Sunday Cardinal Couple - WBB and Softball Gameday

 Basketball Gameday

"Joy and excitement" is part of our mission statement, so let's start today by looking forward.

The season finale is upon us.  This topsy-turvy season where playing a game wasn't assured until the ref tossed the ball up in the air for the opening tip will be coming to a close and the post-season will be embarking with equal uncertainty.

UofL finishes out the season with Notre Dame at 3pm on ESPN with Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli on the call.  Of course audio coverage can also be heard on 790AM with the ever-excellent Nick Curran giving you the call.

The Cards are looking to clinch the outright ACC regular season title with a win in this game.  This would be the second straight outright, and fourth straight time of getting at least a share.  The only threat to this is NC State.  With their game against Syracuse tipping off at noon, by our game time, we'll know the whole scenario.

Former ND WBB coach Muffet McGraw

The Cards beat Notre Dame earlier in the season, of course, with Dana Evans scoring 27 points, including five in the last minute of the game to win the game 71-65.

We know the Notre Dame threat fairly well, with true freshman Maddy Westbeld, Destinee Walker, Dara Mabrey, Anaya Peoples, and Sam Brunelle as the likely starting five.

Will UofL shake off its recent slump and get back to playing the ball we know they can play?  Let's hope so.  Let's use this game as a re-set for the post season.

Softball Playing Hard 

There are no softballs on Softball's schedule so far.  The diamond runners will be playing their 4th game of this relatively young season against a Top 10 team today.

As Louisville wakes up to a cool and very rainy morning (Please be careful of flooded roads this morning, "Turn Around, Don't Drown" is the saying the National Weather Services uses, good advice indeed), the commentators during yesterday's game were almost bragging about the 82 degrees and mostly sunny weather in Gainesville.

The Florida Gators did win this one, and, to be honest, I don't think much of anyone was shocked by the outcome.  UofL isn't just coming into these games to "get the experience", they are playing to win, and are going in with the mindset that they can.  But Florida is the number five or six team in the country, depending on which poll you look at.

Louisville did get a run across the plate.  Rebecca Chung crushed one to the left field fence for a triple.  Charley Butler took over the base running duties at that point and was driven home by a Carmyn Greenwood single to right.

Florida was the better team in this one, though, winning the contest 5-1.

The rematch today is an early start, at 10am.  No video listed for this one, but a radio station is listed on Florida's site for audio coverage which looks like an ESPN radio station affiliate: https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/

Other Scheduling Notes

The Calendar is super packed with events.  A quick rundown of yesterday and the rest of today.

Women's golf will be in action in Bowling Green, which is hopefully drier than Louisville this morning.

Women's tennis got swept by Duke.  I may be more disappointed about losing the doubles point, than I am about losing the whole match.

And finally Volleyball's match against Notre Dame was postponed due to Covid issues within Notre Dame's program.

The Athletes Unlimited Pro Sports Volleyball league did kick off their inaugural season last night.  UofL alum Erin Fairs had a decent individual showing, gaining 35 points in digs, 32 in serve receive, got a nice 12 points for a service ace, but alas, lost more points on hitting errors than she got on kills.  She wasn't helped by her Team Cruz, in gold not winning a single set of the three, nor of course the match, so she got none of the set and match team points.  Pro rookie Leah Edmunds from UK leads the league after the first night of play.  For info on league play, check out https://auprosports.com/volleyball/how-we-play-volleyball/, as it's....different.  Also in AU news, it looks as if they're starting a Women's Lacrosse League this summer, with play starting in July, joining volleyball and softball.  Fairs will be in action again this evening at 9pm on FS1 against Team Sybeldon in purple with Louisvillian Deja McClendon.

Cardinal Couple ACC Tournament "Pick 'Em"

Here's your daily reminder that we will be sponsoring a Pick 'em contest for the upcoming ACC WBB Tournament. You can enter and win a gift card for a first of second place finish. Paulie has arranged for Cracker Barrel Gift Cards again this season -- $25 for the winner and $15 for second place. 

It's easy and fun to participate.   Just make your selections for the 12 games once we know the seedings. Submit them in any of our daily comments sections, or send them to Bracket Czar Jared Anderson at: 

eupherjared@gmail.com

Or to Paulie:  cardinalcouple@twc.com 

-- Make sure and put your name or "site handle" on the entry.

-- Make sure your entry is in by 2 p.m. Wednesday. Actually, the earlier the better, since first entry will break any ties for first or second.  

Then, just sit back and watch the fun! 

Here's an example off how you can submit:  

FIRST ROUND;   Paulie University

SECOND ROUND:  Jeff A&M, Case Tech, Jared State, Daryl College

QUARTERFINALS:  Chimps U, Case Tech, Card Couple U, Daryl College

SEMIS:  Case Tech, Card Couple U 

FINALS: Card Couple U

12 selections, five days, 13 teams and Ms. Wuf !!!  What could be more fun?  Join us! 

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

Lot's of talk about women's basketball including our version of the end of the year individual awards, softball, a brief touch of volleyball.  We, as a team, battled through a number of technical difficulties, Paul, Case, and myself all suffering from some various forms of gremlins through the morning.

Despite the hums and buzzing, I think it ended up being a good show.  Check it out below, or check out Case's release of it in podcast form where hopefully he was able to clean it up a bit, available at your favorite place to listen to podcasts.

--JMcA--