A LOOK AT ACC WBB STANDINGS -- WALZ MEDIA DAY -- WSOC EXCELLENCE IN CLASSROOM -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS WBB ALONE AT THE TOP OF THE ACC STANDINGS

We are halfway through the ACC Conference slate, and after nine ACC game, only Louisville Women's basketball can point to an undefeated conference record. 

At 9-0, the Cards are a game ahead of North Carolina St. (8-1) and three games up on Florida State (6-3). Both Louisville and NC State have just one loss in their 2019-20 schedule results...the Cards at 20-1 fell to Ohio State on Dec. 5th and NC State (19-1) tumbled at North Carolina 66-60 on January 9th. Florida St. has complied a 17-3 record, with all three losses in conference. They fell at Syracuse, in overtime, 90-89, hosting Georgia Tech 67-52 and at NC State 68-51. 

The way the ACC Tournament sets up allows the top four finishers in conference a bye until Friday games. If the tournament were to start tomorrow, Louisville, NC State and FSU would be three of those teams. #4 seed would (as of now) go to Virginia Tech, who is 5-3 in conference and 16-4 overall.  Georgia Tech, UNC, Wake Forest and Duke are all knocking at that "double bye" door, though, with just four losses. 

With at least nine conference games left for the majority of the teams that participate in the ACC (Va. Tech, Boston College, and Pitt still have 10 games to play in conference), it's way too early to make predictions on final seeding, obviously, but...as of today... the first three games, on Wednesday, (comprising of seeds 10-15) would match some sort of combination between Pitt, Notre Dame, Virginia, Clemson, Boston College, Miami and Syracuse. 

Here's the ACC WBB standings, going into Thursday's action: 

Louisville           9-0, 20-1
NC State            8-1, 19-1
Fla. State          6-3, 17-3
Va. Tech            5-3, 16-4
Ga. Tech           5-4, 14-6
UNC                  5-4, 14-6
Wake Forest      5-4, 12-8
Duke                 5-4, 11-9
Boston College  3-5, 10-10
Miami               3-6, 11-9
Syracuse           3-6, 9-10
Virginia            3-6, 8-12 
Clemson           3-6, 7-13
Notre Dame      2-7, 7-13
Pitt                  0-8, 3-16


The Cards have not faced Fla. State, Notre Dame, NC State, Georgia Tech, or Virginia Tech yet and four of these five teams are the second through fifth ranked teams in the conference. The battle ahead for Louisville, quite frankly, is a tough one. 

Four out of Louisville's nine remaining conference games are at the KFC YUM! Center. Fla. St, Notre Dame, Boston College and Virginia Tech are the visitors. 

Louisville gets the advantage of hosting Fla. State at home  on Feb 6th. A tough match awaits the Cards on Feb.13th. when they travel to Raleigh, NC and take on Ms. Wuf and her gang of Wolves. A week later, the Cards land in Atlanta to visit Buzz and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Both are Thursday contests. There will be ACC Network coverage for NC State and, from what I'm understanding... RSN (Fox Sports something-or-other) will show the Georgia Tech game. This stuff changes, though, so check here on game days and we'll provide the viewing option. 

Thank goodness only one of the final nine are on the ACC Network Extra. The Cards and Pitt on Feb. 20th. go to the internet-only broadcasting source.  

A conference-season ending tilt, bringing in Virginia Tech on March 1st, could have big implications on the ACC Conference Tournament pairings.  

If you're a fan of Bracketology, the ESPN "experts" have six ACC teams getting invites to the "Big Dance".  Currently, the Cards are the lone #1 seed for the ACC. Others listed in the Bracketology guess are NC State, FSU, Ga. Tech, UNC and Va. Tech. I think Wake Forest and Duke should merit a little consideration as well, and if they finish strong and have good showings in the ACC Tournament, I think they'll earn NCAA Tournament bids.

If Miami can ever get Bea Mompremier healthy, watch out for the Canes, too.  

It also looks like, for now, we'll have an NCAA Tournament without "Q" (Syracuse) or "Muffet" (Notre Dame) unless either can win the ACC Tournament and get the automatic bid. When was the last time that happened...both of those usually very successful programs being shut out of the field of 64? 

Thursday, January 30th. action involves Virginia at North Carolina, Georgia Tech goes to Miami and Boston College travels to Tallahassee to face FSU. The NC State Wolfpack invade Clemson, UofL at Notre Dame (an ESPN game!), Wake visits Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech sojourns to Syracuse. 


COACH SPEAK


Coach Jeff Walz met with the media today at 12:30 p.m. in the Media room at Planet Fitness Koeber Center. We have the audio link from P.F.K.C. here at the site for you to hear. A hard pitch for USA vs. Louisville, a little Notre Dame discussion and whatever else crossed Coach's mind. 

No players appeared with him. I wonder if USA WBB has started moving their travelling show into the P.F.K.C. yet? They practice Fri. and Sat. on Floyd Street and we found out more about availability today.

 LINK: 

JEFF WALZ PRESSER 1/29/20". 



WSOC WITH ACADEMIC SUCCESSES

Five student-athletes from the 2019 Louisville women's soccer team were honored Tuesday afternoon by being named to the 2019 All-ACC Academic Team. 

Seniors Ariana Ferraro and Brooklynn Rivers made the list. It's the second time for Rivers. 

Juniors Emina Ekic and Gabby Kouzelos achieved the 3.0 GPA from the previous semester as well. Ekic has been named to the team all three years she has been here at UofL. Kouzelos makes her second appearance on the squad. 

Sophomore Delaney Snyder rounds out the list of Cardinal WSOC student-athletes honored. 

A 3.0 GPA from the previous semester and cumulative 3.0 GPA during the student-athletes academic career are the criteria for making the squad. Athletic achievements are also considered in selecting the team.

Virginia had eight student-athletes named to the squad, Duke seven, Clemson and NC State placed six on the roster and Louisville, FSU, UNC and Wake Forest added five players each to the prestigious list.  

Congratulations to these five Cardinal student-athletes for their awards and achievements !  


HAILEY VAN LITH UPDATE

Interested in the 2020 Cards WBB signee Hailey Van Lith? Here's a video below you might enjoy ! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XANqSesclEM



A wonderful Wednesday to you!

paulie
xxxxx