Coach Walz staying -- Softball slaying -- Asia relaying -- FH goes to India -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

MEDIA REPORTS OF WALZ REMAINING AT LOUISVILLE

Something we felt very confident of here at Cardinal Couple, but other media sources and types doubted and openly questioned -- got verified yesterday. 

Jeff Walz is staying at Louisville. 

The UofL head basketball coach confirmed yesterday with several credible and recognized media outlets that he'll be the head coach at Louisville next year. that he's happy and looking forward to doing that, that he's had no contact with "Rocky Top", Phil and even managed to work little Walz snark and sarcasm into the announcement, by saying he would leave if our "one great newspaper" had any openings. 

It's as regular as the daffodils that pop up in Paulie's front flower beds each early spring.

Some knucklehead says something about Walz leaving..be it a tweet from an insignificant and previously unheard of media stiff without verified sources... or rumors from "so called" knowledgeable journalists...or maybe the counter gal at the donut shop you stop each morning...and, Shazam!...it goes viral and Cardinal fans go running to the hills clutching their Bobbleheads and "nite-nite" travel kits. 

The report is Coach is vacationing with family in Colorado. Please don't take that as a sign the man is seeking the Buffaloes, Pioneers, Rams or Air Force head women's basketball job.  He'll be back blowing the whistle in the Korber Planet Fitness basketball practice facility after a well deserved rest and relaxation period with his loved ones. 

This is not a test. This is not a simulation. Jeff Walz, 2018-19 Louisville WBB head coach will reprise that popular role in the 2019-20 season and is still the skipper. Stand down, go to DefCon 5 and alert all associates down the line that situation is normal. (Although the term "normal" and Jeff Walz aren't usually associated with each other. 

Give me your hand and step away from the ledge. Calm down. All is right with the most successful coach on the Belknap campus and he'll be returning to take Paulie's post game questions and send them deep onto the sidewalk outside Ulmer before you know it.

Coach Walz is fond of telling his players that mistakes are OK and going to happen, just make a different one next time. Show that you learned something from the previous one. Make no mistake about the following sentence:

Jeff Walz will be the head coach for Louisville women's basketball next season. 

Each year, the robins come back to pluck worms out of the yard and something pops up about Walz. Give the guy a break. Even if he wouldn't be able to visualize it, with his color-blindness...just how ridiculous would he look in orange to begin with? Or singing "Rocky Top" off-key? 

(I hope I can get my money back on those orange and white pom-poms I bought for Coach when I was in Gatlinburg earlier this year...I kept the receipt).

So, it's up to you, CardNation followers, detractors and worriers...to come up with a new and better rumor concerning UofL WBB and the Mad Scientist. Gossip lovers, tawdry journalists and those self-appointed insiders of the program are standing by. The phone and Twitter lines are open. Call now !! 

(Judge Paulie taps gavel on table) Next on the docket?  


SOFTBALL SLAMS WKU

Speaking of mistakes, there was no mistake about Louisville Softball wanting to establish early dominance over WKU last night. And, they did. 

The Cards piled up six runs in the first two inning en route to a 7-2 win over Big Red on the Hill in Bowling Green.

Walks, hits and errors helped the "hit and run" Cards from Floyd Street plate three runs in the top of the first. Winning pitcher Taylor Roby helped her cause by driving in two of the three runs Louisville pushed across the plate in the second frame. And, for dessert...Danielle Watson pounded her first career home run in the seventh for the final tally. 

Another strong effort for the redshirt freshman from Mt.Washington in the circle yesterday...Roby went five innings and allowed just two runs and four hits for UofL. The aforementioned Watson came in for the final two innings and struck out three Toppers to preserve the "W" for the Cards. Louisville is now 23-13 on the season and 4 for 5 in recent midweek contests. 

Big things this weekend at Ulmer, as the Cards host ACC powerhouse and defending national champion Florida State for three contests beginning Saturday. The 'Noles are #3 in the nation and are 36-3 on the season. First pitch Saturday at 1 p.m. We suggest you come out to Ulmer for what looks like an ideal weekend for outdoor activities. 

Bailiff, whose next to appear before Cardinal Couple Thursday court? 


ASIA AWARD

That noise you heard on Floyd Street is the UofL Maintenance and Construction crew building another trophy case to house the awards Cardinal Forever Asia Durr keeps earning.  

"Nite-Nite" was named as one of the five members of the 2019 John R. Wooden Award All-Americans. This award and team is made up of the top five vote-getting student-athletes in women's college basketball for determining the most outstanding college player of the year. The first place winner will be announced on ESPN2, on Friday night...April 12th.  

The other four finalists are Napheesa Collier (UConn), Megan Gustafson (Iowa), Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon) and Teaira McCowan (Miss. State). Voting took place from March 19-29.

It's the second straight year Asia has been selected for this All-America honor. 

We, here at Cardinal Couple, stand by our previous and numerous statements that Durr was the best player in women's college basketball this season.

Let's hope the Wooden group agrees! 



INDIA CHOOSES LOUISVILLE FIELD HOCKEY

No, the headline doesn't mean that Justine Sowry's squad has been picked to play home games in New Delhi this fall or that the "stick girls from Trager" will be representing India in any type of competitions or marketing plans...although, we do wonder what Sowry would look like in a lehenga choli or pattu pavadai on the sidelines...

What it does mean is that Louisville Manual high school Field Hockey defender India Reed has chosen UofL as her destination to continue her student-athlete carer in college. 

Reed was the 2018 Kentucky Miss Field Hockey award winner and led Manual to the semifinals of the state tournament. 

She was also named the Most Outstanding Senior of the Year by the Kentucky High School Field Hockey Coaches Association and was also named on the NFHCA High School National All-American Academic squad. 

Cardinal Couple favorite
Taylor Stone

Over the past couple of weeks, Sowry has added two Netherlanders to the squad in Julie Kouijzer and Thirsa Kho. Also, accolades bestowed to some current and former Cardinals with Megan Schneider making the USA U-19 Travel roster.

Carter Ayers & Katie Schneider have been named to the USA U-21 travel roster and Taylor Stone, Katie Walsh and Erin McCrudden named to the USA Developmental Squad. 

(All rise! Court is now out-of-session and adjourned. All jurors report to the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium for some draw controls cardio led by Kay Morissette and Scott Teeter.)

Have a tremendous Thursday!

Paulie