior
Forward
Allazia Blockton
Marquette
Junior
Guard
Lexie Brown
Duke
Senior
Guard
Tyra Buss
Indiana
Senior
Guard
Jordin Canada
UCLA
Senior
Guard
Chennedy Carter
Texas A&M
Freshman
Guard
Kaila Charles
Maryland
Sophomore
Guard
Napheesa Collier
Connecticut
Junior
Forward
Lauren Cox
Baylor
Sophomore
Forward
Sophie Cunningham
Missouri
Junior
Guard
G'mrice Davis
Fordham
Senior
Forward
Katelynn Flaherty
Michigan
Senior
Guard
Loryn Goodwin
Oklahoma State
Senior
Guard
Rebecca Greenwell
Duke
Senior
Guard
Marie Gulich
Oregon State
Senior
Center
Megan Gustafson
Iowa
Junior
Center
Tyasha Harris
South Carolina
Sophomore
Guard
Ruthy Hebard
Oregon
Sophomore
Forward
Myisha Hines-Allen
Louisville
Senior
Forward
Maria Jespersen
South Florida
Senior
Forward
Kitija Laksa
South Florida
Junior
Guard
Marina Mabrey
Notre Dame
Junior
Guard
Stephanie Mavunga
Ohio State
Senior
Forward
Brooke McCarty
Texas
Senior
Guard
Brittany McPhee
Stanford
Senior
Guard
Jaime Nared
Tennessee
Senior
Forward
Kia Nurse
Connecticut
Senior
Guard
Caliya Robinson
Georgia
Junior
Guard
Mercedes Russell
Tennessee
Senior
Center
Tyler Scaife
Rutgers
Senior
Guard
Jessica Shepard
Notre Dame
Junior
Forward
Azura Stevens
Connecticut
Junior
Forward
Shakayla Thomas
Florida State
Senior
Forward
Hallie Thome
Michigan
Junior
Center
Carlie Wagner
Minnesota
Senior
Guard
Kristy Wallace
Baylor
Senior
Guard
Morgan William
Mississippi State
Senior
Guard
Imani Wright
Florida State
Senior
Guard

Swimming Claims Four ACC Awards

Mallory Comerford claimed the Female Swimmer of the Year after claiming her second straight NCAA title.  Mariia Astashkina won Female Freshman of the Year after a strong rookie season.  Nicolas Albiero won Male Freshman of the Year after winning gold at the ACC Championships.  Arthur Albiero won Female Swimming Coach of the Year after leading the women's swim and dive team to a school record fifth place finish at the NCAA Championships.  Things look bright over at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.  Our in-house champion is a rising senior and will give it her all in her final season while Astashkina and little Albiero are both freshmen.  Coach Albiero has no plans of leaving Louisville for a long time so expect even greater results next season.

Softball Hosts NC State

A slumping Louisville softball team is in need of some wins this weekend when the Wolfpack visits Ulmer Stadium.  The Cards sit at 22-10 on the season and are 2-4 in conference play.  NC State is 19-13 and is 3-5 in ACC play.

Danielle Watson, the freshman stud, is third in the conference with 13 wins.  Her 2.11 ERA is a team-best and opponents' batting averages sit under .200 when Watson is in the circle.

Caitlin Ferguson holds the highest batting average on the team at .392 and her 31 RBI's also lead the team.  Sidney Melton and Celene Funke have a combined 18 stolen bases on the year.

The Cards have a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m., with the series finale on Saturday at noon.  Admission is free.

Dani Busboom Kelly and Amanda Green Join Ranks of European Tour

Last week Molly Sauer was named to the US Collegiate National Team Tour in China.  Yesterday the European Team Tour was announced.  Amanda Green is on the active roster and will be coached by a familiar face.  Dani Busboom Kelly will take on the role as the head coach for the European Tour crew.  The tour will be July 4-15.  Specific locations have not been announced.

To those traveling to Columbus for the Final Four please be aware of the rush hour traffic in Cincinnati and Columbus. Drive safely in the expected rain and we hope to see you there!

Jared

12 comments:

  1. You got this UofL. #playlikeLouisville

    Curtis "Final Four" Franklin

    ReplyDelete
  2. If Muffet McGraw is C.O.Y. then I'm a Norwegian skin specialist. Total b.s.

    Nick O.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. McGraw got 10 votes from the 32-member panel committe. so did Vic Schaefer, from Miss. St. She won a run-off ballot to break the tie.

      Jeff Walz finished third with five votes. Further back were Geno, Mulkey and Oregon's Kelly Graves.

      The voters undoubtably took the fact she had four players out with ACL injuries and still went 32-3. What they didn't consider is that Walz beat her twice.

      I remain un-impressed. Walz is my Coach of the Year.

      Paulie

      Delete
  3. Words for today, from Albert Einstein:

    "Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that's counted truly counts."

    Go Cards,

    Paulie
    #playlikeLouisville

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good words, Paulie! I also like this one from...

    From the movie, Trading Places:

    Billy Ray: What if I can't do this job, Coleman? What if I'm not what they expected?

    Coleman: Just be yourself, sir. Whatever happens, they can't take that away from you.

    Go be yourselves, Cards.

    -- The Real Joe Hill --

    ReplyDelete
  5. ask Erin Boley about the "Coach of the Year"
    how do you leave Myisha off the top ten list?
    Politics in the WBCA. A bunch of b.s. as said earlier.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am having another lunch break laugh... MHA didn'make the list really?! Also I see the only person who got three turn overs in the game and only had two points more the MHA gets MVP? SMH!Also we have players that can all score and that's the key to success for this team! So come on Jazzy and Arica keep.stepping up your game! Can't wait for tonights game good luck CARDS!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The referee blow the game a bunch of BS!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sad case of agenda based officiating ruining what was a helluva game otherwise.

      Delete
  8. The NCAA wanted to see UCONN vs MISS ST cards got robbed.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know it you know it every watching the game know it.

    ReplyDelete

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