Thoughts and meanderings on the NCAA WBB -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

DOES MULKEY BELONG ON THE "MT. RUSHMORE" OF WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL?

I happened to come across an article (not sure who wrote it) recently where the author was trying to visualize who would be on the Mt. Rushmore of Women's College Basketball. In case Mt. Rushmore doesn't ring a bell with you, it's that great carving out of rock in South Dakota with four president's on it. 

(Bonus points if you can name the presidents...)

If there were to be a rock carving of four great figures in women's college basketball, who would you put on there? I think you've got to go with coaches, and you need Pat Summit and Geno, right? I'd make sure there was plenty of talk and consideration to have a spot for Dawn Staley, also. Let's not forget C. Viv Stringer, either,  Maybe some wouldn't. It probably comes down to two "sure Picks" and a debate over the final two. Tara Vavderveer is going to get a lot of calls for inclusion. 

How about the most recent national champ coach? Does Mulkey make your "mountain"? 

As for me, I'd eliminate Mulkey immediately. Even with the three championships. There's just too much baggage in her bin. You don't see a lot of former players lining up to sing her praises and credit her for changing their lives. Geno, Pat, Staley, C.Viv. and Tara can point to the ones who would go to battle for them. . 

She started in Louisiana (Tech) and is now back in Louisiana (State University)...allegedly for love of the state (Surely money had nothing to do with it, right?}  Administrators see her as someone who wins and builds programs. But, it doesn't get her on that fictitious stone carving in my book. 

I pick Tara VanderVeer. 37 years. Over 1,000 wins. I also pick C. Viv Stringer. 50 years as a head coach at three different schools and that rounds out my four....along with Geno and Pat. 

I've been fortunate to have met and talked with three of my four picks. Someday, I hope to meet Tara, too. 

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Enough, already on this Angel Reese and Caitlan Clark stull. In these days, players are going to talk a little smack. Don't think Hailey doesn't either...she does. 

But quit making a issue over it, general media and fans. It went on yesterday, it'll go on next season and beyond. It's a part of the game now. Get used to it. There will be more of it next year and in the future. 

paulie

 

 

LSU is the National WBB Champ -- Softball cancelled because of weather in Syracuse -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

LSU downs Iowa 102-85 in Championship game

The LSU Tigers are the NCAA DI women's basketball national champs. 

A team that wasn't even considered the best in their own conference (SEC) and came into the tournament as a #3 seed in the Indiana regional (Greenville 2) has grabbed the crown with an incredible offensive explosion from three-point range, including Jasmine Bennett's five for five marksmanship. The Tigers were 11 for 14 from the deep and Iowa shot even better "make-wise'  hitting 14 of their three-point attempts. 

This was no defensive struggle Sunday afternoon and very few predicted there would be. . 

LSU put five players in double figures, with the NCAA M.O.P. Angel Reese netting 15, LaDazhia Williams 20, Alexis Morris totaled 21 points and Bennett led the squad with 22. It was the most points ever scored by a winning squad in the history of the tournament, LSU's first-ever national title and Kim Mulkey's fourth as a DI coach. 

It was also a game that was not even adequately officiated and supposedly had the best DI WBB crew out on the court. Mulkey grabbed at an official and swung wildly in the air at her and no foul was rendered, but Caitlin Clark rolled a basketball back in the direction to where it would have been in-bounded and was "t'd" up. Angel Reese mocked Clark and the Iowa bench by indicating she was going to put on a championship ring and no foul was called, but the refs had Iowa's best players saddled with four fouls when no one on LSU's squad had more than three. 

LINK: 

Mulkey "no tech" and Clark "tech" side-by-side

Ye who scores the most points wins, though and that was LSU. That 17 point halftime lead just proved to be too much for Iowa to overcome.

Honestly, it was a game I didn't have a "dog" in and hoped it might just be a fun, offensive-oriented battle and I got my wish. 

The good news for Iowa is that they get Clark for another season. The bad news is that they're still in the Big 10 and will to battle each night in conference play while losing four key players who played together for three years. 

It might well be remembered as the game where the officiating stank. The NCAA could care less about that, though...ratings for college women's basketball and viewers climb each year and that means more money in the NCAA checking account. 

Bluder "not-commenting" on officiating: 

Bluder postgame

I guess I'll remember Clark's big run for several games and the way Iowa put away the Cards when I think back about this particular NCAA Tournament. Also, how no #1 seed made it to the final game. The ACC had three of the Elite Eight teams and only Virginia Tech made it to the Final Four. 

I do hope this two regional sites instead of four is an idea that gets dropped. Louisville in Seattle was just ridiculous, except that it was near to Hailey Van Lith's home, but how many other Cardinals' fans made that trip up there?Starting the tournament in Ausin instead of the KFC YUM! Center was tough enough for the Cards' fan base.

Another season ended. I hope the time between now and the Cards first WBB game or exhibition this fall goes quickly, and. I'm glad we're a website that covers ALL the UofL women's sports. 

Stay with us for the news, won't you? 

SOFTBALL VS SYRACUSE CANCELLED

The ground temperature never got above 30 degrees in Syracuse Sunday, so the scheduled game between the Cards and the Orange was cancelled. I've never played on an infield that was below 30 degrees, so I can't tell you what differences it makes on ground balls and traction and such -- but it obviously does something. 

paulie

WBB Falls to Iowa 97-83 -- Softball gets sweep over NC State -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

ROAD ENDS IN SEATTLE FOR WBB...IOWA 97-CARDS 83

Louisville women's basketball ran into the buzz-saw also known as Caitlan Clark last night in the Great Eight of the NCAA Tournament and Clark went for the first 40-10-10 in NCAA WBB Tournament history. That's points, rebounds and assists, if you didn't know. So, Iowa moves on to the Final Four and the Cards see their season end in a 14 point loss. 

Actually, it wasn't that close. Iowa pushed the lead to over 20 points at times in the fourth quarter, before a last-chance,, 13-1 run by Louisville cut the Hawkeye lead to 10. The run fell short, though,  and Iowa waits to see whether it is South Carolina or Maryland they'll face in the Final Four in Dallas

I don't write a great deal or volumes about losses, and I won't in today's column. I was proud of the way the Cards did break from the gate and jump out to a 8-0 lead. The Hawkeyes composed themselves, though, and they actually came back to win the first quarter, thanks to their 9-0 run, 25-21

Louisville came out hot in the second quarter, hitting four of their first five shots, but Iowa was also hot and went on another 9-0 run. Hailey and the Cards were trying to stay in it and Van Lith scored the final six UofL points in the half, cutting Iowa's lead to 48-43.

The Cards struck early in the third with the first four points to cut the Iowa lead to one, but the Hawkeyes retaliated with the next nine points. Louisville then went cold from the floor, shootings just  28% for the quarter, Iowa led by as many as 21 and the quarter ended with the Hawkeyes comfortably ahead 78-59.

The Cards won the fourth quarter 24-19 but were only able to slice into the Iowa lead, not vanquish it. Iowa held their largest lead of 22 points a minute and half into that final quarter and ended up shooting 53% for the game to get their 30th win of the season. 

Still...we're all very proud of the Cards WBB squad here at Cardinal Couple and what they did this season. Sometimes, you just run into someone who is having that hot night and beats you. A lot of great memories built this season and a lot of good times had. 

THE FRED REPORT

"Clark just scored again, Fred. In the bus on the way back to 
their hotel"

FREE THROWS -- Louisville went 15-18 from the line for a sparkling 83%. Some of us think the Cards deserved a few more chances at the line, but...that wasn't how the game was called. We'll award a CAPITAL "F" here for cashing in on the free ones, Hailey was 8-10 and "O" hit all six of hers. 

REBOUNDS -- Iowa squeaked out a 33-32 edge on the boards. Cochran led all with 14 of the grabs. Louisville missed a lot of shots at the end of the game trying to catch up and that's why Iowa took the rebounding category. My rule is, if you don't come out best in the boards battle, you don't get a letter. 

EFFORT/EXECUTION -- Iowa had plenty in the tank and ran y the Cards somewhat tentative defense most of the game. The Cards were trying and they tried five different people but no one could stop Clark. No letter here....I award letters for wins, not losses

DEFENSE -- Louisville allowed almost 100 points. By far, the highest point total allowed in the season .Louisville never quit, but they got beat on fast break points 18-9  and that made a pretty big difference in the final score. No letter here

FINAL FRED TALLY:  F-_-_-_

So, a season ends for the Cards, and it was quite the enjoyable season. Think of how many teams would have relished the opportunity to have played for a Final Four bid this season. Think of how many would have been so happy to have a Van Lith of Cochran on the court for them. Or had the coaching genius of Jeff Walz

Hold your head high, Cards fans. Your team gave it their all. They just got beat by someone better. 

POST GAME WALZ AND PLAYERS PRESSER

POST GAME IOWA (IN ENTIRETY) )

SOFTBALL RALLIES IN EXTRA INNINGS TO DEFEAT NCST 3-2

Louisville Softball prevailed earlier in the day to defeat North Carolina State 3-2 to get a sweep of the Wolfpack in the series. 

This one a nine-inning affair, as NCST was able to push a run across in the top of the seventh to tie the game up at 2-2  After. UofL couldn't produce in the home half of the inning, extra innings were mandated. 

The Cards had their chance to take the lead and win the game tn the bottom of the eighth, but some daring baserunning results in outs instead of runs or runners in scoring position. With one out, Daisy Hess drew a walk and went to second on a Easton Lotus single. She also attempted to get to third. ...but, the throw easily beat her to the bag and she was tagged out. Ally Alexander singles next, and Lotus attempted to score from second. It didn't happen again, the throw from the outfield beat Lotus to the plate and the catcher tagged ger out to end the inning. 

So, the Cards...after retiring NCST behind Taylor Roby's arm in the top of the ninth, went to work again in the bottom of the ninth. Pickle Winkler began the Cards batting with a single to right. Paige Geraghty laid down a bunt and was thrown out at first, advancing "the Pickle" to second. Korbe Otis hit what proved to be the game winner -- a single to left field that Winkler was able to reach home safely on and the Cards had won.  

POST GAME AUDIO WITH HOLLY APRILE AND PICKLE WINKLER BELOW

Holly

Pickle

paulie