ZaKiyah Johnson leads Kentucky High School Basketball All-Stars to Win -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 ...

JOHNSON'S 34 POINTS LEAD KY ALL STARS TO DOUBLE O.T. WIN OVER INDIANA

We've known for a long time here at Cardinal Couple just how good graduating Sacred Heart senior and LSU bound ZaKiyah Johnson is. Once again, last night in Indianapolis' Gainbridge Fieldhouse, she rose high above the rest of the players and scored 34 points to lead the KY Girls Basketball starts to a win (and sweep) over the Indiana squad.

 It took awhile...a double over-time 106-103 Kentucky win, but Johnson got the KY squad to overtime and eventually secured the win. She was fouled trying a three-pointer to tie the contest, sent to the free throw line with seven seconds to go in regulation...and sank all three free throw attempts. 

ZaKiyah Johnson

Johnson is headed to LSU for college (we wonder just wonder how long she'll be able to play for Kim Mulkey) and, once again...SEC NIL money has made the recruiting game more of an auction to the highest bidder than any school loyalty for the best players in the high school game...and even transfers by college kids out of Louisville and other schools in the state are lured to programs waving dollar bills. 

A noted college coach mentioned awhile back that N.I.L. had ruined the college game and the decision Johnson to go to the SEC bears fruit to that statement. We've even seen it in other UofL women's sports , like softball...where Korbe Otis left for a more lucrative NIL at Florida, and we are getting unconfirmed rumor that Cards pitching ace Alyssa Zabala may be on the move again, too. 

But, it was the Kentucky High School GBB stars night to shine last night and in addition to Johnson's big night, an Indiana star had a big evening. Maya Makalusky, out of Hamilton Southeastern had 29 points and is headed to I.U. for her college career. 

Headed to Louisville from the game and a KY All-Star is 6-5 forward/center Grace Mbugna, out of Danville Christian. Also headed to Louisville from the game is Peyton Bradley, out of Meade County. Bradley says:

"I've always dreamed of playing at the next level and Louisville felt like home the minute  I stepped on campus. The programs tradition, the coaching staff's energy and the way they push their players to grow...it's everything I wanted. I can't wait to compete in the ACC and give it my all." Bradley averaged 28.2 ppg a game in her senior year after coming back from an injury that kept her on the bench her junior year.

CCHRP RETURNS TO PODCASTING

It has been nearly a month since the last CCHRP podcast (those pesky commitments and vacations kept getting in the way) but Paulie and Case handled the Jun 7th version and discussed the lull in most UofL activities for the WBB program this time of year.

Hear the boys at the link below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hiatus-leads-to-summer-slump/id1532090880?i=1000711947781

Check out Case's Saturday article for more links. 

paulie

SEYGAN ROBINS INTERVIEW...WBB faces Michigan tonight! -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

THE SEYGAN ROBINS INTERVIEW

Seygan Robins is a senior at Mercer County High School and one of three signees headed to the University of Louisville for the 2018-19 season. She is also a part of the Mercer County Titans girls basketball squad that won the 2017 Kentucky Girls High School Basketball Championship. She is a friendly, hard-working and caring teammate and person, as well...qualities that stay with you a lifetime and are admirable. 

I got the chance to drive to Harrodsburg, KY on Wednesday afternoon for an exclusive interview with her and her head coach Chris Souder. It was a fun and informative time and trip. I arrived a little early and got to watch a little practice in addition. The Titans look strong again this season and a special thanks to Coach for letting me come down and chat with him and her...plus senior Lexy Lake, who is headed to Campbellsville University to play hoops next year and kept me entertained as we watched the final part of practice.

Seygan saved the team from running a couple of extra "up and backs" running drills after practice by sinking two free throws in a row. Cool under pressure, both tosses were nothing but net.  

They have a Bojangles about 10 miles away from the school. Of course, I stopped there on the way back. It's an easy 66-mile drive from my driveway to the gym and you can bet I'll make that trip several more times this basketball season to see the Titans and Seygan go for the repeat. Why not combine the best in chicken and the best in Kentucky girls basketball, right? 

Here's our chat, and there's a link to listen to it at the end of this section. 


PAULIE:  Let's start by stepping back and looking at Mercer County winning the state title last year. What were some of the emotions and thoughts you went through on that ride to the title? 


SEYGAN: It was a very surreal experience. I remember a lot of locker room moments, talks from Coach Souder before and after games. It was a fun experience! 

PAULIE: Coach is pretty easy on you all, isn't he. He doesn't really get mad at you, does he? 

SEYGAN: Oh, yeah! He doesn't really get mad. 

PAULIE: He's over here grinning right now. You can tell that for sure. Let's take a look at this year's team. Obviously, you've got Faith and Lexy back and some other really good talent...are we excited about a repeat? 

SEYGAN: I really like our team coming back and everyone seems to be working hard in practice. We have a load of talent and a lot of people stepping up this year...so we hope to repeat! 

PAULIE: You get a chance to get out on the court Saturday. It's gotta be nice getting a chance to play someone else than your own teammates. 

SEYGAN: I think we're all definitely looking forward to that. Playing some one other than the practice team. 

PAULIE: It's Bullitt East...so it's going to be the battle of the Chris's right? 

COACH SOUDER: Yeah, Coach Stallings...he's probably my best friend, in the coaching realm, we've been good friends for a long time. It'll be a little different for him, too, with Linsdey Duvall graduated and at Louisville. I'm kinda glad. (laughter) We scrimmaged them last year and I think it was like 107-104 or something. Seygan and Lindsey were just putting on a show. It was pretty fun. I'm kinda glad she's not there. 

PAULIE: So, if regulation ends in a tie, will you and Coach Stallings have a shootout or something? 

COACH SOUDER: Yeah, I'd outshoot him. Best of out five and it wouldn't take but a couple. (More laughter) 

THESE TWO WILL REMATCH THIS SATURDAY
AT BULLITT EAST IN MT. WASHINGTON 

PAULIE: So, Seygan, you're going to Louisville, you did all the announcements Monday, Coach Souder had the red shirt on, it had to be a fun experience. As you go through the season, it that going to be kinda in the back of your mind...'Gosh, I'm going to miss all this next year, I'll be at Louisville?" 

SEYGAN: It definitely will but I'm really looking forward to going to Louisville. It'll be in the back of my mind that I'm going to miss I'll this. It'll definitely be a bittersweet year. 

PAULIE: This summer, you had the chance to get to play with a couple of the girls that will be going with you to Louisville in this class, playing a little club ball with them. Talk about them a little bit. 

SEYGAN: Definitely. When Molly and Mykasa committed I was super excited for them. I think our games mesh very well and we play with each other well so I'm looking forward to doing that.

(To hear the rest of and the entire interview click on the link below.) It's on Soundcloud, so you may need to do the free download to hear it.) 

THE SEYGAN ROBINS INTERVIEW

We will also replay this on our Saturday radio show, THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR, on WCHQ 100.9 FM at 11 a.m. Download the WCHQ app at: 

www.crescenthillradio.com

While there you can also listen to the show and interview. Plus previous shows and all the great local music and chat that embodies what WCHQ is.  

A special thanks to Coach and Seygan again for having me in and doing this! I look forward to my return visits. 



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


WBB VS. MICHIGAN

The #5 in the nation Cards roll on in the preseason WNIT and next up is #24 Michigan. 

No easy task against the Wolverines tonight at the KFC YUM! Center for Walz, DOOO-BLAY and Nite-Nite. Kim Barnes Arico has talent on her roster galore and Katelynn Flaherty is one of the leaders. She's nine points away from becoming the leading scorer in Michigan women's basketball and had 20 in U.M.'s 74-50 win over Liberty in the quarterfinals. She was was a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe. 

Junior Hallie Thome has impressed as well. She averaged 16.2 ppg in 2016-17 and grabbed an average of 7.1 rebounds a night. Walz got to see both of these stars in the U23 trials. 

Michigan won the post-season WNIT last year with a triple-overtime victory over ACC's Georgia Tech 89-79. The Cards and Wolverines have squared off three times in the series, Louisville holds a 2-1 edge. They last met way back in 1980 in Freedom Hall...UofL gathering a 89-80 win. 

This one begins at 7 p.m. and will be on the ACC Network Extra. We recommend you check out the radio feed of Nick Curran and Adrienne Johnson on WKRD 790 AM. 


RECOGNITION

Myisha and Asia have been named to the John Wooden Award watch list, that recognizes the top 30 in women's college basketball. 

The two have certainly brought a standard of excellence to Cardinal WBB this season and throughout their playing careers. 

Louisville is one of eight universities to have multiple players on the watch list. As you might guess, UConn has a starting five in Collier, Nurse, Samuelson, Stevens and Williams listed. In the ACC, Duke had Greenwell and Brown chosen. 

Excellence on the court. 

At CARDINAL COUPLE, it is our goal to cover the excellence, joy and excitement of Louisville women's athletics each and every day. We're "full in" with basketball season now, but we'll still keep you up on Volleyball and any other sports events that the Red and the Black are participating in. 

We feature article about the up and coming stars, like today's article about Seygan. We look into the past and have brought you interviews with ex-stars such as Asia Taylor, Candyce Bingham, Sara Hammond and more. We'll be here every day reporting on something Cardinal related and we'd love it if you join us.

Identify this former Cardinal WBB
star for an entry in our Panera Card
Drawing. First correct answer in the
comments section is entered! 

NOVEMBER Is DONATION MONTH HERE AT CARDINAL COUPLE. We've gotten off to a good start the first half of the month but there is still work to be done, money to be raised and that's where YOU come in. 

We feel that we have a great collection of writers and radio show participants here at C.C. The young and the old. Male and female. All dedicated to what they do for love of game. 

We don't make thousands of dollars, we don't bomb you with commercials. Our information IS NOT premium or pay-per-view. We lay it out here each day and basically say, come and get it. Read, react and return. We're independent, non-profit and that'll never change. 

Give what you can. No amount is too big or too small. You can help us via PAY-PAL if you want or send us a check. We appreciate the support so far and hope that there is more on the way. You can mail your tax deductible donation to our non-profit site here: 

Cardinal Couple
c/o Paul Sykes
P.O. Box 91521
Louisville, KY 40291

Thank you. As we say, YOU are Cardinal Couple and WE never forget that.


paulie
xxxxx

Robins Rockin' As Mercer County Girls Basketball Rolls Along -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

2018 LOUISVILLE WBB VERBAL AVERAGING 22.6 PPG EARLY FOR MERCER COUNTY. 

( Some of the information and some of the photos for the article are courtesy of Jeremy Schneider of the Advocate Messenger - Danville, KY. Nice work, Jeremy! ) 

Mercer County girls head basketball coach Chris Souder knows he's got a top-five powerhouse down in Harrodsburg, KY with his 2016-17 squad. As impressive as that is...he's thinking that there might be a lot more ahead. 

"We're nowhere near where we need to be and could be. We will get better and that's scary. The sky's the limit, but it's going to get pretty tough"  Souder commented after his squads' 90-54 win over Danville Monday night. 

For Danville, it may have felt like the sky was falling...Souder's Titans jumped out to a 26-12 first period lead and advanced that to 45-25 at the halftime break. 

Helping lead the charge was 5'9" junior guard Seygan Robins...who poured in three trifectas and 13 of her 26 points in the opening stanza. Robins and her Titans have had three contests in the young season. After a 76-65 close loss vs. D-1 laden Hamilton Heights (TN) Christian Academy, the Titans have won their next two...downing Mason County 78-51 in addition to Danville. 

Just how tough and talented is Hamilton Heights? Four of their 2017 players have already committed to D-I programs -- (Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Virginia Tech, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Kentucky, Amber Hunt to Alabama St. and Therren Shelton-Szmidt to Middle Tennessee.) A fifth star, junior Elizabeth Balogun, is on the list of many of the top DI programs...including Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana.  

Robins is averaging 22.6 ppg so far this season and is a key component in Mercer's stifling defense...that can go from zone to man and not lose anything. She's also one of the main bombardiers from the stratosphere on a squad that also includes twins Faith and Lexy Lake (committed to Southeast Missouri) and 6'1" forward Emmy Souder...who is Coach Souder's niece...as is Robins. 

Keeping it in the family has worked over the last couple of seasons for "Uncle Chris" and Robins started catching schools' eyes and attention as a seventh-grader. Her choice came down to either Louisville or Kentucky and she was clear on why she chose the Cardinals: 

"It was definitely a combination of things. I've always really loved the coaching staff at Louisville and it's a wonderful family environment that just made me feel at home. The players are really comforting and inviting." 

How much was she influenced (or influence) friend and Kentucky Premier teammate and 2017 UofL commit Lindsey Duvall from Bullitt East we'll probably never know...but Coach Souder and Bullitt East skipper Chris Stallings have been friends for years and promote a family atmosphere in their programs. Both schools have that small-town feel and atmosphere...Bullitt East about 15 miles out of Louisville and Mercer County about an hour's drive away from the KFC YUM! Center. Duvall changed her commitment to Louisville over Kentucky in late July...about two weeks after Robins said "yes" to the Cards. 

Jeff Walz has had a pattern of having a local or state-area player or two on his roster since he arrived at Louisville. Candyce Bingham, Monique Reid, Tia Gibbs, Nita Slaughter, Sara Hammond, Shelby Harper and now Jessica Laemmle are names near and dear to Cardinal women's basketball fans. Duvall and Robins will keep that tradition alive and you can expect that they'll also bring a large contingent of fans up US 127 or US 150 to the KFC YUM! Center to watch their hometown heroes. 

It's been mentioned to us here in the past that UK and Matthew Mitchell do a better job of recruiting the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A scan of this year's UK roster includes six players from Kentucky, so that may bear out as accurate. How many final fours (or even Sweet Sixteens?) has Mitchell been to, though? And part of that Kentucky immigration occurred because of the clearance sale, all-items-must-go Mitchell move over the summer. 

Home-grown isn't always best, although we do believe here at Cardinal Couple that Duvall and Robins are "cream of the crop" and will make several Final Four excursions in their time at Louisville. 

Guards with motors that run all day at high speed. It's a Walz trademark. Witness Briahanna Jackson and Asia Durr on the current team. Plus Jazmine Jones, Taylor Johnson, Jessica Laemmle and Sydney Zambrotta. Duvall and Robins are from that same sorority. We can't put either in our "Attack Yorkie" classification...since they are both over 5'6"...but they easily qualify for the "Six or less and creating a mess sparkplugs". 

Mercer County entertains 46th. District foe East Jessamine tonight at 6 p.m. It's a pretty easy drive from Louisville if you want to catch the game. 

paulie
xxxxx

Lindsey Duvall & Chris Stallings Interview -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

BULLITT EAST SENIOR FOCUSED AND READY FOR SENIOR SEASON AND BEYOND

For just a minute, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. Waiting to talk with Bullitt East head girls basketball coach Chris Stallings, I did a double take when he introduced himself to me. 


He was wearing a UConn women's basketball t-shirt. 

Was I on the brink of finding out something new in the recruitment of the talented Mt. Washington senior? Was Geno or Chris Dailey about to pop around the corner grinning in glee? 

No worries. All is well. 

"It's just what I put on this morning. I talked to our athletic apparel supplier this morning. There's a lot of red and black stuff on the way." Stallings related. 

It appeared to be an easy give-and-take between Stallings and Duvall when they sit down to do an interview. They sometimes finish each other's sentences. One will nod in approval after the other makes a statement. It's been going on a long time. Lindsey started playing basketball at the age of four. It wasn't too long after that Coach Stallings noticed. 

"At halftime of our games, in between games...we let the kids there go out and shoot on the floor. I started watched Lindsey...maybe in the second or third grade...her older sister played for me, you could tell at an early age she was sticking with it and she was going to be a player. She wasn't afraid of anything. A lot of people wouldn't go to the concession stand, they'd stay in the stands and watch her on the court. I'd tell people 'You gotta watch this little girl out there'. That's the beauty here...I've watched kids grow up and go through our varsity program...our summer camps. For me it's rewarding. I can help them move on." 

Lindsey noticed a pain on the side of her knee last summer. There was also a big bump. It started out as an occasional thing. By October, it became constant. As she tells it:

"So I went to the doctor and they found a benign tumor. Basically, it was eating my bone away. So, they went in and got it out. At first we didn't know if it was benign or not. That was the scary part. There were some sleepless nights."

Even though Duvall was siding with UK verbally at the time, there was a constant caller. Coach Stallings reveals:

"Coach Walz was calling me. Checking on how she was doing. How she was handling things emotionally, mentally. He was concerned as a person, not just as a coach. That really meant a lot. It showed the care and compassion of the man, the program and it's culture." 

There is work to be done. Walz, Stallings and Duvall all agree that she needs to work on the pull-up, mid-range jumper. She has taken that to task. One area where it appears she is "good-to-go" is free-throw shooting. She's a 80% plus shooter in her career. She's made almost 100 in a row in practice. She shoots them with her eyes closed and hits them. 

A great and revealing interview on Thursday with the two. You can hear the entire interview on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR Saturday at 11 a.m. On WCHQ 100.9 FM locally and on the internet for all at www.crescenthillradio.com


paulie
xxxxx



  

Battle in the Bluegrass

Sunday Cardinal Couple

-Are you ready? It's Cards vs. Cats Sunday at 6 p.m.

( We happily give the pre-game preview from our most excellent columnist Jenny O'Bryan. We are so pleased and impressed with her synopsis that we are foregoing inserting any pictures. The straight and un-diluted Jenny...coming right at you....Enjoy it. We'll have the game recap later today.)  

The Louisville Cardinals defend an 8-0 start today at The KFC YUM Center at 6:00 p.m. with a nationally televised game (ESPNU) pitting two top 10 ten teams against each other, and a inter-state rivalry like no other.  The Battle of the Bluegrass!  Louisville Cardinals vs. Kentucky Wildcats, #6 vs. #8, and both led by young coaches who are changing the landscape of women’s basketball in the state of Kentucky. 

Kentucky leads the overall series 30-17,and they won last years match up 74-54.  The home team has won each of the last 4 match ups (convincingly) and Louisville looks to keep the home team winning ways alive for another year. 

The Wildcats enter the matchup 5-1 with their only loss coming to Baylor.  They are led by Louisville native, senior All-American candidate A’dia Mathies who is averaging 14.5 ppg, who also leads the team in assists, steals and 3 point shots made.   Junior forward Samarie Walker leads on the boards averaging 8 boards per game and junior forward  DeNesha Stallworth leads the team with 11 blocks this season.  

The Wildcats are loaded with talent, across the board.  Look for them to pressure the ball early, and hard.  Coach Matthew Mitchell indicated in their loss to Louisville two years ago, at The YUM Center, the crowd really rattled his team.  Look for them to try to minimize that effect this year, by striking early and often.  Coach Mitchell likes a heavy guard line up and builds his system around pressuring the ball and creating turnovers.   He keeps fresh legs on the court substituting at times.Like last year... an entire line up at a time. 

A likely starting line up for the Wildcats will include the aforementioned Mathies at guard, sophomore guard Bria Goss, junior guard Maegan Conwright, and junior forward/centers Walker and Stallworth, mentioned above.  Walker ( UCONN) nor Stallworth (California) saw minutes against Louisville last year due to transfer rules.
 

Stallworth will be a force in the paint... leading the team with blocks this year, but adds an extra challenge for defenders because she can knock down the 3.  This season will be Walker’s first full season playing for the Wildcats, allowed to play late December and all of conference and post season play last season.   

As mentioned before, Coach Mitchell keeps fresh legs in the game.  Expect a lot of bench play in this game.  The lone freshman in the class, Janee Thompson is seeing lots of minutes as is Jennifer O’Neill, Azia Bishop and Kastine Evans.   Like Coach Walz, the Kentucky bench is seeing a lot of time on the court and the bench riders likely could be a starter on any given day. 

I expect this to be a very physical game, the potential for a lot of fouls, and a fun exciting game to watch.  Kentucky has ventured away from their friendly confines only once thus far, travelling to Waco, Texas to take on Baylor.   Road tested this season they are not, and I believe this will be a huge advantage for the Cardinals today.  

Keys to a Cardinal victory:
 

Contain A’dia Mathies- While there are many weapons on this team, and any of them can hurt you on a given day, make no doubt, this is Mathies’s team.  The Cardinals must contain her. 

Valued possessions- I am sure this has been a talking point all week with Coach Walz and this team.  The Cardinals must take care of the ball.  Kentucky will cause turnovers.  Expect it, but limit it.  Additionally, the Cardinals cannot take mental breaks and contribute to this number by contributing with unforced turnovers.   Take care of the ball!

Free throws- With a physical team, the potential exists to shoot from the line.  Cardinals must do better in this stat.  3 missed free throws could be the difference in this game, let alone 10.   The Cardinals must make fouling a liability and must control this stat. 

40 minutes of basketball- At times this season the Cards have looked brilliant, playing great basketball on both ends of the court.  3 minutes later they have gone foggy and get stuck there for minutes or sometimes for an entire half.  Great teams play the entire 40 minutes, whether you are ahead, or behind.  This team must play the entire 40 minutes of good basketball.  I do not even think it has to be great basketball for 40 minutes, but good solid ball.  40 minutes. 

Full squad affair- Like Kentucky, our Cardinals have a deep and talented bench.  Gone are the days of a dominant, one player team.   Louisville has depth, and will need that depth, as a whole, to have a good game.  While is great to be in the position of a different player every game stepping up, to carry the load, this game is different.  All the girls need to have a good game.  A good game, not great, from every player on the team that sees minutes will equal a win.   

In many ways, Louisville and Kentucky match up in a lot of ways.  Both like to pressure the ball and have deep and capable benches.  This has the potential to be an exciting, back and forth match.  If both teams play to their abilities, it should be a close match, to the end.   This is a winnable game for our Cards.  I look for an extension of the undefeated season for our Cards as well as the home team winning streak, but more importantly, bragging rights for the next year on the hardwood.   

If you were on the fence about attending this game today, I cannot impress upon you enough the need to have butts in the seats.  DVR the game to watch at a later date, but show up, stand up, and stand out for this team.  As the 6^th man on the court we are invaluable to our teams success.  I have been excited to be a part of game changing crowds at many events and expect nothing less from the Cardinal Faithful today. 

One added bonus to get there early is the game day arrival of Nell Fortner and her Nell On Wheels event.  Starting at 5:00 p.m. in the lobby of the YUM Center look for former Auburn Coach Fortner for her game day interviews and activities prior to tip. 

This is a big one folks.  No doubt about it.  Likely the biggest game we will see at home this season, less the first rounds of the tournament.  There is a lot to celebrate right now with Cardinal Athletics.  Get out, show your support and let’s help our team defend home court!  I’ll see you there.  

If you cannot go, the game is on ESPNU.

Postscript 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Just spent about 30 minutes on the phone with former CARDINAL COUPLE columnist David Watson talking about today's game. The irrepressable Mr Watson also sent me this e-mail about the game.

" I see five key points today. First is Mo often and early. Second is controlling turnovers. Shoni and the Cards guards will be pressured the entire game. How well they respond to that is the deciding between a win and a loss. Next  is free throw conversion. The winner of the free throw attempts will win this one, in my opinion. Also, Louisville needs a huge game out of Sara Hammond. Scoring and on the boards. Finally, bench play is going to be crucial. This game will be played at a helter-skelter pace. If the Cards can get valuable minutes out of Jude, Shawnta and Nita, then they should be able to take the victory.

My prediction? It's going to be a thug-fest with both teams shooting 20+ free throws. Some late game heroics by Shoni and Mo pull the Cards from behind to win. 71-69. Cards."

(Editor comments: We cannot agree more with Jenny than stressing that CARDINAL fans need to be in the KFC YUM! Center early and make a lot of noise. Go talk to Nell Fortner or something if you aren't ready to sit. In the conversations we've had with the current Lady Cards...one thread rings true. The players respond and get fired up when they know that the arena is rocking early for them. Cardinal fans, you have your mission! Get there early, make it loud and wear your RED. It would please us in great deal to write about a UofL win in the MONDAY edition of Cardinal Couple. Help us make it happen!)


11 a.m. Sunday

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know about the UofL vs. UK WBB series

1) Since 1975, UK has won 30 times. Louisville 17. Great. UK fans will start calling the UofL Womens' team "little sister".
2) In the 21st. century, Louisville has won eight times, Kentucky five.
3) The most lopsided game was one of the first ones. In 1975, UK beat Louisville 75-37.
4) Dana Nichols attempted 17 free throws against UK in 1987...most by any player in the series.
5) Jill Morton made 12 free throws against UK in 2000...most by any player in the series.
6) Troya Landrum grabbed 21 rebounds against UK in 1989...secondmost in Cardinal womens' basketball history.
7) Jackie Spencer blocked six UK shots in 1985. Yuliya Tokova blocked five UK shots in 2006.
8) The Cards grabbed only 25 rebounds last year against UK. It was their season low.
9) The largest crowd to ever see the WBB team play a home game came against UK on Dec. 5th, 2010 when 22,152 saw Louisville win 78-52.
10) Both squads had 26 turnovers last year in Memorial Coliseum.

12:15 p.m. Sunday

Syd the Kid

Shayna Harmon #22

It's raining in Louisville. I hope it stops before game time. Can't have any weather-related factors keeping attendance down. Jenny texted me a few moments back and to tell me about a tweet she saw that 2016 prospect Shayna Harmon will be in town to watch the game, this prospect is going to be a big-time guard before she graduates. We also heard from Sydney Brackemyer's mom and Syd the Kid will also be in attendance. Cards fans, we really want Syd in this house...if you see either at the game today...please welcome them and tell them that we want them. Both are from the Buckeye state Ohio. Do you know how many current players on the UofL squad are from Ohio? Pop quiz time:



A) Sherrone Vails and Megan Deines
B) Cortnee Walton and Shelby Harper
C) Shawnta Dyer and Asia Taylor
D) Lindsey Wilson and Rose Hulman



(The answer is C.)

.
..
...

Kentucky High School Hoops: Kentucky's 2012 Class (Girls) Where Are They Going...

.
FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Donny has been busy.


-Reader submitted article: Casey Smith


-We read (and sometimes post) your mail


We lead Friday CARDINAL COUPLE off with a great story from Donny Yaste on his blog Kentucky High School Hoops. 

The Donald

We've had the pleasure of knowing young Mr. Yaste for several years now and we're quite impressed with his knowledge on all things Cardinal sports related. He's taken a step further and now has a site devoted to Kentucky high school basketball. 

Donny after announcing he, Shannon Ruffra, Josh Tinch
and the guy on the right were going to see if they could
replace Steve Kragthorpe's defensive line in 2009. 

We still have Donny listed on the CARDINAL COUPLE staff as an administrator. He's had to administer us back into our website a couple of times when we got locked out during the infamous hacker attack of January 2012. He's also written some great pieces for us, CARD GAME, CARDINAL DOMINANCE and THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL student newspaper. 


Donny is on track to get an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Louisville. That means he'll have expert knowledge on how to insert plugs into electrical outlets, change light bulbs and how to turn breaker switches on and off. 

Many people get Donny and Monkees bass guitarist Peter
Tork confused. Donny actually plays the bass better than
Peter but declined an offer to star in a planned
remake of The Monkees sitcom. 

We invite you to check out the link below where Donny lists where the Kentucky high school girl basketball players are headed to college.


And, check his site out regularly for great information on both boys and girls high school hoops in Kentucky. We appreciate and heartily approve of him giving coverage to both sexes. We wish more sites would. 


Kentucky High School Hoops 


We're sure you'll make his site a daily routine to stop at on your internet travels. He's on Twitter, too. Link below. 

Kentucky High School Hoops: Kentucky's 2012 Class (Girls) Where Are They Going...: I've put together a list where many of the top 2012 players from Kentucky will be playing next year. There are some that I couldn't find a d...

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

Since it is "reader submitted articles" Friday here at CARDINAL COUPLE...we wanted to share this article sent to us and written by 11 yr. old Casey Smith. Casey likes UofL women's basketball, volleyball and softball. She hopes to play for UofL someday and hopes to try out for her middle school team this fall.
She has never been to a UofL sporting event (distance issues) but hopes to see the Cardinal women in action this fall.


My Favorite UofL women's athletes
by Casey Smith

My name is Casey Smith and I am a fan of Louisville women's sports. I started watching Louisville women's sports back when Angel McCoughtry played for the basketball team and I have been a fan ever since. I have never been to a UofL women's game before but I have seen the basketball, volleyball and softball teams play on television. I love them all! I would also like to see the women's soccer, field hockey and other teams play someday and hope that they will be on television. I live too far away from Louisville to come to a game but my Dad told me that we might be able to come to Louisville one weekend this fall and go watch a basketball or volleyball game. I hope so! 


I like all of the players that play on the Louisville women's sports teams but I do have some favorites. 
Shoni and Monique are my favorite basketball players. Shoni can do anything on the basketball court! I bet she's going to be in the WNBA someday. Monique Reid can score anytime she wants to when she gets the ball under the basket. I missed not seeing her play last year and I hope she has recovered from her injury and does well again this year. 

In volleyball, I like Lola because she can spike the ball very well and she is always excited and fired up on the volleyball court. I also like Emily because she is another player that gets points and plays well. 


I have learned a lot about Louisville women's sports from the internet and all my friends know I am a big UofL fan. 
I would like to play for UofL someday in basketball or volleyball. I like reading Cardinal Couple and other Louisville sports sites and I hope you will use my article on one of your Fridays. Go CARDS! 


Casey Smith


( Our pleasure to run your article Casey and
keep cheering for those CARDS. If you get to Louisville for a game, be sure to let us know and we'll try to get you seats next to some great UofL fans we know!) 


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


Finally, this rather interesting e-mail ( author's name and location withheld by request). 


Many people in the Louisville area that are University of Louisville fans are upset that West Virginia was chosen for the BIG 12 instead of Louisville. I am a WVU lifelong fan that AGREES with you. I wish you would have gotten the slot and we were staying in the BIG EAST or going to the ACC. It was easy for me and my family to travel to away games against schools like Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Louisville and Cincinnati. Now, travel to away games is going to be much harder and more expensive. We have no tradition or rivalry built up with schools in the BIG 12 and I have no interest in travelling to places like Lawrence, Waco, Stillwater or Lubbock. If we were in the ACC, road games to Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Duke, NC, NC State and such would be a lot shorter and more fun. 

A lot of people criticize our fan base as being rude, unfriendly and "hillbillies". As a WVU fan since the early seventies, I can tell you that we do have our share of "rowdies" but I have found that most of the schools I have traveled to for away games have their share of them, too. I'll miss trips to Louisville. 


Your football fans are knowledgeable, passionate about their team and we found some great people to tailgate with over the years. What Louisville has done with women's basketball over the years is amazing, too. We've been to Freedom Hall and the KFC YUM! Center to watch women's basketball and consider your fan base among the best in the nation. The legendary coaches you've had. Crum, Pitino, Schnellenberger, Corso. All great men who are respected and admired world-wide. Louisville is known for great basketball. West Virginia? Jury's still out on that one.


You have your share of "rowdies" too. Maybe we can both agree that we're not as bad as the Memphis or East Carolina fans?


I like your CARDINAL COUPLE site. You cover women's sports very well and you aren't afraid to poke fun at yourself or tease about other programs. I wish we had something like it covering West Virginia women's sports. You wouldn't consider moving to Morgantown, would you?


So,  farewell to the BIG EAST. I'll still read your site. I hope you beat Pittsburgh one last time before they take off to the ACC. It should be us going there, instead, if you look at it geographically and logically. Who knows anymore about all this conference re-alignment. Maybe you'll come and join us in the BIG 12 down the road. Those Louisville road trips are road trips I'd love to take again. 


( Not much chance in us moving to Morgantown but thanks for the nice words and Good Luck in the BIG 12. Maybe we'll get there someday...)
.
..
...


  

Manual, Marion County advance in KHSAA Girls Tourney

.
SATURDAY with the COUPLE:


-Semifinals set for KY. Girls Basketball Tournament


-Softball kicks off Red and Black Classic today


-Pitino's guys knock off Notre Dame advance to title game


-CARDINAL COUPLE "Pick Em" NCAA WBB Challenge


-Time to Spring forward...


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

Marion County rolled past Hopkinsville in the quarterfinals yesterday in Bowling Green 67-30 to advance to the Kentucky High School Girls State Tournament semi-finals. Makayla Epps and Patrice Tonge had 18 each in the win. The Lady Knights finished the first half on a 10-0 run and the rout was on. They led by 40 early in the final quarter and are now on a 14 game win streak. Marion County gets Lincoln County today for a chance to go to the finals tonight. 


--Lincoln County earned their shot at the semi-finals with a 72-59 win over Magoffin County. They led by 10 in the first quarter but Magoffin County rallied to make it 40-36. Magoffin's leading scorer Jamie Castle had a shot blocked with a chance to cut it to two and hit the floor hard, spraining an ankle. She had to be carried off the court, finishing with 18 points. Emily Fox led Lincoln with 21.


Player to keep track of: 8th. grader Jazzy Howard had 21 points for Magoffin County in the loss.

--Louisville Manual demolished Montgomery County 71-33 in  quarterfinal action. Balanced scoring for the Crimsons...Kara Wright was one of three in double figures with 13 points. The Crimsons led by 14 at half and by 40 with a minute left in the game. They advance to play Lexington Paul Dunbar today...who ruined the chances for an all-Louisville semi-final match-up by knocking off Louisville Butler 70-52.


--Lexington Paul Dunbar took control early in this quarter-final contest and got 21 points from Morgan McEldowney (16 in the first half) in their win over the Bearettes. Louisville Butler could only manage 32.1% from the floor in their 10th. loss of the season. Danielle Lawrence finished with 16 in a losing effort. 


They wrap it up today in Bowling Green with two morning sessions (Marion County vs Lincoln County and Manual vs. Paul Dunbar) and the final tonight. Marion County defeated Lincoln 63-35 in regular season play. We'd love to see a Marion County vs. Manual rematch...they faced off back in January and the Lady Knights escaped with a 63-61 win over Manual...Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers had 16 each for Marion County in the two-point thriller. 


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


Cardinal softball hosts the Red and Black Tournament starting today at Ulmer Stadium. The Louisville sluggers will play four games in three days...starting with an 11:00 a.m. first pitch against St. Louis this morning.


Sandy Pearsall's diamond dwellers are 15-0 on the season and are 16/17 in the polls. Kristin Austin leads the team with a .469 batting average. The senior outfielder had five triple and three doubles on the season. She's followed closely by sophomore Taner Fowler at .440. Fowler has launched five over the fence this year -- a team high -- and driven in 16 runs. 

Louisville pitching this year just may be the best in Pearsall's 12 years as Cardinal skipper. The combined staff of Torrid Tory Collins, Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard have an ERA of 1.23, seven shutouts, 140 strikeouts an a no-hitter to their credit. 


St. Louis (11-9) comes into today's game after going 1-3 in the Missouri Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament. They lost to Missouri, Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State by a combined score of 21-2. They did manage a win over SEMO 5-4 in eight innings. 


First pitch at 11 a.m. The Cards play again at 1 p.m. against Michigan (15-5). The Wolverines are 15-1 lifetime against Louisville and won in Ulmer last year 2-0. Time for a little payback, ladies! 


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

NO! Not the Pitino again! 

WE don't normally go here, but...


Congratulations to the University of Louisville men's basketball team and their win over Notre Dame last night! The men advance to the finals of the BIG EAST Tournament to play arch-rival Cincinnati tonight. 


Are we back in Conference USA? 


UC defeated #2 in the nation Syracuse to reach the final...in overtime. UC head coach was a Pitino assistant before landing his first head coaching job at Murray State. WE always like to refer to him as Rick's "mini-me". 

Mick and wife appear interested in something.
Maybe an Austin Powers movie? 

"It's a hard, hard life..."

Cronin came to Louisville after serving as Bobby Huggins assistant at UC. From Cincinnati, Mick's dad Mutt Cronin was a legendary and successful high school and AAU coach in the area for years. The Cronin move to Louisville raised a few eyebrows, but Cronin claims he and "Hugs" are still good friends. Cronin finally made it back home when he accepted the head coaching position (I almost typed 'head job' in here but...hey, I did anyway!) and this is UC's first appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament title game. The Bearcats did defeat Louisville earlier in the season at Cincinnati 60-56. 

Good luck CARDS! 


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


Selection Monday will provide us with the match-ups in the NCAA Women's College Basketball Tournament. That doesn't mean that you have to wait until then to sign up for the CARDINAL COUPLE Pick 'Em Challenge, though! 


YAHOO! Sports is where our group's bracket (CARDINAL COUPLE) is...and it's really quite easy to sign up and be a part of it. You can even register with your Facebook, Google or Yahoo information automatically, if you want.


When you do, keep in mind that our Group ID is 814 and our password is ladycards. 

Can you predict the future of NCAA WBB hoops? 

Under the auspices of Commissioner Schneider, blessings of Paul & Sonja and supervision of Bill the Goat, we feel that you'll revel in excitement as the rounds progress and you are locked in friendly competition with other CARDINAL COUPLE readers and foreign dignitaries. 


Link to get you there below. Whaddya waiting for? Get over there, pronto...amigos! 


CARDINAL COUPLE WBB Challenge


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

Just a friendly reminder from your insomniac friends here at  CARDINAL COUPLE. Remember to set you clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed. It's that time of year again. Or do it next week, in a month or so...whatever. They're your clocks, your call. We have the staff Chimps busily at work as we type this...identifying clock locations, accuracy and ownership throughout the entire CARDINAL COUPLE complex and auxiliary facilities area. (At least that's what we sent them out to do...results may vary).
.
..
...