US vs Canada - Sunday Cardinal Couple

The Countdown Begins

Well, maybe we won't be keeping an actual countdown, but we're right at a month away - one month and a day, to be precise - from the first official competition of the 2023-2024 sports year.  Soccer kicks it off, as we've covered in the schedule updates on August 17th against Indiana State at Lynn Stadium.  But of course, we do get a teaser, or maybe better called an appetizer, in an exhibition game against Miami (OH), but that will be contested in Oxford, OH.

The band Europe, who performed "The Final
Countdown" Image source

That official opening weekend won't be quite as compressed as typical fall weekends, but there will be plenty to keep us busy with five events in four days.  That includes two Soccer games, two Field Hockey games, and the Volleyball Red & Black scrimmage.  (Yes, there's additionally a Men's Soccer game mixed in there as well, but that's outside our scope)

Isn't it amazing how sometimes a month can feel like forever, and sometimes it feels like it's gone in the blink of an eye.  Let's hope this month disappears like the blink of an eye.

Globl Jam Gold Medal Game

Basketball, representing the US, is competing in the Gold Medal Game of the Globl Jam event against Team Canada this evening.  This is, of course, a rematch from the round-robin portion of the event, and gives UofL a bit of a redemption opportunity after having lost to Canada in the first matchup.

Canada comes into the Gold Medal game having won all three of their round-robin matchups, while the Cards are 2-1.  The Bronze Medal game will be held beforehand and will be between Puerto Rico with their 1-2 record, and BAL Select (Basketball Africa League) has yet to win a game.

Louisville's game vs BAL Select yesterday wasn't much of a contest, with UofL jumping out to a 19-4 first quarter lead.  Despite that impressive lead after 10 minutes, the start was a bit ponderous.  Nyla Harris got a layup about 20 seconds into the game, but there would be a complete scoring drought for about two and a half minutes until BAL Select would be able to make a free throw.  Nyla Harris made another lay-up about 30 seconds later, and that would get the tap flowing for the Cards as they would push out to 14-1 before BAL Select would score again.

The rest of the quarter were more balanced, but still solidly in UofL's favor (16-11, 17-10, 20-14) as the Cards cruised to the 72-39 win.

Kiki Jefferson at her previous school, JMU

Everyone played for the Cards, with everyone playing 10 minutes or more, and everyone scored.  Hennie "HVS" van Schaik was the scoring leader, but also chalked up the least time on the court, dropping 15 points in just short of 11 m
inutes of playing time.  Kiki Jefferson scored 14 in over 23 minutes of time, and Sydney Taylor also hit double digits with 11 points in 24 minutes.

62% free throw shooting continues to bode ill for the F in FRED reports once the season gets started, but they've got quite a bit of time to get in the gym and put up some shots to improve that.  22 turnovers is a bit concerning, that's an awfully popular bakery, but again, this is July basketball, there's lots of time before the season starts.  50% shooting from the field, and 25% from the arc is nice, but it may be a bit dangerous to put too much weight on those stats and others based on the level of competition.

The game today is again on CBS Sports Network, and tip will be at 5pm.  As mentioned, the men's and women's bronze medal games do happen before this game, but there is an hour and a half scheduled between the end of the men's bronze medal game, and ours, so it would take some extraordinary overtimes for that to interfere with the start time.

No Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

A variety of personal factors, from illnesses, to job duties, to vacations, and other travel interfered with the CCRHP this week.  We should be back next week with your regular dose of UofL women's sports coverage.

-- JMcA