Basketball
There was a basketball game yesterday, but that's a bit outside of our normal coverage here on Cardinal Couple. There was a good bit of fun with a Cardinal Couple favorite in anticipation of it, so an opportunity to share it.
Lucius "Too Tall" Winston with Emina Ekic:
Yes, the Harlem Globetrotters were in town yesterday with a game at the KFC Yum! Center. You were thinking of another game, perhaps? In the lead-up to it, Racing Louisville attacker, and former UofL Soccer player Emina Ekic matched up with "Too Tall" in a game of Horse. Ekic showed off some of her skills, both with her feet, and on the hardwood, demonstrating that she does have a bit of shooting range in the process. No results are available, but presumably the Globetrotters were victorious over the Washington Generals.
But back in our wheelhouse, the Louisville women's basketball team has made the trip to Chestnut Hill, arriving safely and ducking a bit of incoming winter weather while they're at it.
The Cards and the Eagles will match up today at noon. The Eagles are currently about mid-pack in the ACC, though with the conference season as young as it is, there's still plenty of time for some re-arranging of the standings.
At 12-4, 3-2 in conference, the Eagles aren't quite in the discussion for "Best Team in the Nation", but they are showing some respectable numbers. Losses are to cross-town Boston University, VCU, a then undefeated UNC team, and of course, the earlier meeting of the Cards and Eagles here in Louisville. Notable wins are in-conference with solid victories over Syracuse, Clemson, and Pitt.
In the previous matchup with Louisville, the leading scorers for the Eagles were Taylor Soule, Cameron Swartz, and Maria Gakdeng. The Cards should also be wary of Makayla Dickens and Marnelle Garraud as high point producers, though they weren't much of a factor in the first meeting. Cameron Swartz went off for 39 a few games back at Clemson. It'd be surprising if she duplicates that today against UofL.
BC did play the Cards competitively in the first quarter of the previous matchup, with a score of 12-11 after the first 10 minute segment. It didn't last, though, with the Cards holding Boston College to 13 or less in each of the quarters of the game, while the UofL production climbed to 20 or more each of quarters after the first.
The paint play should be interesting, both Maria Gakdeng and Olivia Cochran are listed at 6'3", and similar builds. Beyond that, Soule and Swartz line up at 5'11", Dickens measures up at 5'8", and Garraud at 5'7".
Garraud, Dickens, and Swartz are the only significant three point threats on the team.
The big question of the day will be the Louisville defense. Highly touted all year, it all but vanished in the return from the Covid pause. While the offense took a big step forward, hopefully we can finally see the Cards perform well on both ends of the court today.
The game will tip-off at noon, and is on the linear ACC Network today. Of course, if you want to catch it via streaming, that's available as well. ESPN's site doesn't have commentator names listed for the game, yet, so that will be a game-time discovery for us all. Nick and AJ have the call on Cards Radio WKRD 790 AM.
Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast
A real treat for the CCRHP yesterday, with all five of the regular crew able to come together for the show.
It was a basketball heavy show, as you might expect, though some mention was made of track and field as they pursue their indoor season, and swimming in their dual meet against Indiana.
The show is available via Youtube as normal:
but you can also check out the lightly edited version at:
ACC televised games have terrible ca.era angles. Either viewing through the backboard and rim or from the top of the arena camera. SEC game I am now watching at least zooms in a bit so I do not feel I am watching from the last seats in the arena view.
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