Louisville women's basketball...Season (Mo)pener -- Cards fall to Cal 75-71...Volleyball takes FSU in five -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

B.J. SCORES 21 BUT CARDS DOWNED BY CAL

Webster Dictionary defines the word "mope" as being dejected and apathetic and that would describe the feelings of the majority of the 16,524 that filed out the KFC YUM! Center after Sunday afternoon's season opening loss to California women's basketball. A crowd that stayed fired up and loud all 40 minutes but walked out a little bewildered and stunned that the Cards didn't pull this one off against a (questionably) un-ranked opponent. 

As one attendee mentioned to me after the game:

"Jackson is all that but Walz has to teach them how to get a rebound." 

Louisville led for only 6:55 in the game against a taller, more hungry Bears team that outrebounded the Cards 50-27 and seemed to score at will inside against the Cards throughout the game. 

Louisville started out in fine fashion with Mariya Moore nailing the first of her five threes just 25 seconds into the first period (yes, they're now periods instead of quarters....and halftime is now called intermission) and would follow with another three 37 seconds later...but from the start it was pretty obvious that Cal was going to find paydirt inside the paint. 

The teams battled to a 14-14 first period score...Arica Carter getting a layup with 36 seconds on the clock . One thing that has changed in with the periods format is that teams are getting to the foul line a lot less than they used to. Louisville didn't make a trip there the entire first half...Cal was 7 for 8 from the charity stripe. Cal also assumed command of the contest in the 10 minute stretch...outscoring Louisville 21-13 and leading by nine several times before Asia Durr scored a layup off a Arica Carter feed to make the intermission score 35-27 Bears.

The Cards had forced 17 turnovers and scored 12 points off those but Cal forwards Kristine Anigwe and Courtney Range combined for 20 points.

TIA GIBBS IN THE HOUSE!

Louisville was shooting 31.6% after 20 minutes...Moore, Jackson and Durr were a combined 8 for 24 and the Cards were getting outrebounded 26-14. Louisville needed a jump start, spark plug or battery re-charge and they found it in the diminutive but dynamic #23 Jackson.

The Cards went on a 14-4 run to begin the half and tied the contest at 41-41 on a Jackson layup..she had four points, four steals and two assists in the seven minute stretch and the Cards pushed out to a 46-42 lead after Moore connected on her fourth trifecta with 55 seconds left in the period. Cal would rally for the final four points, though and the two squads entered the final 10 minutes tied at 46-46. 

Louisville lost the lead for good when Angiwe converted inside to make it 54-53 with 7:50 left to play. Louisville would climb back to within one on several occasions...including 67-66 when Moore created a steal, got the ball to Carter...who found a streaking Jackson for a layup. Free throw shooting for Cal down the stretch secured the victory...the Bears going 6-8 in the final 22 seconds. A late three by Moore with 4 seconds remaining got the Cards within three at 74-71 but freshman Asha Thomas was fouled with a second remaining and sank one out of two to ensure a late three by Louisville couldn't tie it. 

THINGS WE LIKED

Action Jackson -- Sonja and I both agreed that Briahanna Jackson was the most exciting aspect of the contest. She was easily the most active and hardest-working play on the court and has lost none of the skills over her year and a half layoff. Just one turnover in 31 minutes and six steals. If Jeff Walz is going to distribute playing time this season by previous game effort...Jackson needs to be out there all 40 minutes against WKU on Saturday. 

Trey Bien! -- Louisville shot 10-24 from beyond the arc...three players (Moore 6, Jackson 2, Durr 2) accounting for them and six players attempting them. 

State of DeGrate -- Freshman center Erin DeGrate saw early minutes and did not disappoint, getting two blocks and a rebound in limited time. Her block on Gabby Green's jumper at the end of the first quarter was one of those "did-you-see-that?" moments and her rejection of a Penina Davidson attempt late in the fourth quarter shows she'll be a valuable contributor on the defensive end for Louisville.

Turnovers -- Louisville did force the Bears into 27 turnovers. The press was a thing of beauty several times yesterday and the starters did have 12 of Louisville's 13 steals. Converting on turnovers still needs mucho work...

THINGS TO WORK ON

Run, Forrest, Run! -- Whether it was conditioning or nonchalance...the Cards looked to be a step slow and out of positioning more than one likes to see last night. A lot of it has to do with youth and inexperience, granted...but if the entire team could have focused Jackson and Carter's energy...the Cards could have won this game. 

Foul Play --  Sam Fuehring picked up five fouls in 13 minutes...with two points and a rebound....leaving the game early in the 4th quarter. Myisha Hines-Allen also fouled out...albeit with just four seconds remaining...and Cortnee Walton acquired four whistles. Work needs to be done here. You can't have your two starting paint dwellers and first sub off the bench watching the action from the sidelines for extended stretches. 

Becoming Chairman of the Board --  Yes, Louisville was outrebounded by 23. Rebounding starts by blocking your player out and getting in position to get the ball. Work to be done there also. Cal is probably the tallest team Louisville will play this year...but they had 33 defensive rebounds. You're not going to win a game when you are not getting second chance opportunities and Louisville only had seven of them in 40 minutes.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Courtney Range had 19 points, 13 rebounds in 39 minutes to pace the Bears...including two clutch free throws late and a key basket when Louisville had climbed back to within one with 34 seconds remaining

So, the Cards are 0-1. Opportunities to win yesterday but a lack of cohesion and aggression at times. It should be an interesting week of practice before Louisville faces WKU in Bowling Green Saturday. The Cards have some very good players, there is no doubt about it...but given the opportunity to take over the game late in the third quarter but couldn't increase a four-point lead...they allowed Cal to go on a 9-3 run over a four minute stretch midway through the fourth period and couldn't recover from it. 

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VOLLEYBALL SURVIVES IN FIVE AT FSU

The Wide Net Cards pulled out a five set win in Tallahassee yesterday afternoon to go to 15-1 in conference against a determined FSU squad. It gives the Cards a two game lead over FSU and UNC with just four conference games left. 

Erin Fairs gave Louisville 16 kills in the 21-25, 26-24, 18-25, 28-26, 15-9 donnybrook and Tess Clark remained hot in the middle with 14 kills and 4 blocks. 

A contrast of styles yesterday...the taller Seminoles with excellent blocking skills and physical superiority against a quick, daring Cardinal squad who got great efforts from Molly Sauer and Katie George's passing and sets. 

Tied at two games each...after Louisville came back from a fourth game 16-11 deficit to force the extra set...the Cards hit .588 in the final. 10 kills on 17 attempts. 

Louisville returns home to face Clemson Friday night and Georgia Tech Sunday. 

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SATURDAY SHOW ON SOUNDCLOUD

In case you missed the Saturday broadcast of the CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR...you can catch it on the Soundcloud at the link below:

THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR 11/14/15

paulie
xxxxx






   

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OPENS TODAY VS. CAL...FIELD HOCKEY FALLS TO UCONN...VOLLEYBALL FACES FSU -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS TIPOFF 2015-16 AGAINST BEARS

The highly awaited start of the Louisville women's basketball 2015-16 season takes place today at 2 p.m. in the KFC YUM! Center with Louisville facing the California Bears. 

The Cards will see today how talent adjusts to game time situations. With two starters back from last year in Mariya Moore and Myisha Hines-Allen, veterans Cortnee Walton and Arica Carter, former AAC Freshman of the Year Briahanna Jackson and ex-Evansville starting point guard Dakota Weatherford...the Cards do have several players who are used to the college game and the tempo and pace. How red-shirt freshman Sydney Brackemyre and true freshmen Asia Durr, Taja Cole, Erin DeGrate, Brianna Jones and Sam Fuehring adjust to (hopefully) 18,000 screaming fans later this afternoon is a key aspect in how well Louisville does today.

As Jeff Walz said earlier this week in a press conference...

"I'll tell you at 4 'o'clock Sunday."

Starters? Who will finish close games? It's all anybody's guess but Walz, the staff and players right now. I'll stick with my earlier venture this week in guessing that we'll see Sean Moth introduce Moore, Hines-Allen, Walton, Carter and Jackson...but I would not be surprised at all to see any different variation on this. 

As for the opponent...Lindsey Gottlieb's Cal Bears...they come into Louisville after a very average nine point win against an Austin Peay squad that was predicted to finish eighth out of twelve in the OVC Conference. Austin Peay was within five with 90 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bears have talent in Gabby Green, Mikayla Cowling and Courtney Range. They have speed, height (including a 6'7" freshman Chinese center who comes off the bench) and press well. Predicted to finish third in the PAC 12...the Bears feature only nine players on the roster for this trip...but they appear to be a solid bunch and Gottlieb rotates the lineup frequently to keep all fresh.  

Hopefully, there will be a big crowd in the 2nd. and Main facility today to see this 2015-16 version of Louisville women's basketball. A version that has a ton of promise and upside but will experience some growing pains. 

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FIELD HOCKEY FALLS 3-0 TO UCONN


The season is over for Justine Sowry's Louisville Field Hockey squad....falling to #3 UConn 3-0 on the Huskies home turf in Storrs, CT. yesterday.

Louisville made a game of it early...keeping the Huskies off the board for the first 21 minutes...before a UConn drive resulted in their first score. The Cards would hold Connecticut scoreless the rest of the first half...the Huskies getting off six shots to Louisville's two. 

After the break, the squads would play 12 minutes before UConn stuck again...this time on a one-on-one penalty stroke. Connecticut ended the scoring, despite an increased and heightened Louisville offensive attack, with shot from just inside the circle with three minutes remaining. 

Sowry was factual about the loss:


" We're disappointed. We were prepared, we came in strong, looking for a really good performance. In the first half, we competed, we played well. In the second half, we really went away from our game plan and our identity. It's just a lack of discipline." 

The Cards finish the season 13-7.

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VOLLEYBALL VISITS THE 'NOLES TODAY

Louisville Volleyball looks to stay on top of the ACC Conference this afternoon when they visit Florida State for a 2 p.m. match in Tallahassee.

The Cards, 14-1 in conference, face a Seminole squad that is 13-2 in ACC play. A FSU win would create a three-way tie atop the conference with Louisville, FSU and UNC all at 14-2

The Cards will look to slow down kill artist Nicole Walch (345). Hailey Luck leads Florida State in setting. 

A tough test in tiny Tully Gym for Anne Kordes's squad today as the Cards look to ride the recent hot hands of Erin Fairs and Tess Clark. Providing the passing and the sets has been a process in perfection lately for Katie George and Molly Sauer and the Assumption duo will be counted on again today to slow down the FSU attack. 

I couldn't find any  TV for this one anywhere...but we'll have a full report on the action in the Monday Cardinal Couple column. 

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TURN UP THE RADIO!

Our weekly broadcast of THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR is now available on the heavenly Soundcloud at Crescent Hill Radio. 

 

Yesterday's show featured WorldWide in the studio and Paulie on remote and we had a great time reviewing the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports while listening to interviews with Justine Sowry, Anne Kordes, Sam Purcell and Jeff Walz. We also got a few tailgaters mixed in as well...all apparently in love with Worldwide. 

LINKIE:
THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

paulie
xxxxx

Louisville Volleyball defeats Canes...Field Hockey starts NCAA play today -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TESS CLARK EXPLODES ON MIAMI

In a town known for unpredictable tropical weather, a northerly storm named Tess Clark made landfall on Miami with fifteen kills and a .462 hitting average from the middle as Louisville downed the Hurricanes 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23 Friday night in Coral Gables. 

Miami...you just got Clarked.


Clark wasn't the only one having success with kills. Janelle Jenkins (12), Erin Fairs (10) and another middle hitter Maggie DeJong (10) also hit double digits. Not to mention Aniah Philo with seven kills in the second game. 

Great hitting stems from successful passing and sets...and Molly Sauer and Katie George fufilled their duties quite well to give Louisville their 14th win in ACC play. 

It wasn't an easy match. Miami drew within two in the first game at 22-20 before DeJong got two of the final three points to give the Cards the five point win. 

Game two saw Louisville up 18-12 after a 7-1 run but Miami battled back to get within one at 22-21. Clark's successive kills put the contest at set point and Philo closed it out to take the teams to halftime. 

After the break, Miami and Louisville engaged in a close contest that was tied at 23 before a Louisville service error and mis-hit gave the Canes the set. 

Louisville roared out to a 10-3 lead in game four but Miami fought back once again and tied it up at 22. Louisville benefited from a Canes service error, Fairs block and Clark kill to take the match. 

Next up for Louisville...a trip to Tallahassee to face the Noles. The two top teams in the conference will serve it up at 2 p.m.

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FIELD HOCKEY OPENS NCAA PLAY AT UNDEFEATED UCONN

The good news is that Louisville Field Hockey is appearing in their second straight NCAA Tournament. The bad news is that the first round opponent is #4 tournament seed and #2 in the nation Connecticut. 

Louisville and the Huskies put the sticks on the turf at 11:30 this morning and we'll have updates on the match on our Saturday morning CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR that starts at 11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 and at www.crescenthillradio.com


The two squads share a few common opponents this year...UConn beat Boston College 2-1, Northeastern 6-0 and Cal 10-0 this year. The Cards downed B.C. 3-2, Northeastern 1-0 and Cal 1-0. 

Key for Louisville will be the strong defense they've had all season long. If the Cards can close down the passing lanes, clog the midfield and keep the Huskies penalty corners to a minimum...Louisville could walk out of Storrs with their first NCAA Championship win ever. 

The contest will also be Justine Sowry's 100th. as head coach at Louisville. Against the Huskies, the Stick Cards are 2-15 lifetime...but Louisville has not lost to a non-ACC opponent all season. 

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TURN UP THE RADIO!

Speaking of opponents, we'll also preview the upcoming and opening Louisville WBB game against Cal Sunday on our radio show. 

I took the opportunity to watch Cal last night on the OVC Sports Network against Austin Peay. The Govs gave the Bears all they wanted...losing 67-58 but trailing by only five with 90 seconds left in the game. 

Yes, Cal is tall. They're pretty quick for a big team but Austin Peay gave them all they wanted and rebounded well against the bigger opponent. Based on what I saw, I'm not nearly as worried about the opener for Louisville as I was previously....and glad Austin Peay isn't on the schedule. 

THIS MAY BE THE ONLY PICTURE IN EXISTENCE OF
PAULIE IN A BLUE SHIRT.   

Be sure to tune into THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR this morning at 11 a.m. The show goes well with tailgating, leaf-raking or whatever you have planned for your Saturday

Worldwide will be in the studio and Paulie on location at PJCS interrogating tailgaters and confiscating any questionable party paraphernalia. (Don't try this at home.)

LINK: THE JOY AND EXCITEMENT OF UofL WOMEN'S SPORTS

paulie
xxxxx 

Louisville women's basketball press conference with Jeff Walz -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

"WE'RE WORKING HARD AND WE'RE A WORK IN PROGRESS"

Jeff Walz met with members of the media Thursday afternoon at the KFC YUM! Center to discuss the upcoming season, the recent recruiting class commitments and whatever we wanted to discuss with him. CARDINAL COUPLE will play the interview in it's entirety on our Saturday radio show THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR AT 11 A.M.

Here are some excerpts from Walz's comments:

Question: Give us a state of the Cardinal as you are 72 hours from the opener:

WALZ: " Well, we could use another 72 hours on top of the 72 we have. You know...we're working hard, we're a work in progress but there's no question about it. We're extremely talented. Now it's a matter of getting that talent to play together. We do miss our senior leadership from last year. Jude, Shawnta, Sherrone, Sara and Bria. Those may not have been the kids scoring all the points but they did the little things behind the scenes. We're trying to find that right now. We're trying to find whose going to step up when things aren't going well and who will get things back together. Once we can establish who those people are going to be, then I think you'll really see us start to make some progress."

Question: Do you envision playing more bodies more minutes as you begin this season? 

WALZ: " We're going to have to put our best out there. It really going to come down to where it could be game-by-game...We're going to have to figure out who can get the entire picture and put that forward."

Question (from Paulie): You've said in the past it's not so much who starts a game but it's who finishes a close game. Do you have five players in mind for that yet? 

WALZ: No. You, me...Jody (Demling). Matt with one leg back there (radio play-by-play announcer Matt Andrews...who was sporting a hard cast around his right foot) Us four could be a start.

He's still got it, ladies and gentleman. That rapier, slightly sarcastic but teasing wit. ( I personally think we need a little more height...but scanning the room the only other tall guy I saw was Courier-Journal photographer Scott Utterback...and he's gonna have to drop the camera in order to go low post and create some space for me to work around the foul line and drive to the hoop.) 

Talent. Young but off-the-charts. Seven of these girls have never experienced the building-shaking pre-game ceremonies or felt the spotlight on them as they get introduced by Sean Moth. How will they react when the first couple of shots don't fall? When it seems the refs won't give you a call...and Coach is screaming at you to get involved?

No one asked me...but I've seen a trend with them where Cortnee Walton and Myisha Hines-Allen are doing the on-court coaching, exorting and on-the-fly adjustments. Briahanna Jackson is too...and her speed and quickness serves as a great example of teaching by demonstration and not lecture. If there is a list for leadership candidates, you could certainly do worse that these three. 

B.J is also the favorite player of Coach Walz's daughter Lola. That's gotta mean something, right?  

Walz also had glowing reports on the five signees for 2016. Kylee Shook is a shooter at 6'5" who will rival any of his current three-point threats and a shot alterer. Sydney Zambrotta a pure scorer. Jazmine Jones so athletic, so versatile and game-aware. Ciera Johnson that strong, inside-the-paint dominator who can also run the floor. Bionca Dunham is one that Walz sees a lot of Candyce Bingham in someone who can also run the floor, score, rebound and intimidate smaller guards.

The future indeed looks bright. As does this year. Cal will come into town after a game tonight against Austin Peay in Clarksville, TN. If you want to do your own scout of the Bears...the contest will be available on the OVC Digital Network. It's accessible at the Austin Peay sports website and it's free. LINK BELOW: 

CAL VS AUSTIN PEAY WBB


I'll plan on watching it. That is...if I have time. I've got to get ready to start Sunday afternoon and my conditioning is just slightly better than that of a bear just out of hibernation. Getting from the bed to the bathroom is cardio, right? 

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FEROCIOUS FLORIDA WEEKEND FOR VOLLEYBALL

Anne Kordes may have the Volleyball team in the Land of Sunshine...but they're probably not lounging by poolside in swimwear and wearing sunglasses. The VolleyCards face dangerous Miami tonight in Coral Gables. Miami (17-7, 10-4) has the reigning ACC Volleyball Player of the Week in Olga Strantzali who leads the team in kills (288) and in services aces (44). 

#22 Louisville handled the Canes earlier this season with a 3-1 triumph. After losing the first set, the Cards came back to win the remainder of the games...led by Erin Fairs' 24 kills. The Cards still sit atop the ACC Volleyball standings with just one loss and one game up on North Carolina and FSU. 

This one will be available on ESPN3. A 7 p.m. start time. Clear the calendar and bring Bill The Goat in from the shed, mama! We got some watchin' to do tonite!  

paulie
xxxxx

Hammond, Dyer spark WBB win over Cal -- Monday Cardinal Couple

CARDS SURVIVE SCARE -- DEFEAT CALIFORNIA 70-57

The attendees at the Sunday afternoon Louisville vs. California women's basketball game threw stuffed bears on the court at halftime to support a Christmas toy drive. They probably should have left a couple of the larger ones on the court to help guard Sara Hammond and Shawnta' Dyer in the final twenty minutes. 

The inside duo had 18 of the Cards 28 second half points to lead Louisville to a 70-57 win over UC in front of 8339 in the Haas Pavillion. The win did not come that easy, however...

Cal went on a 8-0 run early in the second half to draw within two at 46-44 after a Mercedes Jefflo three with 14:49 remaining that had the attendees in a frenzy. From that point, though...Louisville responded with a 24-13 run to get their eleventh win of the season.


The game got off to an exciting start...Jude Schimmel knocking down back-to-back threes to give Louisville an early 6-0 lead. After a Mariya Moore trifecta, it was 9-2 Cards and Louisville was showing no ill effects from the sub-par performance three days earlier in Phoenix. 

Shawnta' Dyer connected from inside to make it 18-8 UofL with 11:44 remaining and the Cards took their biggest first half lead a minute later after Schimmel's third three of the half at 21-10.

Moore popped in her second three to make it 28-20 Cards at the nine minute mark and Hammond got into the act with a three to set the score at 35-28 with three minutes left in first half action. The Bears would trim that lead to five with 56 seconds when Gabby Green connected from the deep...but a Megan Deines three (Louisville's seventh of the half) with eight seconds on the clock set the halftime score at 42-34.

The Cards had forced Cal into eight turnovers in the first eight minutes but Reshawnda Gray (11 pts) and Brittany Boyd (seven points) were keeping the Bears within striking range. 

Two Hammond scores in the first 150 seconds of the second half gave Louisville a 46-36 advantage...but Cal narrowed that to two. Louisville got two key free throws from Bria Smith and a jumper from Denies to forge back out to a 54-47 edge with 12:30 to play.

A Moore layup made it 58-49 Louisville with less than ten minutes remaining and the Cards still had a nine point lead after a Smith jumper five minutes later. Hammond scored her eighteenth point of the game to set the Cards up with a 68-56 cushion with a little more than two minutes to play and Louisville held on for the 70-57 triumph. 

The Cards shot 48% in the second half while limiting Call to 21% shooting. The Louisville defensive intensity limited Boyd to just four second half points and six for Gray.


Hammond led all scorers with 18 points and had nine rebounds. Dyer finished with 12 and was the Cards enforcer in the paint in the second half. Schimmel added two second half free throws to her three first half threes to total 11 points. She also had nine rebounds and seven assists. Moore was the Cards fourth double figure producer with 10 points. 

Smith contributed eight points, Denies strong off the bench with seven and Hines-Allen totaled four. Cortnee Walton and Arica Carter saw minutes for the Cards but did not score. 

Gray led the Bears with 17. Boyd was the only other double figure producer with 11.

An encouraging win for Louisville as they take off for the winter break. Cal put together a nice, early second half assault that got them back in the game. Louisville did not fold and crumble, though...and the Cards speed and quickness eventually wore the Bears down as the half progressed. 

Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb was prepared to try and

stop Louisville inside. Instead, it was seven first half threes that gave Louisville the early lead and the duo of Hammond and Dyer late that bested Gottlieb's game plan.

On an afternoon where two freshmen Cards returned to their home state...it was senior leadership that guided Louisville to their second win against a top 25 opponent this season. 

paulie

Cal Bears next for Louisville WBB -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

Gray, Boyd could pose problems for Cards

The University Of Louisville women's basketball team faces their third top 25 opponent of the season with a 5 p.m. EST tip today against California in the Haas Pavilion on campus.


Louisville (10-1) and Cal (7-2) have met once before...the winner advancing to the 2013 NCAA Championship game. The Cards took a 64-57 win over the Golden Bears in New Orleans Arena after trailing by 10 at halftime. This one was tied with 1:51 remaining after Layshia Clarendon dropped a three on Louisville....but Louisville outscored UC 7-0 the rest of the way to advance.

Of particular concern for the Cards today will be the tandem of seniors Brittany Boyd and Reshanda Gray. Boyd, a 5'9" point guard,  leads the NCAA with 8.9 assists per contest and averages 14.1 ppg and 8.1 rebounds. She and Gray are also on the John L. Wooden Award Women's Preseason Top 30, the WBCA's Wade Watch List and the Naismith Top 50 Watch List. 

Gray brings 19.2 ppg to the stat sheets per contest and is

the Bears leading scorer. She dropped 37 on Sacramento State earlier this month. The 6'3" forward goes to the boards with abandon and will be a matchup problem for the Cards. 

Gabby Green, a former Louisville recruiting target, has stepped in as a freshman and seen considerable playing time for Lindsay Gottlieb.

It's a homecoming for Mariya Moore...who played her high school ball in the shadow of the Berkeley campus and Arica Carter is also a California native from San Diego. Both freshman will be heavily involved in trying to curtail the strong UC guard contingent. 

Cal has dropped their last two outings...and Lindsey Gottlieb has never lost three in a row during her tenure on the Berkeley campus. Cal hasn't defeated a ranked opponent yet this season. 

The Cards will need to play a much better game than their

last outing against GCU. Free throws must improve and shots attempted in the paint must fall...especially those second chance opportunities. We're hoping the GCU contest served as a wake up call to Walz's charges...all expectations are that there will be a large pro-Cal crowd in attendance today because of the many promotions Cal Marketing has attached to this afternoon's tilt. 

We'll have the recap later tonight. This one is scheduled to be live on the Pac-12 Networks and Cards Radio 790 WKRD with Matt Andrews and AJ will have the call on the radio. If you are a Time Warner subscriber...the Pac 12 Network can be found at 530

This one promises to be a tight battle and could evolve into a track meet...given both teams' propensity for putting points on the scoreboard. For Louisville to take the "W"...it'll require the Cards best effort of the season so far. 

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Speaking of effort, we encourage you to give it that old

college try and listen to our latest broadcast of the CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. It's archived on Crescent Hill's Soundcloud and available now. Paulie and Worldwide Jeff talk hoops past and present and Jeff plummets into the Grand Canyon with his woeful performance on THE WORLDWIDE QUIZ. 

Don Paulie stops in to spread a little Christmas cheer and Coach Walz delivers another lesson to Paulie...this time about the irrelevance of social media and ambiguity of statistics. Plus...you get three minutes of pre-show bonus audio (unknown to us) where we discuss height, the WCC and Argentina.   Linkie below:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO DEC.20TH BROADCAST

Cal excited about Louisville WBB Visit? -- Saturday Cardinal Couple

Bears trying to fill the seats for UofL visit


The University of Louisville women's basketball squad has been a big draw whenever they've gone on the road over the last 4-5 years. Having 2 NCAA WBB Championship game appearances and a couple of Schimmel's on roster will do that for a program. Knocking off the Cards in your house can bring a program immediate nationwide recognition these days. 

The University of California would like the Bay area and Berkeley residents to come out and see if Lindsey Gottlieb's charges can win this match up of top 25 foes. Here's the promotional pitch UC marketing is using to fill the seats on Sunday:

Fans have multiple ticket options for Sunday’s Top 25 clash between No. 24 California and No. 10 Louisville. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks.

• Teddy Bear Toss! Free admission with the donation of a new or gently worn teddy bear. All bears will benefit the “Good News Bears” charity

• MBB Ticket Stub: All fans bringing a ticket stub from Friday night’s California men’s basketball game against Eastern Washington will receive free admission to Sunday’s game

• $1 Youth Admission: Sunday is “Kids Day” with all youth tickets costing just $1. In addition, the Bears will do post-game autographs on the court

• BEATTHECARDS: All fans can receive $1 admission by using the promo code “BEATTHECARDS” to purchase their tickets online prior to Sunday. Use the promo code by CLICKING HERE

• FREE T-SHIRTS! The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free California basketball t-shirt. Arrive early to get yours!

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We'll have yet another edition of Cardinal Couple Radio today at 11 AM on WCHQ 100.9 FM and streaming from crescenthillradio.com

Basketball is the soup du jour today (gee, go figure), we'll test Jeff and the listeners with another WORDLWIDE QUIZ and who knows what other stuff we'll toss in there to entertain, mystify, baffle, confuse and alienate our listeners.

Enter if you dare. Online link below if you're out of the FM broadcast range:

WE TALK ABOUT ANTELOPES AND BEARS TODAY...NO, WE'RE NOT A WILDLIFE SHOW.

paulie