Not that there was too much need to worry following a sweep against Georgia Tech on Friday night, but we can now breathe after hearing that Louisville volleyball has made it into the NCAA Tournament. They will gear up to face Dayton in the first round in Champaign, IL. The winner will face the winner of Illinois and Eastern Michigan. The Illini are the 3-seed, sitting just behind Stanford and Minnesota. They'll play Dayton on Friday 11/30 at 5:30 p.m..
The Atlantic-10 Champions got hot at the right time as they have won six straight, including upsetting 1-seed VCU in the conference tournament. At 23-7 overall and 12-2 in the A-10 their record is on par with the Cards who are 21-8 and 14-4.
Dayton has had issues with serves similar to Louisville. They have 255 errors vs just 139 aces.On the attacking end they have accumulated a .275 attack percentage. With 12 players 6'0 or taller (up through 6'5) Dayton has averaged an impressive 2.28 blocks per set.
Louisville and Dayton will square off on Friday with the time to be determined. With Illinois being the host site I expect the Cards to get the earlier match.
Worldwide will most likely add his thoughts on UofL's draw and the entire field either in the comments section so stay tuned.
THEY said it:
THEY said it:
Comments from Molly Sauer below
Amanda Green discusses
Dani Busboom Kelly POST-SELECTION thoughts:
Women's Basketball Opens Home Season
After starting on the road for the first five games of the season Louisville women's basketball will make their first visit to the KFC Yum! Center of the year tonight. They will take on the RedHawks of Miami (OH).
Louisville is 7-4 all-time against Miami. The two teams last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2008. The Cards won the first round game en route to Jeff Walz's first Sweet Sixteen appearance. Louisville has never lost at home (5-0) to Miami.
The Cards are 5-0 on the year with the most recent wins coming in Las Vegas against Arizona State and Hartford. Thanks to a Sam Fuehring layup in the final seconds of the game the Cards topped the Sun Devils. Louisville ousted Hartford with ease after a sluggish start.
Prior to tip-off Jeff Walz and Stephanie Norman will be recognized for their 300th wins at Louisville, which the duo accomplished in the season opener at Western Kentucky.
You can catch the game online on the ESPN website. IF you are unable to do so I would recommend trying to tune into the radio to listen to Nick Curran and AJ call the game on Cards Radio 790 WKRD AM.
I will not be able to make this game, sadly, but Paulie and Sonya will both be on media row and Paulie will bring the coverage of the contest to you in the Tuesday edition of Cardinal Couple .
Paulie brings this preview of the RedHawks.
4-0 yes. Quality of wins? Not so impressive. They opened the 2018-19 season at Canisius (Scott Teeter's old haunts) with a 62-59 win. Their home opener was versus Eastern Kentucky and won 60-44. A trip to Detroit brought a 78-59 victory over Detroit Mercy. Last time out, they invited High Point to Miami and got a 68-55 win. None of the four will probably appear in the NCAA Tournament, in my opinion.
6'2" forward Savannah Kluesner averages 13.3 points per game and leads in rebounds with eight a game. 5'3" point guard Lauren Dickerson runs the show on court and also is averaging 13.3 a game. Other double figure producer is Kendall McCoy a 6'0" guard/forward with 10 a game.
The Red Hawks shoot 41.9% from the hardwood and 24.6% from beyond the arc. Dickerson is the main three-point threat, 7-30 so far on the year. She also leads in assists with 26 on the season. The Red Hawks average 15.5 turnovers a game and aare out-rebounding their opponents 40.5 - 35.
Let's hope for a strong Cardinal first quarter against Miami (OH) and another big night for Asia, Arica and Sam. And, a comfortable lead by the fourth quarter so Coach Walz can continue to get the freshmen and Lindsey Duvall more experience.
Yacine Diop done for season
It was revealed last night and confirmed by Jeff Walz this morning that Yacine Diop suffered a torn ACL against Arizona State and is done for the season.
A big blow for a team that was looking for her skills to help replace Myisha Hines-Allen.
Diop will undergo surgery as soon as it can be scheduled. Whether or not she'll be able to get a rare sixth year of eligibility or not remains to be seen. Or, she may rehab and decide to test her skills in the WNBA or in overseas hoops.
Our thoughts and "get well soon!" offerings to Yacine.
Donation Month
We enter the final few days of donation month. Thank you to everyone who has participated and if you haven't quite yet there's still time. As a reminder we accept cash, checks, and Paypal. You can mail donations into
CARDINAL COUPLE
P.O. BOX 91521
LOUISVILLE, KY 40291
Once again, thank you all for everything you do to keep Cardinal Couple going strong as we strive to bring you the best coverage of all women's sports at UofL.
Happy Monday and Go Cards!
- Jared -
Paulie brings this preview of the RedHawks.
4-0 yes. Quality of wins? Not so impressive. They opened the 2018-19 season at Canisius (Scott Teeter's old haunts) with a 62-59 win. Their home opener was versus Eastern Kentucky and won 60-44. A trip to Detroit brought a 78-59 victory over Detroit Mercy. Last time out, they invited High Point to Miami and got a 68-55 win. None of the four will probably appear in the NCAA Tournament, in my opinion.
 |
| "Swoop" is the name of the Miami Redhawk mascot |
The Red Hawks shoot 41.9% from the hardwood and 24.6% from beyond the arc. Dickerson is the main three-point threat, 7-30 so far on the year. She also leads in assists with 26 on the season. The Red Hawks average 15.5 turnovers a game and aare out-rebounding their opponents 40.5 - 35.
Let's hope for a strong Cardinal first quarter against Miami (OH) and another big night for Asia, Arica and Sam. And, a comfortable lead by the fourth quarter so Coach Walz can continue to get the freshmen and Lindsey Duvall more experience.
Yacine Diop done for season
A big blow for a team that was looking for her skills to help replace Myisha Hines-Allen.
Diop will undergo surgery as soon as it can be scheduled. Whether or not she'll be able to get a rare sixth year of eligibility or not remains to be seen. Or, she may rehab and decide to test her skills in the WNBA or in overseas hoops.
Our thoughts and "get well soon!" offerings to Yacine.
Donation Month
CARDINAL COUPLE
P.O. BOX 91521
LOUISVILLE, KY 40291
Once again, thank you all for everything you do to keep Cardinal Couple going strong as we strive to bring you the best coverage of all women's sports at UofL.
Happy Monday and Go Cards!
- Jared -
Late CASE Report from Saturday's game:
ReplyDeleteC - No letter. 21 turnovers to only 18 forced. And Hartford forces less than 21 per game. Yiiiiiikes
A - Small 'a'. 16 assists on 27 made baskets is pretty good. More turnovers than assists is not pretty good.
S - Capital 'S'. 10 > 7.5. 10 also > 8.
E - Capital 'E'. 54% from the floor is a big check mark in my book. Add in better than 75% from the line and you've got a pretty nice shooting game.
Final: _-a-S-E. Had Louisville been less cavalier with the ball, they may have been able to get a full capital word. Another opportunity coming against Miami (OH).
Can't wait for the opener. Nite-nite worth the price of admission alone. Roll out Cardinal fans.
ReplyDeleteOregon off to a 6-0 start. Erin Boley doing well up there with Ruthy Hebard and Sabrina Ionescu. They could be the West Coast team to beat this year.
Go get Brohm, Vince.
Curtis "Doesn't duck for Ducks" Franklin
Walz happy for home opener tonight.
ReplyDeleteEarly comments today included:
-- Pleased with how the team is playing right now.
-- Yacine Diop has a torn ACL. Out for rest of season.
-- Miami (OH) will be a tough game. They have a great point-guard and their wings can hit the three.
-- Teams are face guarding Asia Durr, double-teaming her but everyone else doing a good job stepping up.
-- Walz sees a lot of parity this year in WBB. Would like another 36-3 year but it'll be tough to accomplish. ACC very strong this year.
Paulie
More on Volleyball:
ReplyDeleteThe Pac-12 led all conferences with eight teams selected from their league to compete in the championship tournament. The Big Ten Conference was second with seven programs advancing to the tournament. Pennsylvania State University and
Stanford are the only two teams that have earned berths to all 38 championship tournaments.
The ACC got five squads in. Syracuse, Pitt, Duke, Fla. St and the Cards.
Paulie
Hate this for Yacine! Hoping for a full and speedy recovery for her.
ReplyDeleteIt's gotta be tough, you come to a new city, barely get settled and then, boom, your season is over.
Nick O.
Daggone it! Sorry to hear about Yacine. She torched Clemson for four years as well. Our WBB season so far has been brutal, brutal, brutal. Losses to South Carolina by 12, Alabama by 20, Tennessee by 12 but a win over Oklahoma by 12.
ReplyDeleteIllinois on Wednesday night. Has anyone in the country started out with such a tough schedule?
Good luck in the home opener tonight!
Your friend
#1 Clemson Fan
Arthur
Greer, SC
That's a tough start, for sure. It'll help make you a stronger team for the ACC schedule, though. Good luck, even though you won't need it against Pitt in the ACC Championships.
DeletePaulie
Ouch!
DeleteBut...it can only help in the long run 😀
I watched the entire Clemson/SC game. Your team out-quicked SC which surprised me. Congrats on the Oklahoma win and getting #47HG Danae McNeal. Butler, your new coach is already paying dividends. She has the players attention and is already getting maximum effort.
DeleteIt's a process but thanks for the encouragement. We like Amanda just fine and she has a great personality.
DeleteYour friend
#1 Clemson Fan
Arthur
Greer, SC
Sad about Diop😑
ReplyDeleteFinally, home sweet home!
And some games where we can get some new people significant minutes, hopefully.
I have to wonder why she (Diop) went back into the game after leaving the court the first time? Misdiagnosis in the locker room?
ReplyDeleteI see Seygan Robins getting some of those minutes.
Paulie, you've been pretty quiet about UofL Football all year and the search for new coach?
-- The Real Joe Hill --
Not enough Jim Beam Black or cold beer to wash away the memory of 2018 Cardinal Football. LOL.
DeleteI'll rank it as one of the three worse seasons I've gone through. 1975, Vince Gibson's first year was pretty awful. 1-10 later changed to 2-9 because of a forfeit due to Mississippi State's sanctions. Losing to WKU to start the year. Ron Cooper's final year. 1-10 with just a win, surprising at that, over Illinois at Illinois.
I think the way the defense just fell apart was my main concern. We showed offense, at times, but when you're down 30-40 points...what's the difference.
Brohm, I've stayed pretty silent on. I'd like to see him here, but, do you risk a fledgling, long run chance at an improving Big 10 school to take a chance at a Cardinal program that has hit the rocks?
I'll keep my season tickets. I'll hope for better. I'm going to trust that Vince will make the right decision and get a good hire.
I do think it has to begin within the team, first, though. Pride needs to be restored. Players that remain have to re-dedicate. And, to paraphrase Jeff Walz...I've never seen a coach make a tackle, throw a touchdown or block for a quarter back on the field yet. Gotta have guys who believe and perform.
Paulie
Speedy recovery Ms.Diop! We have plenty of talent on that team..and it's unfortunate she is hurt however in sports as we all know here's an opportunity for a new face to step up! Let's see who it is . maybe Arica?
ReplyDeleteThinking it'll be a bit o them all, Denise, that carry the slack but Lindsey Duvall stepped up last night and made a play for those minutes.
DeletePaulie