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

A slow week for LOUISVILLE Women's Sports -- Saturday Cardinal Couple

After WBB loss to UK..a void of reporting


It's a period where not a whole lot is happening with UofL women's sports.

"What you do mean there was no Thursday
Thursday this week?" 

No postseason activity to follow for the fall sports. With Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball done for the year...basketball off until Monday and Softball and Lacrosse a couple of months away -we're in a temporary void.

It happens.

So, let's look at our three favorite moments of Cardinal sports so far in the 2014-2015 season.

In no particular ranking:

-- Field Hockey takes down UNC

It was pure joy and pandemonium. Justine Sowry's stick-

swingers bring in #1 UNCand beat them in the Trager. To see the excitement and the pride in winning this games is something we'll never forget here at Cardinal Couple. The pride and accomplishment in those young women's faces. Justine Sowry and crew took on the challenge of moving to the best conference in NCAA Field Hockey and slayed the giant. Well done....Flock.

-- Duke defeated

Another tip of the cap to Field Hockey for their win over #4 Duke. This one signified that the win over UNC eight days earlier was no fluke or one-in-a-million shot. It was also sweet in the student-defeats-teacher factor...Justine Sowry was a Pam Bustin assistant before going to run the UMass Field Hockey squad. When Bustin left for "the big time"...Duke and the ACC...Sowry was summoned to run the Cards. Well, guess what? Louisville joined the ACC and Sowry beat Bustin. Not bad...not bad at all. 

-- Still owning Iowa

A Iowa team with all kinds of motivation to take it to

Louisville in WBB came into the KFC YUM! Center and ran into the immovable object. Jeff Walz's crew turned it their best performance so far of the season in showing that the March throw-down against a BIG 10 heavyweight was not a fluke. I'd like to see that team that blinded the Hawkeyes show up in ACC play.

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We'll be doing radio today @ 11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 FM and streaming live on internet @ www.crescenthillradio.com.

Louisville women's basketball remains the hot topic this time of year...but we'll also take a look ahead to softball and lacrosse. They aren't that far away. Jeff will attempt to better his 85% on The Worldwide Quiz and...you never know...Don Paulie and Kenny K. Keith just may drop in.

It's radio that you can probably live without...but why deny yourself of the special things in life? We're pretty special and our mamas love us...so hop in, hang on, turn up the volume and spend an hour with Worldwide and Paulie. 

paulie

Cards blind Hawkeyes with 86-52 blitz. -- Friday Cardinal Couple

Hammond's 19 leads five Cards in double figures 

Photo by Charlie Springer - UofL Card game

Any threat of a pumped up Iowa team atoning for the 30 point loss on their home court last season was pure conjecture (and just didn't happen) Thursday night in the KFC YUM! Center before nearly 8000 fans. 

Once again, the Cards defied (Sam) Logic and rolled to a 86-52 downing of the Hawkeyes. Hammond was joined in double figures by Myisha Hines-Allen with 16, Mariya Moore getting 12 and Bria Smith and Emmonnie Henderson contributing 10 each. 

Photo by Charlie Springer - UofL Card game

This was far from an anticipated nail-biter...Louisville rolled out to a 14-4 early lead in the first five minutes. The trio of Hammond, Hines-Allen and Moore accounting for them all inside the porous Hawkeye defensive interior. 

Iowa would briefly make it close...a 5-0 run that cut the Cardinal advantage to 14-9...but a 12-0 Louisville run over the next four minutes put this one safely to bed after Shawnta' Dyer connected inside to set the score to 26-9 with 8:20 left in the half.

A night where "O" became "G"  -- Photo by
Charlie Springer -- UofL Card Game

The Cards kept pushing the margin...a Hines-Allen jumper and two Hines-Allen free throws stretched the lead to 39-20 with 2:38 to go. Three Hines-Allen free throw closed out the Cards first-half scoring to make it 46-23.

The halftime frisbee-chasing dogs were exerting more court execution than the stagnant Iowa offense...the Hawkeyes were 1-11 from 3-point range and shot 23.7% for the half on 9-38 shooting overall.

In comparison...Hammond and Hines-Allen made 11 of 14 attempts from the floor in the first twenty. Hear their take at the link below. 

MYISHA AND SARA DISCUSS THE WIN OVER IOWA

If ever a team had a look of resignation, defeat and askance in their eyes...it was the Iowa squad who returned to the court for the final twenty minutes. These mid-western girls had to be wondering 'how', 'why' and 'what happened?' 

Louisville would gradually increase the Iowa deficit as the

(Photo by Charlie Springer - UofL Card Game)

second half rolled along. Arica Carter's steal and layup made it 66-37 with 10:35 remaining. The Cards enjoyed their largest lead at 82-44 after two Sherrone Vails free throws with 4:00 left on the clock. A late 8-4 Iowa run the rest of the way was meaningless...the Cards walked off Denny Crum Court 34 point winners at 86-52. 


Walz dispersed playing time evenly again...no Card played more than 24 minutes (Deines, Hammond and Smith)  or less than seven (Vails). Besides the double figure producers, Carter finshed with eight points, Dyer six, Deines three and Vails two. Jude had 21 minutes with no points but two rebounds, assists and steals and Ariana Freeman saw eight minutes with no points. 

Louisville led the rebounding battle 50-38 and produced a 58-32 advantage with points in the paint. This one can best be described as:

A poor shooting effort by the Hawkeyes (30.4%)...created by the aggressive and effective Louisville defensive effort...led to a lopsided win between two top-25 opponents. 

Coach Walz may not think the Cards are the seventh best team in the country yet...but they certainly took a huge step in earning that ranking tonight.

*********************************************************************


The post game press conference unveiled the brilliant, ground-breaking WALZIAN REVISED THEORY on FREE THROW PERCENTAGE SIGNIFICANCE. 



The hypothesis is simple. It isn't so important about the number of free throws you miss, it's what you do with the errant shots.  It can also be described as the "Three is better than Two" rule. 

Let's say Bria Smith hits her first free throw but misses her second. Then, Emmonnie Henderson grabs the miss and sticks it back in the hoop. You have scored three points on the transaction instead of two...if Bria had hit both free throws. Three is better than two.

You can also look at it this way. The Cards were 14-22 from the free throw line for 63.6%. That's a little lower than the Walz requested 70% average. But, it you consider that the Cards scored eight points off those eight misses...they are now shooting 22-22, or 100%. 

  
Be sure to listen to the critically acclaimed CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR this Saturday to hear the theorem explained in detail by Coach Walz to a stunned and awe-struck media contingent.  


The first test of the week has been passed with flying colors. It'll get tougher Sunday when UK comes to town. 

paulie








   

Hawkeyes head to town looking for a little payback -- Thursday Cardinal Couple

IOWA PROBABLY REMEMBERS LAST MEETING

It was a chance for the homestanding Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team to advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. On their home court. All they had to do was get past Louisville.

On a cold and blustery night in Iowa City on March 25th, 2014... the Cards flew past the Hawkeyes 83-53. 

It wasn't that close. Schimmel and crew shot 53.1 from the field and shut down Iowa guard Sam Logic. 

She probably remembers. 

Fast forward to December 2014. The Hawkeyes come to Louisville looking for a little payback. They return four starters that were witness to the Cardinal win that night. 

Iowa is 6-1 on the season...losing to Arkansas by 10 in the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. Ally Disterhoff leads the Iowa squad with 16.0 ppg. Melissa Dixon adds 13.6 and the aforementioned Samantha Logic brings 11.7 ppg. and a team high 16 steals.

Louisville is led in scoring by a couple of players that Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder has never faced. The M&M crew (Myisha Hines-Allen and Mariya Moore) average almost 30 points a game and will make the midwestern invaders forget about Shoni Schimmel's romp on them last year real quick.  

This collection of Hawkeye hoopsters were picked to finish third in the Big 10 in preseason polling. They'll compete with the #7 Cards as best they can and could create a few nervous moments for the Louisville fan base. They are walking into this one with eyes wide open. Check out the link below to hear "Hawk talk" about the impending meeting. 

LINK: HAWKEYES TALK ABOUT CARDS


Will they walk out of the KFC YUM! Center with a win over

the Cards? Probably not. Giving the "Mad Scientist" three days to prepare for an opponent is like giving Paulie three days to handicap the Breeders Cup races.

It's gonna pay off.

Any speculation that the Cards are looking ahead to Sunday's game against "you know who down I-64" can be dismissed. The mode of operation with this bunch of Cardinals is "one game at a time". It has worked well. 

It'll be interesting, though...Iowa sports a #22 national ranking and did defeat Gonzaga. If you can attend, please do so. Tip is at 7 p.m.

Best women's hoops radio crew ever! 

It's an ESPN3 game...this time our buddy Drew Deener from ESPN RADIO 680 will handle the play-by-play and we're pretty sure that the Sara White listed as color analysis is the former co-head coach, assistant coach and director of basketball operations of the Louisville program from 1992-2003. This probably means we'll be moved down media row a few spots to sit near Mayor for Life Jer...if he isn't back in DC being Deputy Assistant to President Barack Obama and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House.

( How do you get all that on a business card?) 

If radio is the way you roll...Mattie and AJ will be breaking it down on 790 Cards Radio. Their call is always "spot on" unless Matt starts referring to outfielders and ground balls.

**********************************************************************

WBB ON THE TUBE


Reader Sandy Walker provides this link for catching women's basketball on TV. You might want to bookmark it like we did...

LET'S HOOP IT UP !


Buyer beware here, though, on the accuracy. WE loved this listing...

Sunday 7-Dec Eastern Ky. at Kentucky Eastern Ky. at Kentucky Ohio Valley Southeastern SECN 6 p.m.


Sunday 7-Dec Kentucky at Louisville Kentucky at Louisville Southeastern Atlantic Coast ESPN3 2 p.m

So...after UK loses to us in the KFC YUM! Center...they have to drive back to Lexington and play EKU? That's seems harsh...

See you in the YUM! and we'll have the recap Thursday night.

paulie
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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Another "i" dotted - Cards down Iowa by 30

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Shoni's 26 leads five double figure scorers in rout of Iowa

Strictly business.

The Iowa Hawkeyes were trying to stand in the way of Louisville's return to play in the regionals of the NCAA Womens' basketball tournament in the KFC YUM! Center.

Bad idea.

The Cards dot another "I" (the first one Idaho on Sunday) and return to Louisville after a 83-53 defeat of Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Tuesday night.

Iowa did keep it close for the first six minutes and the Cards faced a 11-11 tie from an inspired Hawkeye squad.

It did not last.

Louisville went on a 12-1 run and led 23-13 after a Shoni Schimmel jumper with 8:41 left in the first half. It only got worse for Iowa after that.

The Cards took a 28-17 lead after a Tia Gibbs putback with 5:42 on the clock and extended that to 33-19 at the four minute TV timeout. A 7-4 closing run had Louisville up 40-23 at halftime.

Shoni had 12 of her game high 26 points at that point and Nita Slaughter had 8 points...with two threes to her stat line. Three Cards (Tia, Asia Taylor and Jude Schimmel) had six points each and the rout was on.

The Cards were shooting 64% in the first half. Iowa 31%.

Louisville went on a 21-8 spree over the first eight minutes of the second half to take a 30 point lead...61-31...with twelve minutes to go in the game. The Cards were shooting, rebounding and playing defense well. And without their starting posts in the game.

With Sara and Asia on the bench watching...saddled with fouls...the Hawkeyes had a height advantage. 

It did not matter. Louisville went up 79-44 with four minutes left. One almost felt sorry for Iowa...hoping they would empty the bench like Louisville did several minutes earlier...realize that it was over and let the clock run.

Much like the loud and rowdy Iowa fan base in the stands...the Hawkeye team wouldn't let it die. Hard fouls and wild threes that didn't hit the mark plagued the final minutes. The Hawkeye coach finally emptied the bench. It was time.

You play to the final buzzer...sure...and it hurts to lose at home...but Iowa was a beaten team when A-Tayy nailed a jumper to complete a 9-2 Louisville blitz in the first three minutes of the final half to go up 49-25.

Sam Logic and Distel-whatever may be local legends in Iowa City. The truth is...they are mediocre basketball players on a run-of-the-mill, middle-of-the-pack Big 10 team. They could not stop the beatdown that Louisville administered.

Strictly business.

Louisville wins 83-53. Another "I" dotted. Another hopeful pretender sent to the sidelines. Survive and advance.

Shoni led all scorers with 26. Nita Slaughter added 17...five threes in the mix against the ponderously slow Iowa perimeter. Tia Gibbs finished with 12 points. Jude and Asia with 10 points each. Starr Breedlove scored in mop-up minutes to extend her games scored-in streak to two. She's quick and has a nice free-throw motion. Watch out for this girl next season.

How many times has Louisville won by 30 and Sara Hammond not scored?

Another successful stop on the Unfinished Business trip. Louisville gets a LSU squad on Sunday that they beat earlier in the season.

C'mon home, ladies. Another appearance in the Sweet Sixteen ahead. In the KFC YUM! Center. Sunday hoops with great weather ahead. Go buy tickets, Card fans.

And Iowa...for what it's worth...went one game further in the NCAA Tournament than their cross-state rivals Iowa State.  

*                     *                    *                  *                   *

Louisville's Shoni Schimmel and Sara Hammond were named to the WBCA All-Region I team, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Tuesday. The selection committee will select the 10-member WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team from 52 candidates


*                                       *                                     *                                 *                                  *


Sixteen teams remain. Breaking them down by conference gives us five from the SEC (Tennessee, LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Kentucky). Louisville's future conference...the ACC...has three schools representing (Notre Dame, North Carolina and Maryland). The AAC still has the two that were selected for the Big Dance alive in UConn and Louisville. The Big 12? Baylor and Oklahoma State. DePaul represents the Big East (way to go Doug Bruno!) The WAC has surprising #12 seed BYU still dancing. Penn State is the lone Big 10 survivor. Stanford is the sole PAC school .

By seeding? All four #1 seeds are alive. Only two of the #2 seeds advanced (take that NCAA...WVU and Duke are gone).
All four #3 seeds will play this weekend. Two of the #4 seeds (Maryland and North Carolina) fight on. #5 seed Oklahoma St. heads to the South Bend regional. Two #7 seeds...DePaul and LSU...join the party and #12 BYU completes the team-by-seed breakdown.

   *            *            *            *            *            *            *

How's the CARDINAL COUPLE Pick 'Em contest going? I'm glad you asked! Here's the standings thru the first two rounds:

Paulie                40-8
Joe H                 39-9
Blue Lou            38-10
Charlyse
Curtis Franklin
Willie Cat Fan    37-11
Gary W              36-12
Kenny S             35-13
Sonja
David Watson     34-14
Vivian
Worldwide Jeff
Jennifer B          31-17
Cardinal Chimp  30-18
Matt M for Gov   25-23
The Other One   24-24


paulie
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Tuesday Cardinal Couple - Round 2

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(  Jeff McAdams looks at the March Madness -- Womens' style in today's CARDINAL COUPLE.)

 

March Madness Upsets Continue

OK, its not quite as crazy as the men's bracket...we still don't have the parity in the women's game that exists in the men's...but we've got a fair few upsets already in the books.  I'm not even going to count the eight vs nine seeds (three of the nine seeds won), but let's take a look at some of the others in the first round:

• #11 JMU over #6 Gonzaga
• Another #11 in Florida over #6 Dayton
• #10 Florida State over #7 Iowa State

In the second round, we've already seen #7 DePaul knock off #2 Duke, meaning an early exit from tournaments for both of the Blue Devils teams.  #12 BYU upset #4 Nebraska to advance to the regional in Lincoln.  I thought for a while we might get to include Baylor being downed by Cal, but the Bears pulled out in the second half.  #5 Oklahoma St beat #4 Purdue, but that's kinda like those 8/9 matchups from the first round.

Louisville vs Iowa

Our Cardinals will be facing a motivated Iowa Hawkeyes team this evening.  A team that has never
advanced to the Sweet 16 in the women's tournament, the sharp-shooting Iowa team is determined that this will be the year that they take the next step.

Iowa plays small, typically starting not a three guard lineup, but a four guard lineup.  That may require Sara Hammond, Asia Taylor, and Emmonnie Henderson to move a bit farther out from the paint on defense than they're typically used to, or perhaps we'll see more of Starr Breedlove and Monny Niamke to crank up the perimeter defensive pressure a bit.

A perimeter shooting team, but also well balanced with five different players averaging double figure scoring.  My favorite is Samantha Logic...hey, I'm a computer geek by profession, someone with the name "Logic" has to be my favorite, right?  Logic is a 5'9" junior from Racine, Wisconsin.

Bethany Doolittle is their starting center, and at 6'4" has enough height to give our bigs some fits, though we have several players that can match up with her.

What's at Stake?

 

Iowa is looking to advance the farthest in the tournament ever for the program.

Louisville is looking to get back home to their home floor for the regionals.  A task you can't take for granted, as evidenced by Nebraska's loss.

We'll have a full recap for you in the Wednesday Cardinal Couple.

Other Interesting Matchups?

New NCAA referee gear.

Michigan State and North Carolina is another 4 vs 5 matchup.  Texas and Maryland are a 4 vs 5 as well, but I may be most interested in seeing the outcome of WVU vs LSU on LSU's home court in Baton Rouge.

I suppose we need to be on the lookout for #11 James Madison to potentially beat #3 Texas A&M.  While I don't see this one being terribly likely, I would've said the same thing about BYU beating Nebraska as well.

jeffmcadams

EDITOR'S NOTE:

I will be watching to see if  Mich. St. head coach Suzy Merchant's hairdo can stay intact while
she battles North Carolina. With three of my favorite coaches gone (Q, Lindsay Gottlieb and Sherri Coale)...it's down to Doug Bruno and Monkey Mulkey to provide entertainment value.

Then...there's coach Walz. Never a disappointing show with the Mad Scientist on the sidelines.

Paulie
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