Cards Host Florida State
We're approaching the end of the week and that means it's time for another Louisville Women's Basketball game! The #4 Cards look to extend their new winning streak to two games, and then build from there.
Teams: #4 Louisville vs Florida State
Records: Louisville (16-2, 6-1 ACC), Florida State (9-8, 3-4 ACC)
Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
When: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 790-AM WKRD
Head-to-Head Record: Florida State leads 15-19
Coaches: Jeff Walz, 15th season as Louisville head coach
Sue Semrau, 24th season as Florida State head coach (took one year leave of absence in 2020-2021)
Key Players: Louisville: Kianna Smith (11.6 ppg), Hailey Van Lith (12.3 ppg), Emily Engstler (11.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.7 steals per game)
Florida State: Morgan Jones (14.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), O'Mariah Gordon (3.1 assists per game)
Florida State has been surprisingly poor this season. In most years under Coach 'Seminole Sue , the Seminoles have been near the top of the ACC, earning plenty of first and second round byes in the ACC Tournament before being a decent in the NCAA Tournament.
The Seminoles being one game over .500 this season is quite odd. Some of their unexpected losses have come against BYU, Purdue, Houston, and Wake Forest. Some of those losses came in a four-game losing streak that was lengthened by a COVID-19 pause.
FSU ranks near the bottom of the ACC in both points per game at 69.8 and points allowed per game at 60.4. However, at 5.0 blocks per game, Florida State is one of the best blocking teams in the conference.
Most of the work this year has been done by senior guard Morgan Jones. Standing at 6'2, Jones is tall for a guard, but is the Seminoles' top scorer at 14.6 ppg and top rebounder at 6.2 rpg. She shoots 50% from the floor and over 80% from the free throw line.
Despite Louisville being ranked in the top 10 for a majority of the games against Florida State since joining the ACC, it's the Seminoles who continue to come out ahead and be the Achilles Heel for the Cards. FSU loves to slow the pace of the game and keep the Cards from running a fast-paced game.
With Florida State having a down year, hopefully this can be the year Louisville can win big against the Seminoles and break the curse.
Paulie and I will be in attendance on the court as usual for this game. Sadly, I missed the game last Sunday due to a concert I was playing in at the same time. To make up for that missed game, I'm bringing Katy with me tonight and she'll hang out with Paulie on media row.
UofL in the News for the Wrong Reasons Again
I'm going to keep this section short and sweet. Louisville and Chris Mack have mutually agreed to part ways. Louisville Men's Basketball is 11-9 on the year and quickly dropped to the bottom half of the ACC standings while Mack has had "no answers".
Fans and donors have been unhappy with the past couple of seasons and the pressure for UofL to take action, especially after an NCAA violation and an HR violation earlier this season, came into play. It's sad to see the men's basketball program continue to deal with issues.
We do hope things get better on their end soon.
Thankfully, the women's basketball program has not felt the impact of the situation and continues to prove how successful they are. The Cards are currently a top five team and one of the favorites for the ACC Championship and NCAA Championship.
JEFF WALZ PRESSER 1-26-22
Coach Jeff Walz met with the media for a Wednesday presser to discuss the FSU game and was also asked a few other questions as well, including his thoughts on the Chris Mack situation. You can view the presser at the link below.
Happy Thursday and Go Cards!
Jared
Florida State actually is balling out right now, got their WHOLE team together for a couple of games.
ReplyDeleteThorn in our side since we joined.
Hoping we have THEIR # tonight.
I agree FSU have the cards #.
ReplyDeleteThey beat the cards in the ACC TOURNAMENT two year ago,I haven't forgotten that game.
Merv
In FSU's losses in conference, only VT has really thumped them, although Wake is 1-1 against them. Jones is a force for them, though, and it'll be interesting to see how strategizes against her, she was huge against us in our loss down there last year.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope we worked on finishing a fourth quarter in practice the last couple of days/ Given the history of the two squads in the last couple of years I'd be surprised if the Cards are up by double digits going into the fourth.
As far as Mack goes, he had lost the team. When that happens, the coach has to go. I' surprised you all even covered it, I thought you were a women's sports site...
Nick O.
Herding kittens...
Deletepaulie
Hello Friends !
ReplyDeleteArthur Here !
Good luck against FSU tonight/ They have had our number twice this season and Morgan Jones is a machine. I hope you can slow her down.
We bring in Pitt tonight. A battle of 1-7 in conference squads. A team we may actually have a chance of beating, if we can get a good game out of Washington tonight. I like our chances. Harris and Everett are back for them, though. Two good ones.
Bea and I drove down here earlier today, and we're going to our favorite restaurant in a few and then head over to Littlejohn. We'll spend the night. I am sending this comment on the new tablet my son sent me for Christmas. It's a Samsung and I take it with me wherever I go, it seems. I love it!
I wonder if we'll get 1000 tonight in attendance? LOL.
So, you canned your basketball coach? I don't know all the details obviously, but, I know what fanatics Louisville fans are over BOTH basketball squads. The guy was 11-9? Interesting...we'd probably give Amanda a raise if she could get us to 11-9. LOL
Your friend
#1 Clemson Fan
Arthur
Greer, SC
Interim coach began the season 5-1 because the now not coach was suspended for 6 games. Wheels fell off when he returned.
Delete