A SEASON OF SO MANY "What if's" ...
I guess I'm just not used to seeing the Cards WBB season end this early in the NCAA Tournament. All day long Sunday, I sat and watched the tournament games, wishing the Cards could have had "that draw,or being glad we didn't get a differentt draw, getting envious when teams we had defeated in the season were playing well. Glad UofL didn't have to play LSU....they would have killed the Cards..A bitter, in some ways, but reflective Day Three of the tournament for me, watching games but also thinking and reflecting
What if...the Cards had gotten a different draw in the brackets...what if UofL's guard play had been stronger....what if VanLith was still on the roster....what if,,, as you can see, it's easy to guess and second guess...
I rellected, also, that Cardinals squads tend to go a little further when there are qutie a few "lifers" (or three or four year players) that have been at Louisville the entire time on the roster. I also realize that changed dramatically (and maybe forever) a few years ago with the advent of COVID, extra years, NIL and the jumping around of players from team to team,like checkers on a board. Jeff Walz won't use the term "play for pay" but it's here, kiddies...and will it contiunue to affect the game the way it has so far?. .
The game changes. Players change. Coaches change. But, the women's game continues to grow and I love that, so i'll continue to cover the sport, write about it and tout it.
Walz will get recruits and new players in, we'll find new players to fall in love with, talk about, see come and go and praise or moan about. I hope to see quite a few more seasons...I guess the cardiologists, nephrologists and other assorted doctors will help in that aspect. It helps to have a young crew here at Cardinal Couple. They'll pick up the flag when I can no longer carry it and go on with what we do here. Promote the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. Even when it is awfully hard to do...like today..
SOFTBALL LOSES TO DUKE 5 to 3
The Cards gave it a try late, but, could not make up the early defecit and catch the visiting Duke Blue Devils softball squad Sunday at Ulmer.
The Devills build a 5-0 lead on Cardinals pitchers Alyssa Zabala, Sam Booe over the first five innings, while the Cardinals batters were ineffective against Duke's 11-0 Jala Wright.
Louisville finally put a run on in the bottom of the fifth when Ally Alexander made it all the way around, aided by a Paige Geragthy single and Duke error.
The Cards added two more runs in their final at bat, off duke releif pitcher Dani Drogemuller and had the tying run on base, but could not get the baserunners home.
The loss takes the Cards to 20-12 overall and 1-5 in the ACC.
Louisville closes out the homestand when IU visits Tuesday night.
NCAA WBB TOURNAMENT AND CARDINAL COUPLE PICK EM
We now have eight of the Sweet Sixteen established, with Duke,Colorado,South Carolina, LSU, Oregon St, Texas, Baylor and Stanford, all getting wins. Eight more games today...
KStarkSr and and Thomas have battled their way to the Pick Em lead. Nick O, Blue Lou and Jason are a footstep behind. We'll have a full standings report once the Sweet Sixteen is wstablished. Thanks to Jared for his work here.
paulie
PHTOS BY JARED ANDERSON
paulie
Louisville WBB still doesn't have the "big girl" threat. Maybe in these freshmen?
ReplyDeleteThey could use a leader too
DeleteNick O
I've said it before, Walz built the program with recruits who came and waited their turn, learning from the players who came before them.
ReplyDeleteSick and tired of filling the roster with "portal" players.
Hopefully this incoming freshmen class is the start of us getting back to that💯
I agree💯 I know what CJW was trying to do, but the mid major Talent didn't come through trying to replace the three or four starters from the portal that's very difficult hopefully the freshman class or restore Louisville women basketball.
ReplyDeleteGo Cards