Louisville women's basketball...Cards ruin Bruins visit 73-50 -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

ASIA, CIERA WITH 18 EACH IN HOME OPENER

Patience is a virtue.

It is also one of the things that led Louisville women's basketball to a 73-50 win over Belmont Bruins Sunday afternoon at the KFC YUM! Center in front of 8347 fans. 

Coach Walz is quick to point out, when asked, that when Louisville is patient in the offensive set and makes the passes to create the openings or mismatches...he's a happy camper. If the Cards lapse too much into the one-on-one mode, it isn't as productive and effective and gets his attention.  

Effective starts in this game with Ciera Johnson (hereafter known as "C")...who tallied 18 points on 6 for 7 shooting and 6 for 9 free throw marksmanship. We'd have to grade her much higher than a "C" in our report card, though...the only real flaw is the 0 rebounds in 19 minutes of play.

Effective continues with Asia Durr...who continued her mastery over OVC competition by dropping four trifecta on the Bruins in eight attempts and going 7 for 12 overall in 22 minutes. This is the Asia Durr Jeff Walz recruited for the class of 2015. When shooters are makers...it makes the servers happy.

Happy includes Mariya Moore who had a full and busy 24 minutes (tops for the team in playing time) with 13 points, a team high six assists and a very effective 6 for 8 from the floor. Add five rebounds...second best for the squad...and we are seeing the evolution of her all-around game continue to improve. 

AND, YES...THE GAME? 

Louisville struggled a bit at the start against the better-than-your-average-bear Bruins...trailing 8-7 at the 6:40 mark.

Paging Ms. Durr. Will Ms. Durr please report to the three-point line? 

Two successful bombs in a row from her, a Moore jumper followed by a Bionca Dunham jumper capped a 10-0 Cardinal run over a two and a half minute span and the Cards went on to hold a 26-16 lead after the first ten minutes. 

The Cards stretched that out to 32-16 in the first three minutes of the second stanza and closed out the first half on a 150 seconds...9-0 run that started with a Durr three, Durr layup, Moore layup and "C" score in the paint to haul a 47-25 advantage into the locker room. 

Durr's 18 points in 16 minutes led all first half scorers and the Cards were shooting a robust 55% (20-38) from the floor. "C" had the only free throws in the first half (for both teams)...going 3-6. 

If the first half belonged to the Douglasville, GA sophomore...the freshman from Duncanville Texas paint-dominator laid claim to the final 20 minutes. "C" posted 11 points... six of them in the third quarter (2-3 shooting and 2-2 free throws) and Moore added five as the Cards pushed out to a 66-37 edge. 

Walz began the final ten minutes with Jazz Jones, Briahanna Jackson, Bionca Dunham, Kylee Shook and Taylor Johnson on the floor and had Brianna Jones, Sam Fuehring and Jessica Laemmle out there with six minutes left in the contest. Note to my buddy Christian Payne...who was doing the ACC Network Extra play-by-play...it's pronounced 'Lem-Lee'...not 'La-Meal' when referring to the Mercy Academy freshman. As we've seen in both fourth quarters this year, the opponent has won them...Belmont with the 13-7 edge.


HELLO FRED! 

A reader pointed out to me a couple of days ago that I had not done a "Fred" segment so far this season on the games. Thank you for reminding me. Senility is a curse at times. 

In short..."FRED" is looking at Cardinal free throws, rebounding, effort/execution and defense. We grade the four and determine whether we can award a letter for each, and if it is large or small case or not at all. 

Free Throws. The Cards went 6-13...which is 47.7% That's a big "no bueno". We look for a 70% or better. Here's the thing...only three Cards attempted them in 40 minutes..."C" going 6-9 (which is good for her) but out Attack Yorkie Laemmle and "Der Fuehring" went 0-2 each. Sorry Cards, no letter for you here.

Rebounding. Only four offensive rebounds for Louisville (yes, they shot 55%..but four is way too few) and out-rebounded 52-32. Once again, we cannot award a letter here. MHA's eight gets a nod of approval. 

Effort/Execution. The Cards hustled for the most part, created 23 turnovers while committing just nine and had 10 steals. 21 assists on 73 points is acceptable and the starting front line of MHA, Mariya and "C" shot 14-20 (70%) so we'll gladly award a capital "E" here. 

Defense. Belmont shot 31% for the game. 4-25 from the deep. Save for the fourth quarter...when the Cards were getting the bench significant playing time...the defense was sharp and made things difficult for Cam Newbauer's squad. 50 points for the visitors and we'll give Louisville a lower case "d" here...the Cards won the second half by a less-than-awesome 26-25 margin. 

Final Analysis   _-_-E-d


LINK: Walz's post game comments: JEFF WALZ

LINK: Ciera and Asia post game comments: CIERA AND ASIA


WHERE'S PAULIE?  

Sleeping on the job again?

It was the first home game I've missed since November 19th, 2010 (against SEMO). A knee-draining had me off my feet for a couple of days back then. Ironically, it's a knee draining later today that had me AWOL yesterday. Damn body parts...

I felt like I was there, though...with Nick Curran and A.J.'s radio call and I did get to watch the ACC Network Extra replay and the nice commentary there. Since I did make the away trip to UTM Friday and football Saturday night...I'm not going to be too bothered by my absence. (Thanks for the e-mails and messages inquiring about me and Sonja...all is well, just a case where we had to do what was necessary because of mobility instead of what we wanted.) 

A special thanks to Oldham Era sports editor and AP writer Sam Draut for keeping me in the loop during and after the game. I trained him well, no? 



UP NEXT? 

Louisville travels to Mufreesboro, TN to face the Blue Raiders in a Wednesday night tilt.

I did the trip the last time the Cards played there (Dec 4, 2008) but won't be making this one. I spent a week in Murfreesboro that day and besides the excellent fare at Demos Restaurant there wasn't much more to rave about....except the Cards 67-44 win. Someone named McCoughtry had a pretty good game that night.

If you're making the trip down to Murfreesboro...get there early. You owe yourself a meal at Demos.  



Middle Tennessee began their regular season in Charlottesville, Va losing to the Cavaliers 51-63. With only 21 first half points, they dug themselves in a hole they couldn't climb out of. You can expect that the Raider faithful will be packed into The Charles M. Murphy Center (and how nice of them to name the facility after Eddie Murphy's hilarious comedian older brother!) for their home opener. They averaged 5,046 a game at home last season...which was 17th best in the nation  

Let's hope the Cards can say..."What did the five fingers say to the face? SLAP!" to the C-USA opponent. No TV yet that I know of...STAY CALM...we'll monitor that for you and let you know what we discover. 

After all, patience is a virtue. Ask Coach Walz. 

paulie
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Louisville women's basketball...Getting Ready -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

MIX OF FRESHMEN, RETURNEES PREPARE FOR THE SEASON

No...the game of women's college basketball doesn't just magically reappear in November. Before that, the players are working hard in the off-season to prepare for the five months that lie ahead for them. 

In UofL WBB's case...the month of June has been all about the conditioning and getting to know each other. With four of the five freshmen already on campus, they and the returnees are hitting the gym and the weight room to prepare themselves for their trip to Cuba in August and beyond. 

It's not all about the weight room and Cardinal Arena, though. Group building exercises, excursions and classes are also on the summer agenda for the 2016 team. 

Preparations in the summer are key for fall and winter success. Based on the way the players looked at the recent Walz Skills Camp, they're staying fit and ready to shine.

QUICK HITS

-- We've had a few questions on the foot fracture that Sydney Zambrotta suffered. It's doesn't seem to be of much worry to the coaching staff...based on the conversations I've been a part of. The leg scooter she's using is a preventative measure...it's a "slight" fracture and expectations are that "Syd" will be ready to go for the Cuba trip. 

-- Nashville, anyone? There is a rumor out there (unconfirmed as of yet) that the Cards may be heading south in December to visit the Music City for a game against Vanderbilt. The Commodores have new coaching in place...if this does go down, I hope they play somewhere else in town besides the "crackerbox" campus gym called Memorial Gym. How about Bridgestone Arena? Louisville fans would travel for this one...could the 'Dores fans muster enough interest to make this a 10,000 or so attended event?

Also, I would love to see the Cards "make a weekend" of it and play former Cardinal assistant Cam Newbauer's Belmont squad while in town. If not this year, maybe it's something they could work on down the road (if, in fact, it happens at all). 

Conjecture and conditioning...have a great Saturday.

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THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

We hit the Crescent Hill studios again this morning for another exciting edition of THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. Show begins at 11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 FM and on the Internet at: www.crescenthillradio.com

A variety of things to discuss today...the Walz camp and audio from Dez Byrd, swimming, academics and a WorldWide quiz...it should be frivolity at a frantic pace!

Join us, won't you?

paulie
xxxxx

Louisville WBB 95 - Belmont 35 -- Friday Cardinal Couple

Five Cards reach double figures in 60 point rout

Belmont should have enlisted Saratoga, Aqueduct and Santa Anita Thursday night to help corral the thoroughbreds that ran past them in the KFC YUM! Center Thursday night before 7404 fans. This race was over before they reached the first turn...to use a horse-players parlance. 

Up 8-3 two minutes into the contest after Taylor Mills' second trifecta, the Bruins stood by...watching helplessly at times it seemed...as Jeff Walz's ballers took off on a 30-2 run. It included a 24-0 stretch as the Cards sprinted off to take a 33-10 lead with 7:11 left in the half.


In the 11 minute whirlwind, seven different Cards scored and forced Belmont into 14 turnovers. The Bruins were getting no inside looks...when they were able to get the ball into the offensive set..and Louisville ended up scoring
28 points on turnovers in the first twenty minutes to take a 48-17 lead into halftime.

Freshman sensation Mariya Moore had 13 of UofL's first half points and Shawnta' Dyer came off the bench to add 10 more on 4-4 shooting. Louisville shot 56% in the half and limited Belmont to 30% shooting. The Bruins actually had more points from the three point arc (3 for 11) that the rest of the court (4-12). 

The Cards started the second half on a tear also...with a 7-0 run and at the 15:36 mark...Walz had the starters on the bench...leading 59-19. Led by the inside play of Emmonnie Henderson...and using every player combination imaginable...Louisville pushed the lead to 79-25 after a Sara Hammond three with 6:21 to go.

Caption this picture. Are the guys practicing a line dance?

Shortly thereafter... Belmont head coach Cam Newbauer emptied the bench to give his reserves a KFC YUM! Center playing experience. Arica Carter hit a jumper with 17 seconds remaining to give the Cards a 62-point lead at 95-33 before Belmont scored with two seconds left for the 95-35 final tally. 

Cam has a good squad and they'll compete as the front-runners for the OVC title this year. They just ran into a Cardinals team that was having a very good night.

It was a great overall and team effort by the Cards...all 11 players able to go scored and saw at least nine minutes of playing time. Louisville ended the game going 37-63 from the floor, a decent 58.7%...30 of those hoops coming from inside the paint. The Cards scored 48 points off turnovers.

The Bruins had almost as many turnovers (34) as they did points.

Moore led all scorers with 17 points...her average going into the game...and was joined in double figures by Hammond (13 in 18 minutes). Hines-Allen, Dyer and Henderson all had 12 each. Bria Smith and Megan Deines finished with eight each, Carter had six points and six rebounds, Jude Schimmel and Sherrone Vails added three points and Ariana Freeman hit a free throw. 


Jude's time was limited because of a bumped knee in the second half while going for a loose ball...but she did return from the locker room later and Coach Walz proclaimed she was OK in the post game press conference. 

Another scary moment occured when Dyer and Vails collided on the court but neither were injured. Same team, ladies... 

What we liked

- Louisville committed only nine fouls in the game and Belmont attempted no free throws in the 40 minutes. The Cards cleared the 70% mark again from the charity stripe with 18-25 shooting. 

- Dyer and Denies...(the "D" troops) came off the bench with very solid contributions...going 9-10 from the floor in 34 combined minutes. Dyer seems to "understand it" down on the block and reminds us more and more of the way Asia Taylor scored in proliferation inside last year. 

- "E" with no fouls in 14 minutes. She jokingly explained (we think) in the post game player interviews that it was because Belmont's posts were blowing by her before she had time to react. 

What needs work

Not much to discuss here. Maybe a better recognition and guarding of the three-point shooters early in the game and a bit more accuracy and a few more attempts from Louisville beyond the arc (they were 3-9...Belmont was 7-26...) but who can complain too much about a 60 point win?

The Cards return to action Sunday when they'll host Ball State at 2 p.m. 

For Cam Newbauer, a long three hour drive back to Nashville where the Bruins will prepare for a Tuesday 10 a.m. tilt against Kent State in Akron. 

95 points...only 9 of them from three point land and just 18 from the foul line. Looks like this "inside job" that Walz and the Cards are basing the offense on this year suits them very well...and Cortnee Walton should be returning soon to make it even more powerful. The maintenance crew at the KFC YUM! Center may have to "paint the paint" again before the season ends...if the Cards continue to frequent it with this current success and repetition.  

Some highlights in the link below:

CARDS PUT BRUINS INTO HIBERNATION

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Louisville Volleyball returns to Cardinal Arena for an ACC clash with Duke tonight at 6 p.m. It's the first of a three game home stand in the on-campus facility that will, in all likelihood end the 2014 season for the Volley Cards. 

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In case you still had any interest in it....the NCAA Field Hockey Final Four starts today. ACC foes #1 UNC and #4 Syracuse will face off at 2 p.m....then #3 Connecticut and ....Albany? will go at 4:45 p.m.

Albany slayed both Wake Forest and Maryland to get the semi-finals. David vs. Goliath here. Go Great Danes !!!

paulie
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