2-2 WBB Record...Is it what your expected so far?
Each year, as women's basketball begins it's season, we look forward with anticpation to the tough squads that Jeff Walz rolls out to meet the ACC and the non-conference foes. Eatly in the 2024-25 season., Walz and company find themselves in a bit of a strange situation, a freshmen is leading the way for the #25 ranked Cards.
Tajianna Roberts leads the Cards in scoring, minutes played ,made field goals, made threes and is the only Cardinals player in double figures. Roberts, who graduated from the basketball factory, the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. came to Louisville after considering Kentucky, Duke, California and Virginia Tech.
Her high school accomplishments are noteworthy. She ws a 2024 Naismith Trophy Honorable Mention award winner. She played in the Jordan Brand Classic with fellow freshmen Mackenly Randolph and Izela Arenas. She was ranked 24th out of the top 25 2024 high school players in th ESPNW rankings. Also in the top 25 were Cardinals freshmen Imani Berry (19th) and Randolph (23rd) Berry sank four crucial three pointers in regulation in the Cards loss to Kentucky that basically kept them in the game in regulation in the overtime loss.
So where are the returning supposed strengths of the Cards in comparison? As far as Nyla Harris, Olivia Cochran and Merissah Russell go, they are a step behin the freshmen. Cochran averaes 9.8 poins a game, Harris 9.0 a game and Russell 6.0 points a game. Granted, Cochran has run into some pretty strong opposing centers in Lauren Betts and Clara Strack...and both are taller than Cochran. Harris has seen just 23 minutes a game and Russell 18. We can understand trying to get your freshmen as ready as soon as possible, but we'd also oke to the the supposed returnin strong poins shining early as well. UK and UCLA were tough early non-conference foes. UCLA is now #5. Kentucky #15.
This is a strong freshman class Walz has and if they can stay together four years they could be a national powerhouse. The problem is, tright now...hey are freshmen...and still getting used to DI NCAA women's basketball. They are going to make freshmen mistakes and have freshmen "moments". But, they are playing a ton of minutes early, and that can only help as the season continues.
Consider when Harris ( a junior) and Cochran and Russell (5th yr. players) are gone, the Cards will have only two players from this year's squad left on the roster besides the eight freshmen...Elif istanbulloglu and Eseosa Imafidon. Istanbulloglu had strong minutes against UK and has shown she can handle the power forward or center spot well for Walz. We just haven't seen enough of Imafidon yet to tell just how she will fit into the scheme of things.
The Cards will face in state foe Morehead State next...on Thursday night in the KFC YUM! Center. it will hopefully be a game where Walz can continue to get all his freshmen court time..the Eagles are 1-3 and have suffered double digit losses to New Mexico, UTEP and Lipscomb in their last three.
It is early in the season, so there is plenty of time for this Cards squad to grow and get better. They'll need to...right now there are five ACC squad in the top 25 and just seven non-donference games remain until ACC play gets underway. Out of the seven non-conference foes remaining, two schools are currently in the top 25...UConn at #2 and Oklahoma at #9.
Buckle in and hold on Cardinals fans, it's going to be a potentially wild ride ahead.
paulie
So, a comment made that I DEFINITELY agree with goes..."it's better to have talent in need of reps, than plenty of reps in need of talent".
ReplyDeleteCrawford.
During the UK gsmes 2nd half I kept asking why Elif was not playing. She showed well in the 1st half and certainly was as productive as some who were playing. Any ideas why she was not given an opportunity in the 2nd half? Injured?
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