Louisville women's basketball -- CARDS #1 SEED IN ALBANY -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

UOFL WBB BEGINS THE NCAA QUEST #1 AND WILL PLAY FRIDAY AT NOON ON ESPN2

Maybe a surprise to some, but certainly acceptance and excitement about the Louisville women's basketball team getting the #1 seed in the Albany Region during the (leaked too early) bracket reveal on Selection Monday. 

The texts and e-mails started hitting Cardinal Couple around 5 p.m. ESPN U had inadvertently leaked the Albany Region while broadcasting a men's selection show production and showed that the Cards would be playing Robert Morris at noon Friday as the #1 seed in the Albany Region of the NCAA WBB Tournament. 

Early April Fool's prank? Disgruntled ESPN employee getting the last laugh before heading home? Whatever the circumstances were that surrounded it, the reveal was accurate and ESPN's Maria Taylor made a "oops, we messed up" statement on ESPN 2 apologizing to the NCAA for spilling the coffee two hours before it was supposed to be served. 

The Cards still held the bracket-watch party, Walz spoke earlier than planned to the media, and a huge crowd still showed up at Cardinal Arena to celebrate the news that a lot of the nation already knew. Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi State and Louisville were the four #1 seeds. UConn, still remaining in the Albany Region but placed there as a #2 seed.  

Walz, with daughters Lucy and Lola on his lap, patiently and happily answered the ESPN talking heads questions while the crowd cheered in the background. All was right in Cardinal-ville and the NCAA had finally done something right when it came to Louisville athletics. 

"WHAT !! #2 SEED? waaah, waahhh, waahhh..."

All in all, eight ACC teams headed to dance. A bit of disparity in the regional assignments. Besides Notre Dame getting a #1 seed in Chicago, #9 North Carolina, #3 NC State and #5 Florida State will head to Greensboro to start play. Out in Portland, #9 Clemson, #4 Miami and #3 Syracuse will take on competition that had just two PAC 12 teams in the western bracket...but very good ones in #2 Oregon and #5 Arizona State.

I feel for Kenny Brooks and Virginia Tech. Not included in the dance, the nation will not get to see starts Regan Magarity and Taylor Emery play, unless they tune in WNIT action. Surely, Kenny must be the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the NCAA. Two  years in a row now and no respect. 

So, download your brackets I got mine from http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/tournament/bracket and get busy! 


We are having the Cardinal Couple Tournament Pick 'Em again this year, details below. 

Today, I'll give you three teams, possible long-shots, that could crash the Sweet Sixteen: 

1) Central Michigan. Yes, they ended up as a #8 seed and have to battle through #9 Michigan to get a shot at the Irish in Chicago/Souh Bend, but the Chippewas gave Louisville all the wanted early in the season and can shoot 

"What, Paulie? I'm not upset-mention worthy?" 

2)Arizona State. Another squad that pushed Louisville to the edge in regular season action and woud have to face dangerous Miami if they can dispose of UCF...but the #5 seed Sun Devils just might be primed to pull an upset in Coral Gables

3) BYU. A #7 seed in Chcago, they get mid-pack Auburn to open and I can see them giving Stanford and maybe Iowa St. tough times down in Palo Alto. They were 25-6 in the regular season and ended up second behind Gonzaga in the WCC. Don't overlook them.

Good luck and Happy Tournament to all ! 


CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA WBB BRACKET CHALLENGE

63 games. A chance to win a $25 Cracker Barrel or Panera Card. A test of your skills and prognostication abilities. Enter the Cardinal Coule "pick 'em" 

It simple, fun and free ! 

1) Fill out your bracket. 

2) Put your picks in any Cardinal Couple comments section today, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (by noon) 

3) One point per correct pick and highest point-total takes the prize. Submit a total points guess for the final game in case there is a tie. 

The CARDINAL COUPLE chimps spent considerable time last night, pouring over the matchups, pouring banana daiquiris over the brackets, chasing neighbors down the sidewalk on tricycles, wrestling over decisions and emerged a bit fatigued, hammered and dizzy...but offer their selections as a example of a format to follow. They unanimously discredited this year's "bracket chairman" Jared Anderson and had plans of locking him in the WCHQ 100.9 basement at first opportunity. 

If you have questions, comments or inquiries, hit Jared up with an e-mail at: 

eupherjared@gmail.com   or e-mail me at:  cardinalcouple@twc.com   Feel free to 
enter the contest that way if you like, if you don't want anyone seeing your picks or such.

We'll probably reply. 

THE CARDINAL COUPLE CHIMPS BRACKET SELECTIONS 

FIRST ROUND WINNERS: 

Baylor, California, FSU, Belmont, Princeton, NC State, Missouri, Mercer,
Miss St., S. Dakota, Ariz. St., Miami, SDST, Syracuse, Indiana, Oregon, 
Notre Dame, CMU, Rice, Texas AM, DePaul, Iowa St., Auburn, Stanford
Louisville, Michigan, Little Rock, Boise St., Tennessee, Maryland, Rutgers, UConn

THEN THERE WERE SIXTEEN:

Baylor, FSU, NC State, Mercer, Miss. St., Miami, Syracuse, Oregon 
Notre Dame, Rice, DePaul, Stanford, Louisville, Boise St., Maryland, UConn


THE GREAT EIGHT

Baylor, Mercer, Miami, Syracuse, Rice, Stanford, Louisville, UConn

FINAL FOUR

Baylor, Miami, Rice, Louisville

TWO TO GO ! 

Miami, Louisville

CHAMPION 

Louisville


Have a terrific Tuesday!

Paulie
xxxxx