Sydney Zambrotta joins George Washington WBB -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

"THREE" Z TO G.W.

Sydney Zambrotta has decided where she will continue her collegiate basketball pursuits and the rising junior will take her game to our nation's capitol...Washington, D.C. and join the George Washington Colonials squad for her final two years of eligibility. 

Per NCAA transfer rules, she'll sit out the 2018-19 season and have two years to play for GW head WBB coach Jennifer Rizotti. Rizotti spoke yesterday about the addition. 

"I'm excited about the versatility Syd can offer at the guard position. Although she's known as a tremendous shooter, she has the basketball I.Q. of a point guard, which wil allow her to both facilitate and score in our offense. I look forward to getting her on campus, so she can begin the next chapter of her career". 

Syd also spoke about the move from Louisville to Washington and seemed excited about what lies ahead for her: 

"I chose GW because of the superior academics, incredible teammates and unparalleled coaching staff. They are a community that I feel privileged to be a part of. They are a family that is allowing me in. What a honor! Raise High"! 

The Colonials are part of the Atlantic 10 Conference and won the A-10 Basketball Tournament back in March with wins over LaSalle, George Mason, Dayton and St. Joseph's. They drew Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament but fell to the Buckeyes 87-45 in Columbus. Overall, GW went 19-14 and 10-6 in A-10 play. 

GW is in the midst of a bit of rebuilding, it would seem. Three freshman join the 10 player roster that has just two seniors. Zambrotta is one of three transfers on the squad. Sarah Overcash comes in from Illinois, Olivia Gumbs previously played at Lafayette. 

Rizotti begins her third season as the head Colonial. A former protege of UConn's Geno Auriemma, she is also President of the Women's College Basketball Association and a USA National Team assistant coach under Dawn Staley. Previously, she spent 17 years as the head coach of the Hartford Hawks and had quite the successful student-athlete term playing for the head Husky in Storrs. Highly respected by her peers.

The "Jen will succeed Geno" rumor mill has been active for several years. Unless Geno pulls a "Pearsall" and hits the sporting community with a surprise retirement announcement, though...it looks like she'll continue to be "the woman in waiting". 

For Syd, a second start. 

At UofL, she came in highly regarded and had gained the reputation as a three-point specialist. Joining a mix of talented guards as a freshman, she served as a reserve for two seasons that Louisville head coach Jeff Walz would employ to bust zones and bring defensive pressure on occasion. As a freshman, she got court time in 29 games during the Cards march to the Sweet Sixteen.  She averaged 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in the 2017-18 season and saw action in 33 games for UofL. 

She could nail the three. 46% from beyond the arc in two seasons for Louisville. A fan favorite, the majority of her action came in games where the contest had long since been decided. Louisville P.A. announcer would emphasize her trifecta successes with the elongated "THREEEEEEE ZZZZZZZZ !!" proclamation. 

The Louisville guard contingent grew stronger each year that Syd was on campus and when Seygan Robins and Mykasa Robinson joined the Cardinal fold with commitments, one can hardly blame her for looking at options where she might get more playing time. 

I last saw Syd at one of the Louisville Lacrosse games this spring. Rushing to get to the press box to cover a game that had already started, I nearly strode past her without recognizing her sitting in the metal bleachers, front row...watching the contest. This was a few days after she announced her transfer intent and did not know her destination. We exchanged a few cordial words, I wished her the best of luck wherever she ended up and I headed to the press box. Later, I mentioned her presence to our columnist Jared Anderson and he wondered if she'd be up for a couple of pictures. By the time he got back down to field level, she had already departed.

All of us as CARDINAL COUPLE wish Syd the best at GW. In Rizotti, she'll have a great teacher and quite knowledgeable student of the game. One of the best point-guards in UConn history. Eight seasons in the WNBA.

Jeff Walz is 0-2 in "Syd retention" at UofL. Syd Brackemyre also spent a couple of years as a Card but with knee injuries...she never got the chance to perform much for the red and black. Her student-athlete college time did find a happy ending when she transferred to U of Indy. She became the scorer and shooter we all saw in high school. We hope the same sequence follows for "Z". 

Light 'em up, Z. Go earn that playing time in the 2019-20 season. And, hopefully, the P.A. announcer for Colonials' games will have tons of opportunities to perform the joyous annunciation.....


"Threeeee ZZZZZ!!!!!"  


DAN MCDONNELL TO....LOUISVILLE

Speculation comes to decision. 

The Louisville baseball community was a-buzz with the possible departure of Cardinal baseball skipper Dan McDonnell to Mississippi State recently.  Sound the "all-clear". Dan is staying at Louisville. 

He did speak with the powers that be in Starkville. Not enough there to pull him out of the Jim Patterson Stadium and Cardinal Community. He believes in the Cardinal leadership of Neeli Bendaputi and Vince Tyra. Has an unfinished agenda at the corner of Central Avenue and 2nd Street. 

Another notch on the gunbelt for the Cardinal Athletic Director. An affirmation of the promising new leadership that Neeli is bringing to the University. 

Dan says it best: 

" I had a chance to learn about the Mississippi State program and what they've accomplished. It's a great program but ultimately we have done great things here at Louisville and we have great things left to do". 

No confirmation on whether M.S.U. A.D. John Cohen made an offer to McDonnell. 

It's pretty clear and obvious to me when it comes to weighing options and it appears it was for Dan as well. Starkville or Louisville?  I think you go with the town that has the greatest two minutes in sports instead of the city which has The Cobb Museum of Archaeology. 

This final just in: 

ACC 1 - SEC 0 


And, the Cards finally got a win over M.S.U. in something. 


(Grateful acknowledgment to GWSports.com for information used in today's article)  


paulie
xxxxx

Myisha Drafted 19th -- Jeff Walz Named U18 Coach -- Syd Zambrotta to transfer -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Myisha Drafted 19th in WNBA Draft

UofL's newest pro

Wiping tears from her eyes with a huge smile on her face Louisville forward Myisha Hines-Allen celebrated with her friends and family as she found out where life will be taking her next.  With the 19th pick of the WNBA Draft, the Washington (DC) Mystics selected the All-American.

Hines-Allen is the eighth Louisville women's basketball player to be selected in the WNBA Draft and the first since a trio of players went in the 2014 draft.  The 118 wins in four seasons make her the winningest player in program history.

Highlights from MHA's career include one Final Four and three Sweet Sixteens in four NCAA
appearances, tied for second at UofL in career double-doubles with 33, third in program history with 2028 career points, and second in program history with 1151 career rebounds.

She'll be with superstar Elena Della Donne and Cardinal great Asia Taylor on the Mystics roster. That sounds like a VERY powerful front line to us...in addition to the other "painters" on Washington's roster.

Congratulations to you, Myisha.  I know your accomplishments in the pros will be great.

Jeff Walz Takes No Breaks

What is Jeff Walz thinking?

It was announced yesterday that Jeff Walz will head up the USA U18 National Team.  His assistants include Delaware's Natasha Adair and UCLA Cori Close.

With the 2017-18 NCAA women's basketball season over Walz has a little bit of spare time outside of his recruiting trips and early preseason workouts to take on this responsibility.

The team will compete at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, which dates and locations are to be determined.  The top four teams will qualify for the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Sydney Zambrotta to transfer

From a source on the UofL women's basketball coaching staff, we have confirmed that guard Sydney Zambrotta is transferring and has been given her release from the program.

"Syd is looking for a place to get more playing time, She's a great kid and we are doing everything we can to help her."  is the quote we got from a representative of the Louisville basketball team.

In two years as a Cardinal, Zambrotta saw 530 minutes of court time in 62 games and had 1 start. She scored 195 points and was 49 for 129 from the three-point range. Her career high was against WKU back on 12/11/16 when she scored 15 points.

A 5'9" guard from North Babylon, NY....Syd was a 4-star recruit and chose Louisville over Miami (FL), Minnesota, Pittsburgh and South Carolina.

We at Cardinal Couple wish her the best in her future court time and will always remember the "Three....ZZZZ" yell Sean Moth would intone after a successful trifecta. Good luck, Syd !!



Are Cheerleading and Dancing Sports?

To clarify, I am specifically talking about what the University of Louisville cheerleaders and Ladybirds do.  In Wednesday's article I wrote about how the groups won four national championships over the weekend.

The textbook definition of "sport" is "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment".

Going by the textbook definition both are sports without a doubt.  Their tumbling, movements, and pyramid-stacking would be considered physical exertion and skill.  When they compete against other schools in the championships  it would be for entertainment.

So why doesn't UofL make cheerleading and dancing part of their sports?

Cheerleaders pose with WBB

The obvious reason is because the NCAA doesn't recognize them as sports so if UofL became the only school to do so would be silly.  Secondly, the cheerleaders and Ladybirds are currently self-sufficient financially. Their car wash and spirit calendar fundraisers are just a couple of the fundraisers they participate in to raise money for uniforms.  The university covers travel and hotel expenses for NCAA Tournaments, but athletics does not offer scholarships to the groups.  Any scholarships the spirit members receive are on the academic side of things.

It is unfortunate that the NCAA will not recognize cheerleading and dancing as sports, but hopefully we will see more recognition for the groups in the future.  They do have more championships in their history than all of the other 21 UofL sports combined...

Lacrosse and Softball

Rain won't melt lacrosse

Softball pushed their Friday game against Syracuse up to 2:00.  It is on the road so make sure to tune into Twitter early for updates.  Women's tennis is enjoying the weather- warmer weather than the warm weather we finally have- down in Clemson and will start at noon.  Football (7:30) and men's soccer (8:00) both moved their games up from Saturday to today because of pending weather.

The wonderful SID for women's basketball and lacrosse, Nick Evans, also does some work with the Louisville Bats.  I spoke with him about weather affecting lacrosse on Saturday.  He laughed. Rain won't make the team melt... unless they're in the Wizard of Oz.  As long as lightning does not make it's way to Floyd Street they are still set to go at noon on Saturday.

Besides being Friday the 13th (let's hope for some good luck) today is also Scrabble Day, Peach Cobbler Day, and Blame Someone Else Day (the first Friday the 13th of each calendar year).  So just remember, it's probably Paulie's fault.  What did he do?  Who knows, but we'll blame him anyways until he passes the blame onto Sam Purcell.

Enjoy Your Friday and Go Cards!

- Jared -

Four National Championships -- A Look Ahead to the Weekend -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Cheer and Dance Add Hardware to the Trophy Case

Louisville may have lost an NCAA Championship recently, but they can add four national championships awarded by the NCA and NDA.  The cheerleaders and Ladybirds returned home from Daytona recently with plenty of hardware.

The Louisville large co-ed and all-girl groups won their respective divisions, with the large co-ed winning their 18th title.  This year was the 20th anniversary of all-girl beginning competitions in Daytona.  The small co-ed finished fourth, a bit lower than planned, but still an honorable mention and impressive result.

The Ladybirds competed in two genres: team and hip-hop.  Unsurprisingly, they won both, marking the third straight year they claimed the double-title.

In the Todd Sharp era the Louisville spirit groups have been dominant, constructing a dynasty that even UConn women's basketball would have a tough time matching up to.

Despite not being one of the official 21 Division 1 sports at UofL we want to extend a huge congratulations to the cheerleaders and Ladybirds.  While most of us have the option of missing out on a football or basketball game every once in a while the spirit groups are always in attendance and ready to put on a show.

Women's Soccer Schedule Change

Originally scheduled to have a home spring match tonight, the women's soccer team has had a schedule change.  Instead of playing at home they will now hit the road for a Friday night match.  The reasoning behind the last minute change is unknown, but presumed to be either weather or travel-related.

WBB Recognized at Baseball

Prior to the start of last night's Louisville baseball game there was a ceremonial first pitch.  In honor of their first ever ACC regular season championship and ACC tournament championship and their third Final Four appearance the women's basketball team was honored in front of the crowd of just north of 2,000.

Photo courtesy of Alexia Byrnes

Half of the team was in attendance with the other half including Jeff Walz MIA.  Myisha Hines-Allen and Jazmine Jones took to the mound to give us a glimpse of their best fastball.  Myisha's was a strike right down the middle while Jaz's throw was a two-hopper to the catcher's mitt.

The team is also rumored to be a part of the Pegasus Parade, but not as the Grand Marshall.

Saturday's Psychotic Schedule

WCHQ fm every Saturday 11-12

After enjoying another session of the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour you can hit up Floyd Street for an unreal number of home events.  Due to the high number of events I find it easier to break down the schedule below:

10:00 - Track & Field Louisville Invitational, all day

12:00 - Lacrosse vs Virginia (Senior Day)

6:30 - Volleyball vs Butler Spring Game

7:00 - Men's Soccer vs Lindsey Wilson Spring Match


NOTE: Football has moved the Spring Game to Friday Night, 7:30 p.m. due to expected inclement weather on Saturday. 

All of these events are on Floyd Street and have free admission.  Bring your walking shoes and a snack because it's set to be a long day.  You can catch me with my camera at all of the events except for football.  If I'm passed out on the sidewalk before the day ends just leave me be and I'll be up and at 'em eventually.

The weather, as of now, looks like actual spring weather, with highs reaching almost 80 here in Louisville and a chance of rain Saturday night.



JOIN MYISHA! 

Myisha Hines-Allen wants you to come join her Thursday, April 12th from 7-10 p.m. for the WNBA Draft. She's making it a fundraiser for the Louisville Metro Parks Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) program. AIR is a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of recreational activities for individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities and their families.  

The "watch" will be held at the Berrytown Recreation Center, located at 1300 Heafer Rd, in Louisville. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and students. 

Read all about it at the link below: 

Myisha Draft Day Fundraiser


A great day to help out an organization near and dear to her heart. A wonderful gesture from a woman who gave her all for Cardinal WBB for four years. We encourage you to attend or donate! 


HAVE YOU SEEN? 

We have a new column over on "The Right Side of the Site". It is TODAY'S LEXOPHILE. We'll change it up daily, with a different picture from our vast database. Today's entry is posted. It involves police at a daycare. Seems a three year old was "resisting a rest." 

We love "plays on words" 

If you got one, share it with us.

Leave it in the comments section or e-mail it to me directly at
cardinalcouple@twc.com 

AND...TODAY IS: 


Enjoy your Wednesday and Happy National Pets Day, Barbershop Quartet Day, and International "Louie Louie" Day.

I guess that means you'd be in perfect alignment if you grabbed your cat, went to join up with the gang and broke into the Kingsman's immortal song in four-part harmony. Let me know, I'll try and stop by and take pictures of it if you do.

LINK:

LOUIE, LOUIE

- Jared -

Louisville women's basketball -- Pay the Man -- Hines-Allen in the WNBA draft -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WALZ, TYRA GETTING NEAR A DEAL? 

You might remember the television commercial. The NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) put it out a few year back.

It centered on actress Lori Petty. She was at a race track. Here come the horses. She's yelling "Go, Baby..Go!!" The horses run by her as she is running down the concrete apron in front of the track. She kisses the tickets, yells "YES!", holds her tickets high in the air and starts peeling them off one by one. Cute concept. 


"Pay the lady. Pay the lady. Pay the Lady" she brags. And the commercial ends with a  sardonic, almost scary laugh from her. 

LINK: PAY THE LADY

These days, the term "Lady" has fallen out of fashion. So has Lori Petty, apparently. But getting paid? Still in fashion.

Jeff Walz and permanent athletic director Vince Tyra will sit down, have sat down and will iron out a deal to extend Jeff Walz's contract at Louisville. I doubt Walz sprints out to Churchill Downs with the deal and holds it skyward...screaming "Pay the Man. Pay the Man."...but the University, athletic department, board, president and Tyra would be wise to give Walz what is right and fair. Give him something to yell about.

We kind of do things backward here at Louisville. First it's the men's basketball coach, then the athletic director and finally the President that get hired.  But, waiting until the President got hired was probably smart in going into negotiations with Walz. The board, being what it is...and a board that won't exactly be on one of the floats at the Pegasus Parade this May...must realize that Walz isn't holding a gun, wearing a mask and asking them to reach for the sky. The UofL WBB squad will be on a float Pegasus Parade day. We'll assume Walz will be on there with them. Maybe with Lola and Lucy. Hopefully, with a new contract. Hey...the guy likes Louisville and coaching basketball here. He's pretty good at it. The fan base loves him. The players love him. This isn't rocket science. Get 'er done. 

The man wants stability and an extension. Certainly not too much to ask for a guy who has taken the WBB program to three Final Fours since he's been here. Is one win short of 300 in 11 years of coaching at Louisville. The winningest coach in program history. The Rookie Coach of the Year his first year at Louisville. Top ten rankings in five of the 11 years. A missed foul away from another championship game appearance. 

And someone who wants to be here. 

Mind you, Coach isn't exactly on poverty-level wages currently.  In 2016, he "re-upped" for $1.15 mil a year. There was a $180,000 incentive bonus attached to the Final Four run. $25,000 for being named ACC Coach of the Year. $550,000 for a longevity bonus for being employed on April 1st. He's the fourth highest paid coach, by all accounts, in women's college basketball...behind Geno, Muffet and Kim Mulkey. He wants an extension. Wants to know the school is behind him. That's not too much to ask, right? An affirmation of his accomplishments? 

Walz is looking for a seven-year deal that would pretty much ensure that Louisville is his last stop. At 46, the question arises...would he retire at 54? 

Maybe. 

He recently said that "I'd retire tomorrow if i could."  There's no question he'd like to spend more time with his family. He has two daughters under the age of five. Two other children approaching their teenage years. His grandfather is in his late-nineties. He's fond of skiing and Colorado. He told me a few years ago: 

"I grew up cutting grass. I love yard work. How great would it be to just concentrate on that and have some fun and pride in it? And, you get the winter off. You don't have to recruit yards." 

If there was any concern about the change-overs at Athletic Director and President at UofL, I think Walz can safely put those fears and queries away. If the rumor-mongers that blindly prognosticated on a unverified rumor that Walz was leaving Louisville would shut up just a minute of two, hear this: 

Your Coach wants to stay. He wants to retire here. Yes, there is gratitude and respect in huge numbers for the man who brought him here. Tom Jurich. I still have great respect for that man also. But, it doesn't mean you can't keep that respect and also cooperate with who's calling the shots in 2018. 

Walz will do the right thing by his assistants as well. When you look at the three of them...Stephanie Norman, Samantha Williams, Sam Purcell and his (whatever her title is today) Beth Burns....you have one of the best associate and assistant coaches plus collective minds-formation in college basketball right here on campus. You don't waste good.  The trainers, support staff...they aren't just "real lucky". They work hard at what they do. It shows. It's a team effort. 

Maybe the deal is done by Friday. Maybe it isn't. Know this. The University of Louisville, for all their past blunders and controversial moves over the last several years, needs to line this one up, step right up and put it right in the cup, to use a golf description. 

Who is this in this photo with Coach Walz? First correct
answer gets entered for a $25 Panera Card drawing !!!!

Vince Tyra is a fair and honest man. He realizes just what and who he has across the table from him. He'll get this done and done right. 

Neeli Bendapudi may be new at her job also as University President but she's a seasoned and well-qualified person to hold the position. She also realizes good. There's no "blind-eye" toward public sentiment going on here. This one's a "gimmie". Sink it and move on to other pressing issues, Neeli.   

After all, the man plays Powerball each week when it gets to a certain astronomical level. If he were to hit it, he just might buy the University.

Pay the Man. Keep the Man. Extend the Man's contract. He's earned it. 




WNBA DRAFT

With the 2018 WNBA Draft coming up Thursday night, local attention turns also to where Louisville senior forward Myisha Hines-Allen might end up. The general consensus is that she'll most likely be used as a wing, or small forward where-ever she ends up...the 6'2" size just a bit under the average for the "4"s, or power forwards, and "5"s (centers) that are currently in "the league". 

We saw her outside shot improve a lot her senior season. Did the WNBA GM's see the same thing, though? 

Some projections see Hines-Allen as a remote late first round and probable-early second round pick. 

SB Nation doesn't have her going in the first round. Neither does the AP, Draft Site or Fan Sided, three other sites that watch things like this. 

There is a ton of talent available this draft. The more one looks at the names, the more one is impressed. A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell, Victoria Vivians, Azura Stevens, Diamond DeShields, Jordin Canada, Mercedes Russell, Lexie Brown, Kia Nurse, Ariel Atkins, Steph Mavunga, Monique Billings, Marie Gulich and Maria Vadeeva.

Can Hines-Allen replace one of those for the first team picks of the 12 teams? 

And, what do the 12 WNBA teams need?

Here's my take: 

Guard: Minnesota, Phoenix  .

Post/Height: LA, Indiana and Seattle.

Bench Strength: Washington, Chicago, San Antonio

Multiple Needs: Atlanta, New York, Connecticut, Houston

It should be interesting Thursday night. I'd like to see Myisha end up in Indy, for selfish reasons, so Cardinal fans could see her play in person more than in a Seattle or Sacramento, to just name a couple.

Indiana?  They have the 9th, 26th, 38th and 40th picks in the first three rounds

Atlanta?  To team up with Angel? Unfortunately, the Dream traded all their first three round picks away, so that probably won't happen. 

Washington? With Elena and Asia? The Mystics have the 8th and 19th picks. 

Wherever "Dooblay" lands, she'll have her work cut out for her...but she's embodied hard work as a Cardinal. Skills too. Someone's getting a gold mine.

Stay tuned. 

Team	Associated Press	DraftSite	FanSided
1:	Las Vegas	A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina	A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina	A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina
2:	Indiana	Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State	Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut	Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State
3:	Chicago (from Atlanta)	Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee	Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State	Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee
4:	Chicago	Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut	Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee	Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut
5:	Seattle	Jordin Canada, G, UCLA	Jordin Canada, G, UCLA	Jordin Canada, G, UCLA
6:	Dallas	Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut	Mercedes Russell, C, Tennessee	Lexie Brown, G, Duke
7:	Washington	Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St	Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut	Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut
8:	Indiana (from Phoenix)	Maria Vadeeva, C, Russia	Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut	Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St
9:	Connecticut	Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut	Lexie Brown, G, Duke	Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut
10:	New York	Ariel Atkins, G, Texas	Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St	Maria Vadeeva, C, Russia
11:	Los Angeles	Stephanie Mavunga, F, Ohio State	Monique Billings, F, UCLA	Stephanie Mavunga, F, Ohio State
12:	Phoenix (from Minnesota)	Marie Gulich, C, Oregon State	Marie Gulich, C, Oregon State	Monique Billings, F, UCLA

Paulie
xxxxx

Softball to UK -- WBB Review -- New Pres -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Softball Tries to Break an Even Series

If you're looking for something to do tonight head down I-64 to Lexington and catch Louisville softball take on rival Kentucky tonight at 7:00 p.m.  Their baseball counterparts fell to the Wildcats last night 8-5.

Nicole Pufahl cranks one to the outfield

Louisville enters the match-up with a record of 24-11 and are in the receiving votes category for the Top 25 in at least one poll for a fifth straight week.  The Cards have lost two straight to the team in blue, including the controversial thunderstorm delay in 2016.  The series is tied 19-19.

#21 Kentucky is 21-11 on the year after run-ruling EKU 10-0 last night.  They have lost five of their last seven games, but had a 10-game win streak right before.

The Wildcats' offense is the real deal, averaging almost six runs per game.  Six players bat above .300 (40 at bats min.) with Bailey Vick batting .419 and Katie Reed batting .410 to lead the way.  Kentucky has outhit opponents 25-183 and outscored opponents 182-102.  Abby Cheek is a threat at the plate with nine home runs and 33 rbi's this season.  She is one of nine Wildcats, who have combined for 28 dingers, to hit a home run.

Kentucky's bullpen is tough, but is where Louisville hopes to make its mark.  Five pitchers have seen action for Kentucky and have a combined ERA of 2.86.  They have limited opposing team's hits to 183, but have surrendered 102 runs off of those.  The strikeout-walk ratio as an even 2:1.  If Grace Baalman takes the circle the Cards will have their work cut out for them.  She posts a 1.95 ERA with 65 strikeouts and a 10-3 record.

Depending if the Cards wake up or not they could upset Kentucky on their home turf.  This team is looking for a resume building win and a victory over a non-conference rival sure would help.

I will be down there to document the events with my trusty Nikon and will get those posted as soon as possible.

Recapping Women's Basketball

I have been a women's basketball fan since I first became a Louisville fan in the fall of 2012.  The style of game play and the excitement from the sport quickly drew my interest.  Jeff Walz is the type of guy to tell you as it is and doesn't beat around the bush with excuses, which I like.

Myisha Hines-Allen

Later that basketball season I found myself with twenty-nine other pep band members plus Al Greener in New Orleans competing for a national championship.  The final result of that game did not turn out as we wanted, but that season really drew me into the women's basketball program.

This year was by far my favorite UofL WBB season in the six years I have followed them.  What stood out to me most was how close this team was.  In the past, there have been cases of the 'me' players that spent more time worrying about themselves or what they were doing on the court than the team as a whole.  This team cared nothing for the amount of playing time they got or the number of points or rebounds they got.

Arica Carter and Asia Durr

Asia goes off for another 20+ point performance... they all love it.  Myisha posts another double-double... the team beats Walz to her for congratulations.  Jess hits a three... the bench is jumping out of their chairs screaming.  Dana breaks five defenders' ankles on a drive to the basket... the team has their jaws on the floor and are still cheering.  This team supported one another and cared about each other more than any other team I have seen this season.

My favorite win of the year was the 33-point victory over Notre Dame.  For a Top-5 game I expected a tight battle.  I never thought we would see the razzle dazzle performance our Cards would end up putting on.

Unlike sports such as field hockey, softball, and lacrosse, covering women's basketball is a ticketed event.  Yes, so is volleyball, but there aren't 20 different photographers in attendance at Cardinal Arena every home game.

Charlie S, Al B, Paul

It was a pleasant surprise when their SID, Nick Evans, was gracious enough to grant the Cardinal Couple team two media passes and one photographer pass (Sonya joined us on the weekends).  While Paulie manned media row next to former mayor Jerry Abramson, I joined the ranks of the stressed out photographers hoping not to get another closeup of the ref's rear end.

Although I was not able to go to the first two rounds of the NCAA because of work I was available to cover the postseason games that followed.  It was a lovely treat to join our site's captain in Lexington and Columbus for more exciting basketball whether the photo spots were on the floor or hiding somewhere way above the 200 sections.

Jaz Jones and Sam Fuehring

Some of my photos this year were pretty solid and some of them look like the came from a flip phone.  From the first game of the season to the final one I believe the pictures improved as my experience with shooting the game and what to look for progressed.

I would like to thank all of you at Cardinal Couple, and especially Paulie (!!!) for the wonderful opportunity to photograph all of the action, celebrations, and emotions from this season.

UofL Hires a President

Days without a full-time president: 0.  Well, sort of.  Yesterday, the University of Louisville announced that Dr. Neeli Bendapudi would become the next president.  Bendapudi is currently the provost at Kansas University.  It is only fitting that two hundred twenty years to the day Louisville adds another president to the university's long history, this one being the eighteenth.  Bendapudi is also Louisville's first woman president.  I know many of you are happy to see Greg Postel go.

Neeli Bendapudi

Bendaupdi will begin her time as a Cardinal on May 15.  Her initial contract is six years with a base salary of $650,000 and a potential bonus of $125,000.  To compare, her salary is much less than Vince Tyra ($850,000, Courier Journal), Bobby Petrino ($3.9 million, USA Today), Chris Mack ($4 million, Courier Journal), Jeff Walz ($1.15 million + bonuses, Courier Journal), and Dan McDonnell ($1.15 million, Courier Journal).

Bendapudi plans to use the university-owned house on Longest Ave. as her place of residence.


Fall Sports Try Their Hands and Feet at Spring


If you have been dying to see some fall sports action again tonight is your night!  Women's soccer will face Butler at 8:30 p.m.  Being a spring game there should not be overtime, golden goal, or PK's in the event of a draw at the end of regulation.  The game has been advertised as free admission.

You can get a chance to see next year's volleyball team in action in town this Saturday.  They will showcase their talents and skills at the KIVA / Ohio Valley Volleyball Complex by the zoo in a series of matches throughout the day.  The facilities website has admission listed as $5 and there has not been anything said otherwise by UofL.

Error 404

With the hiring of a full-time university president, athletic director, and men's basketball coach 2018 is finally starting to shape up into something good for UofL.  The successes of many of the winter and spring teams add to the good news.  Perhaps we will see some more on the softball diamond tonight.

Happy 404 (4/04) day!  Hopefully you encounter no errors!

Happy Wednesday and Go Cards!

- Jared -

Agunbowale Again -- Irish take National Championship 61-58 -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LUCK OF THE IRISH PREVAILS -- NOTRE DAME 61-58

Oh no she didn't do that again...(well, yes, she did --as a matter of fact). Arike Ogunbowale knocked down the off-balance, buzzer beating three last night in Columbus and gave Notre Dame the three-point win over Mississippi St. to claim the NCAA women's basketball national championship game last night in Columbus, OH. A game-winner in the semis. A game-winner in the final. What's the odds? 

A game that, if you're a Louisville Cardinal fan, basically came down to seeing two schools who had been in the UofL headlights this season battle for a title that Louisville pretty much got "pushed out" of the way for on Friday night -- to use a term -- and a lesser of two evils decision to root for, if you even had the want to root for either...for Cardinal fans who chose to watch the game. 

I chose not to return to Nationwide Arena Monday night. Not very interested in the eight-hour round trip to see the team that controversially knocked off Louisville go against a team that Louisville had defeated twice this season. No desire to sit banner-level high in the top of an arena with no dog in the fight. The ESPN broadcast worked just fine for this unlikely final game. 

Seats in the front row? Nah, not for this guy in Columbus...

How can I call it an unlikely final game? With two #1 seeds playing? I'll ask you, did you have the Irish and the Bulldogs facing off in the final when you did your women's tournament bracket? Was there any way undefeated UConn would stumble again in the semifinals? Especially to a team they had defeated earlier in the year? Yes, Mississippi State was ranked slightly higher in the polls than Louisville (#2 for the Dogs, #3 for the Cards) but confidence here and in a lot of other different places exuded that Louisville would find a way to down McCowan and Vivians and set up another tryst with Geno's dogs. 

Sometimes life just ain't fair. 

Notre Dame, with the four ACL injury-sidelines girls. The snub of not mentioning Asia Durr's name by "that other coach". The Irish didn't have much of an answer for McCowan either but took advantage of a late MSU cold streak and then, almost as if Hollywood has scripted it, Steven Spielberg directed it and (name any popular young actress out there today) was cast in the #24 jersey to heroically knock the shot down. 

Somewhere, Kobe is smiling. 

And she complains about "touch fouls"?  Yeah, OK.  

But, did the Irish get the break against the Bulldogs that the Cards didn't? In the final intense seconds, on the wild exchange of possessions at mid-court, it sure looked like Notre Dame's Mabrey fouled Mississippi State before McCowan ultimately fouled Notre Dame to prevent a breakaway layup. Another case of a ref sitting on a whistle?

Go back and watch it.

And, McCowan missing the bunny underneath the basket that would have given the Bulldogs a 60-58 lead? Irish eyes were smiling. Which leads to McGraw's moronic, in the heat of the moment religious reference post game -- about how a bunch of "good Catholics" got their prayers answered on Easter Sunday. 

What, the Southern Baptist or Church of God prayers being offered in Starksville were not heard? Were the "good Catholics" on the MSU campus prayers not considered? 

But, we won't dally on religious overtones here.

Tell me just how good you think I am, Dee...

What we will consider is that Notre Dame had one foot in the grave early but came back. Down 24-24 in the second quarter. 30-17 at the half. Then, tying it at 41-41 after three before momentarily stumbling again and having to rally to get to a tie late. Call it what you will, but -- it was a feat of perseverance from  the South Bend squad. 

In the end, it was "that player" from "that team" coached by "that woman" who got the spotlight. Arike Ogunbowale is talented, make no mistake about that. She'll be back next year to lead what has to be considered another very strong...maybe #1 ranked team for ol' N.D. To put together two shots like her game-winners is remarkable. 

Back also, though, is the "big" the TV analysis crew kept referring to. McCowan improved dramatically over the course of the season. She set a new NCAA Tournament rebounding record. Notre Dame did only slightly a better job defending her -- basically because they kept pounding her with the triple tag team of Nelson, Shepard and Westbeld. 18 points and 17 boards is still an impressive night -- but McCowan will probably be remember for missing the close-in shot as time ticked down that could have gave Mississippi State the lead. 

She shoots, she scores...

So, the most unlikely of the final four teams, in my humble opinion, is your National Champs. I'll be the good sport here and congratulate Notre Dame for winning. 

Somewhere, there's a part of me who wants to believe that it was all just an April Fool's prank and that Louisville is in the final game. 

Last but not least, I will mention the ridiculousness of having to bring the Bulldogs back out to play the last tenth-of-a-second of the game. I know, rules are rules...but it was impossible for any catch and release from three-point range to happen. A ref-stealing moment or five in what should have been the start of an Irish celebration.

Wave it off, Dee. Just call it a game. I wouldn't have put a team back out on the court if I was Coach Schaefer. Take a forfeit, whatever. Why put those kids through the humiliation of having to go back out there when all hope was lost? But, of course, it is the NCAA. Enough said. 

Hey, Cardinal fans. At the very least, we can boast that we beat the Nationals Champs twice. The future looks very bright for Cardinal women's hoops in 2018-19. Below, let's chat a little about that, shall we? 



CARDS RETURN ALL BUT HINES-ALLEN, ADD DEPTH

When Jeff Walz looks at the Cardinals' prospective 2018-19 roster, I'd be very surprised if a smile doesn't pop out his face. All return except for the incredible Hines-Allen. And with two red-shirts (Lindsey Duvall and Loreta Kakala) and three freshmen (Seygan Robins, Molly Lockhart and Mykasa Robinson) joining the fold...the Cards will have 14 players reporting to fall conditioning. OK, I know there is the possibility of transfers. It seems two or three depart each year. Even with that chance, it's a strong and talented collection of women who will don the practice jerseys and pound the hardwood later this year. 

I had the chance to talk with David Watson, women's college hoops aficionado, a bit on Sunday afternoon and we discussed the returnees. It's never too early to talk about what we love, right? 

We discussed who enters the starting lineup now that Hines-Allen has graduated. It came down to several scenarios. Do the Cards go "small" and put talented guard Dana Evans out for pre-game introductions? Do they go "big" and go with Kylee Shook or Bionca Dunham as the fifth starter? Does one of the returning red-shirts claim the role? Is one of the incoming freshmen going to impress enough to fill out the starters? 

Jeff Walz will tell you that it isn't all that important who is on the court for the opening tip, it's who is out there in a close game with little time left on the clock. And, he's right. We saw a lot of Dana Evans on the court when Walz needed to sit a starter. Shook and Dunham also had significant court time when Walz needed to go to the bench. Seygan Robins is an incredible incoming talent. Loretta Kakala has made great lepas and bounds according to many during her red-shirt year. There are options. 

Let me make it perfectly clear that you do not replace Myisha Hines-Allen. She may well be the second-most proficient player to compete her years of eligibility in Cardinal history. Definitely in the top five and one that brought a fire, intensity and skill-set to UofL that Cardinal fans will remember for a very long time. 

David seems to think that the Cards would be best served if they give Evans the full-time gig. She was impressive in the Mississippi State game and has the speed, quickness and defense to create havoc for opponents. We'd like to see that shot get a little more accurate...but look at the improvement we saw in Jazz Jones her sophomore year. Surely Evans has that growth potential as well.

I took a different route. I'm leaning toward Shook. She has all the skills a big needs. She can step out and bun an opponent and has shown she can be tough in the paint and do the things this team needs in rebounding and giving them additional paint presence. You can't teach height and wing-span and Shook has those features for sure.  

Ultimately, no matter what we prognosticate in April means nothing for the fall. It'll be a matter of who does the best work to get the start. Or the close. The UofL team is a tight-knit, cooperative group. It wouldn't surprise us to see Walz experiment with a variety of combinations early on in the schedule. 

Gee, it is fall yet? 


OTHER CARDINALS IN ACTION

Louisville Women's tennis took on #4 ranked Duke in ACC competition and fell to the Blue Devils 6-1. The Cards are 13-6 on the season and go to 3-5 in the ACC. Duke 16-1 with a 8-0 conference record. 

Louisville Rowing competed against #2 Cal in the PAC 12 Challenge finals and won one of three events against the Bears. The "Stroke" Cards won the Varsity 8+ event...a major victory for the Red and Black. 

Louisville now looks ahead to the ACC Championships on April 14-15th.  




CARDINAL COUPLE PICK "EM"

Whaddya mean I didn't win
the bracket challenge? 

Be sure to check back later today for our final, official results of our NCAA Women's Tournament "Pick Em". We gave Bracket Czar Jared Anderson Easter off (nice of us, eh?) but he's indicated he'll run the results in depth just one more time and get us the winner and second-place contestants. We'll update this section and also post them on "The Right Side of the Site."  

We'd like to thank him for checking the results and also thank you for participating! 

Now that hoops has ended, we'll be providing much more coverage on the other spring sports that the UofL women are competing in. We also plan on continuing basketball stories and have plans to get interviews with whomever we can that is involved with WBB at UofL over the next seven months. 

Our commitment to UofL women's sports is a 24 hour...7 day-a-week...365 days a year involvement. We appreciate you being here and, we never forget....YOU are CARDINAL COUPLE. 


Paulie
xxxxx