Wednesday Cardinal Couple - Softball at Baseball game

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Louisville Softball team throws out first pitch at UofL baseball game Tuesday night. (Photo by Charlie Springer-UofL
Card Game)

Wednesday Cardinal Couple

- Softball Team throws out first pitch at UofL baseball game.


-Game times changes for Saturday softball


-Kiyohara a true team player


The University of Louisville softball team took to the diamond a few days earlier than expected, and it wasn't at Ulmer Stadium for the NCAA Softball Regionals. 

Cardinal Couple's Sonja with Charlie Springer.  

Instead, Sandy Pearsall's squad traveled across campus to Jim Patterson Stadium to throw out the first pitch for the Louisville vs. Morehead baseball game. The Cards won the Senior Day contest 8-3 over the Eagles and used eight pitchers in the contest. 


None of the eight were from the softball team, as far as we know...but Collins, Leonard and Connell could have probably shut the Eagles down. 


Charlie Springer has the write up for you over at his fine site...UofL Card Game. Click the link below to read the Observer's observations.


Cards Send Seniors off in style with 8-3 win.


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ESPN has decided to pick up the second day of action at the Softball Regionals at Ulmer on Saturday. Not ESPN 2, U, 3, Classic or Desportes...but the original ESPN. 


They've also changed the start times for the games on Saturday. First pitch is at 3 p.m. now...when the  winners of Friday's games one and two will face off. The revised schedule:


Saturday


3:00 p.m.  GAME 3  Winner #1 vs. Winner #2
5:30 p.m.  GAME 4  Loser #1 vs. Loser #2
8:00 p.m.  GAME 5  Winner #4 vs. Loser #3


No changes to Sunday...and ESPN 2 still has the feed for that one...as far as we know. 

Jennie, Jennie !!

We'll see if Brent Musberger and Dick Vitale show up to do these. 


But, no problems if Jennie Finch does the color analysis again. Not only does she know softball...she's pretty pleasing to the eye as well.


Great opportunity for the softball Cards to get at least one game in on the flagship ESPN Network station. And, we hope one is all they'll have to play Saturday. That means that they've won two games and will be playing in the finals...scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.


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Cardinal softball player Hannah Kiyohara was selected to the BIG EAST First Team in the 2011 season. The freshman right-fielder started 42 of the Cards 49 games and batted .331 for the season. After such an auspicious beginning to her career, the sky looked the limit for the Auburn, Washington native. 


Instead, she became the Cards utility player her sophomore year. Seeing action in 35 of the Cards 53 games and starting 25 of them, Sandy Pearsall has used her at right-field, short shop, second base and also at designated hitter this year. 

We can't confirm it, but it is rumored she also filled in for J-Bone on public address duties and played the organ at games when Al Greener wasn't available.


When the decision was made to rest Kristin Austin and her sore hamstring in a couple of the BIG EAST Tournament games, Kiyohara took over right field and the Cards were in capable hands. 


Hannah Kiyohara defines the term "team player" and with Austin's graduation this year, we're confident that #24 will return to her right-field domain for the 2013 season. 

"Run over to the dorms, Becky, and see if
Hannah wants a little court time..."

Unless Sandy Pearsall loans her to Jeff Walz as a back-up point guard (she played basketball also at her high school, led the team in scoring and was First Team All-South Puget Sound League) or has her directing traffic at the corner of Floyd and Brandeis. 


If you need it done...and in a efficient "mannah"...call Hannah. 


( OK. Corny rhyme. We're outta here. See ya Thursday.) 
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Wednesday Cardinal Couple - BIG EAST Tournament next for Louisville Softball

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WEDNESDAY WITH THE COUPLE


-Louisville softball BIG EAST Tournament preview


-Taner Fowler


-Our choices for next BIG EAST Commish.


-Go Bode Go

The 2012 BIG EAST Softball Tournament begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 10th. Louisville will play in the second game of the day at 12:30 p.m. against the Connecticut Huskies. The Cards are the #1 seed and take a #8 national ranking and 50-3, 20-2 record into action at South Bend, IN and Notre Dame Stadium. 


The Huskies enter the tournament with a 21-26 overall record and went 9-13 in the BIG EAST. Last time out, UConn was swept in a three game series by Syracuse.

Amy Vaughan, senior OF/catcher for UConn.

Offensively, Amy Vaughan leads the charge for UConn. She carries a .306 average and has 13 home runs and 42 RBI's. Jennifer Ward has scored 29 runs and has a team-leading 25 stolen bases. Connecticut pitching is led by Kiki Saveriano, who tossed 135 strike-outs in 157 innings. Her record is 11-15 and her ERA is 3.25.


The teams did not meet during the regular season. Last time they squared off was in 2011 at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville. They split a double-header with Louisville taking the first game 5-1 and UConn returning the favor with a nightcap 5-1 win. Louisville leads the all-time series 9-5. 

The Cards have advanced to the semi-final round of the BIG EAST Tournament each year since joining the conference in 2006. Louisville last won the tourney in 2007. Syracuse was won the last two years and did it at Ulmer Stadium. 


When at bat, the Cards are led by senior Kristin Austin, who finished the regular season with a .401 batting average. She scored 43 runs and had a nation-high eight triples. Junior Alicja Wolny hit .374 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI's. Sophomore Taner Fowler checks in with a .370 batting average, a team best 11 home runs and 46 RBI's. 

On the mound, Louisville has three threats. Tori Collins is the ace of the staff at 23-1. Her ERA is 1.25 and she's recorded 171 strike outs. Just because Collins isn't on the mound doesn't mean opposing batters get a break. Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard are a combined 27-2 on the season and the trio of Cardinal pitchers have combined for a 1.33 ERA, 357 strikeouts and are holding the competition to a meager .183 batting average. Louisville has tossed 22 shutouts this year. 


The Cards face very stiff competition if they get by UConn. Next would be either South Florida or DePaul on Friday. DePaul dealt Louisville two losses in the three game series in Chicago back in late March-early April. Louisville swept South Florida in mid April at Ulmer but the Bulls have one of the best pitchers in the league in Sara Nevins. 

Three games in three days. Win the tournament and virtually guarantee that you'll host a NCAA Tournament Regional site next week at Ulmer Stadium. Increase on the most wins in a season in Cardinal history. 

Exciting times ahead for Cardinal softball. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be shown free and live on Big East TV. We originally thought the BIG EAST Championship game was to be shown on ESPN 2...but we've also heard ESPN U was having the broadcast recently. 


Good luck and best wishes to the Cards as they travel to South Bend for the tournament. Bring back the trophy, ladies and teach them what L1C4 is all about...


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Louisville sophomore Taner Fowler leads the Cards in home runs this season. The sophomore from Morganfield, KY. goes where ever Sandy Pearsall needs her. When Maggie Ruckenbrod was out with an arm injury at the start of the season, Taner took up residence behind the plate. She can also "cover the corners" by playing first or third base if needed. 


Need a strong bat in the lineup? Taner can DH. Very well, in fact. Her .370 average is third on the team. 


She also wears #11 when on the field. This makes her a favorite of CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Owner Sonja's...since that was Sonja's number in field hockey. 


Like Sonja, sometimes Taner will just burst out in laughter or a giggle spontaneously. No particular reason, some thought or memory flashed by and brought back a good feeling....a warm remembrance...a happy time.


Like Sonja, she lost her father unexpectedly while she was in college.

Taner's story is amazing. We've provided a link below that chronicles her journey. 


http://espn.go.com/espnw/college-sports/7900807/louisville-cardinals-sophomore-taner-fowler-swinging-missing-dad

We wish all the Cardinal softball players great success in the post-season. 


Excuse us if we cheer maybe just a little bit louder for #11...


The Courier-Journal ran this article on #11 
a few days back. It's a good read also.


http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120505/SPORTS02/305050197/Taner-Fowler-louisville-softball


A tip of the hat and hearty handshake for CARDINAL COUPLE writer Jenny for providing the links. We should probably give her a raise. Two rations of banana pudding a day? We'll get back to you.... 



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Joseph A. Bailey will assume the duties of BIG EAST commish until a new one can be hired. We're guessing they couldn't contact Beetle Bailey, ex-jockey Jerry Bailey was busy, defense attorney F.Lee Bailey wanted too much money and Bill Bailey wouldn't come home. 


There is no specific time-frame set for a new hire. It could take some time for the hiring committee of Moe, Larry, Curly, David Spade, Jerry Springer, Andy Dick and Jon Stewart to get together all in the same place and at the same time. Here is our TOP TEN list of candidates to replace Johnny: 

10) Charlie Sheen. Talk about "out of the box" thinking! And, he'd be sure to attend a lot of women's sporting events and gala BIG EAST party affairs. And, he could dress like he did in Platoon. That'll make sure no one else tries to raid the BIG EAST. Drawback is his relative in-experience in sports. Even though he was in a major league baseball movie, his Wall Street past might comeback to haunt the BIG EAST coffers.  

9) Terry Meiners. Local radio and television funny guy would add a sense of triviality and nonsense to a conference that takes itself way too seriously. The weekly tele-conferences would be "must see" TV and when it comes to lampooning note-worthy figures...no one does it better than 'Larry Miners'. They'd probably have to hire a chauffeur for him, though. No problem. Take the funding for a driver out of the St John's football budget.   

8) Paul McCartney. The Beatle would ensure great attendance at any BIG EAST sporting event he might attend. And, he could change up a few tunes to liven things up. Imagine him singing a re-worked version of Hey, Jude to UofL WBB sophomore guard Jude Schimmel. Or, Mean Mr. Mustard to UConn coach Geno Auriemma. Beatle wigs for everyone! 


7) Richie Farmer. Lil' Richie knows hoops! And, he's adept at adapting circumstances to fit the needs of the one, not the many. Perfect for a conference that has been raided more often than a prohibition speakeasy. Hit 'em with the "bro-stash", Wildcat! 


6) Commish Mark. We felt our very own Mark did a fine job running the CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA TOURNAMENT Women's Basketball Pick 'Em Bracket contest. The BIG EAST Commish job might be a step down for him...but sometimes, you take one for the team. We'd chip in Bill the Goat and Co-Co, too...if the BIG EAST hires him. 

5) Joe B.Hall/Denny Crum. We like the easy banter that Joe and Denny have on their radio show. We feel it would translate easily to a BIG EAST job.


JOE: "Doggone it, Denny. We've got to stop teams from leavin' the dad-gum conference!" 
DENNY: "You're right, Joe. Let's take them fishing." 


4) John Calipari. Wouldn't have to worry about playing Indiana in this slot and he could learn all about football from "World Wide Wes"...whose taught him everything else he's ever learned about sports. 


3) Dr. Phil. The BIG EAST has a ton of troubles going on. Dr. Phil solves problems. Enough said.

2) Sgt. Schultz. The affable Hogan's Heroes actor is the best we've seen at non-information.


"I know nothing about conference expansion, Col. Hogan. I know nothing about lucrative television contracts!" Truly, a match made in heaven with a conference that doesn't have a clue.

1) Bobby Petrino. The BIG EAST has football woes. Bobby Petrino knows football. He can also tell BIG EAST athletic directors exactly what they want to hear. The drawback? Ol' Bob changes jobs every few hours or so...it might be a lead-in for him taking the head football coaching job at UK.  


Whoever the BIG EAST decides on, we hope that the winner keeps one important thing in mind...


They gotta live in Providence, RI. Line up, boys! 


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Finally, for today's horse racing fix...a video of Bodemeister's journey to his second place Ky. Derby finish...along with the preparation for the race. Good stuff, link below... Thanks to Jen Jade, from In the Money for passing it on! 


Go Bode Go
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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Cards sweep Georgetown series with Sunday win to go 25-0 at home. 


-Another McCoughtry

(Photo by Sandy Walker) UofL Softball team watches
highlights video on scoreboard.

The University of Louisville softball team said farewell to three seniors Sunday in the final regular season home game of the year and defeated Georgetown 3-0 to go to 47-2 on the season and 17-2 in BIG EAST play.

Collins delivers a two
hitter in five innings.

Senior Tori Collins pitched five innings of two-hit softball and Louisville put up a run in the third, fifth and sixth innings to defeat the Hoyas...who drop to 19-32 and 3-15 in the BIG EAST. 


A pitcher's duel through two and a half innings before Louisville broke the ice when Katie Keller singled with two outs in the bottom of the third and scored on Alicja Wolny's triple to give the Cards a 1-0 advantage.

Coach P 25-0 in Ulmer
in the regular season.

Louisville added their second run when freshman Whitney Arion led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on Jennifer Esteban's infield single.


The Cards increased the lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Maggie Ruckenbrod singled and Kirsten Straley came in to pinch-run and advanced on a ground-out and steal... touching home when Taner Fowler singled.

Louisville turned three
hits into three runs Sunday

Collins gave Louisville five strong innings after a shaky start when Georgetown had runners on second and third in the top of the first and just one out. She got Taylor Koenig on a play at the plate when Macensey Carter tapped a grounder to third baseman Kayla Soles. The throw to home and Ruckenbrod got the second out of the inning and Collins struck out the next Hoya batter to get out of the jam. 


Collins had five strikeouts on the day and sophomore Chelsea Leonard picked up her ninth save of the season with two innings of one-hit relief. 

Ruckenbrod's tag out at home kept
the Collins shut-out intact. 

Besides Collins, utility player Tesha Paysen and outfielder Kristin Austin graduate for the 2012 Cardinals. They discuss their career at UofL with Cardinal roving reporter Jared Stillman at the link below. Austin leads the BIG EAST with a .420 batting average going into today's game.




LINK:
UofL Softball seniors discuss their careers at UofL

Cardinal softball seniors Kristin Austin, Tori Collins
and Tesha Paysen

The #9 Cards travel to Knoxville for a game against #6 Tennessee Wednesday ( Hey, Fox Sports South...how about picking this one up for broadcast?) and finish up the regular season Derby weekend with three games at St. John's on May 5-6. Then, it's BIG EAST Tournament time in South Bend starting Thursday, May 10th...where the Cards hope to be the #1 seed. 


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We wonder if Rick would let
this McCoughtry ride his
McCoughtry?

We all remember the exploits of Angel McCoughtry on the court for the University of Louisville women's basketball. The Atlanta Dream WNBA star prepares for the start of the season in just a few days and will help pursue USA Women's Basketball's goals of bringing home the gold later this summer in the Olympics. 

We doubt the McCoughtry horse
can do much at the charity stripe...
even though the old Herb Crook
tongue move is in place.

There is another McCoughtry out there as well. This one is a 3 year old filly owned by Rick Pitino and trained by James Jerkins, Jr. called A.McCoughtry who ran today at Belmont in her second race ever. Despite starting dead last in the six furlong race, jockey Sam Camacho, Jr. got her motivated in the stretch and she finished a closing 4th in maiden special weight company out of nine runners. Back on March 25th, the filly from Overbrook Farms was a closing third at Aqueduct Race Course in her first race ever.


A.McCoughtry has won $9500 in two races and won't be running in the Kentucky Oaks obviously this Friday at Churchill...but is being kept in maiden special weight company -- which means no one can claim her out of a race and purchase her. (You know John Calipari...he'd probably try to pull off the dastardly deed.) 

Rick could start a stable of horses named
after Cardinal basketball players.  Would Kyle
Kuric or Asia Taylor make the cut? 

Pitino, the primary owner of RAP Stables, has also mentioned he was naming a couple of his young charges Gorgui and Peyton...after a couple of his current Cardinals. 


Hey, maybe the Cardinal coach will make a habit of it. Anyone up to seeing future Pitino fillies named M.Reid, T.Gibbs or S.Schimmel take the oval at Churchill Downs down the road? 
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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE...Golf, Tennis, Softball and Mercedes

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Women's golf finishes 16th in North Carolina


-Women's tennis falls to Tulsa


-Softball in the BIG EAST


-Mercedes narrows list


-Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic needs a overhaul


-"Rally around Bobby" planned


The Louisville women's golf team finished their three-day meet in Browns Summit, NC with a 16th place finish in the Bryan National Collegiate tournament. They posted a team score of 941 for the 54 hole event. Tennessee won with a score of 882, defeating Duke in a playoff. 

Emily Haas is from West Jessamine HS

Senior Candice Wiley led the Cards with a 73 in the final round. Her three-day total of 232 matched that of Louisville freshman Emily Haas, who fired a 77 Sunday.  


Red shirt freshman Katie Petrino carded a 81 on the final day and finished three strokes back of Haas and Wiley for the three days with a 235. Freshman Sara Karlsson's 80 on Sunday gave her a 245 total. Maria Castallanos toured the final round with a 78...good for a 247. 


A lot of youth contributing on this year's team. Last year's leader Anna-Karin Llungstrom should be back from thumb surgery to compete in the BIG EAST Championship April 23-25 in Orlando, FL.


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Rough outing for Louisville tennis yesterday in the Bass-Rudd Center, falling to #26 Tulsa 7-0. 


"We ran into a very good team today. Sometimes you just have to give credit to your opponent for playing so well." --UofL head women's tennis coach Mark Beckham. 

Fellerhoff lost 6-3,1-6,6-3 Sunday

Julia Fellerhoff took her singles opponent to three sets before falling. The rest the Cardinal singles participants went down in straight sets. The loss snapped a five-match UofL winning streak. Louisville is 10-8 for the season. The BIG EAST Championships are three weeks away and Beckham indicated that the Cards might be a squad no one wants to face because of their improvement since the season began.


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Louisville softball is among the statistical leaders in quite a few categories in BIG EAST softball this season. Here are some of the categories that Sandy Pearsall's squad (33-2) top the league in and the BIG EAST standings as of 4/7/12. 


TEAM HITTING


Batting average..............1. Louisville (.318)
Slugging percentage........1. Louisville (.484)
Doubles........................1. Louisville (52)
Triples..........................1. Louisville (13)
Hits..............................2. Louisville (291)


TEAM PITCHING


Opp. batting average.......1. Louisville (.171)
Strikeouts......................2. Louisville (249)
ERA..............................2. Louisville (1.26)


INDIVIDUAL HITTING


Batting average...............1. Kristin Austin (.407)
                                        10. Taner Fowler (.359)
Hits...............................1. Kristin Austin (44)
Runs.............................1.Kristin Austin (30)
Triples...........................1.Kristin Austin (7)


INDIVIDUAL PITCHING


ERA...............................2. Chelsea Leonard (1.06)
                                         5. Tori Collins (1.25)
                                         7. Caralisa Connell (1.55)


BIG EAST STANDINGS


USF  8-0, 35-5                      Providence 4-4, 13-21
Notre Dame 3-0, 19-10         Pittsburgh 3-6, 20-17
Syracuse 5-1, 24-9               St. John's 2-5, 14-21
DePaul 5-1, 21-12                 Villanova 0-6, 25-12
Louisville 6-2, 33-2               Seton Hall 0-6, 18-21
Connecticut 6-3, 17-14          Georgetown 0-6, 15-23
Rutgers 5-5, 15-20


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2013 UofL women's basketball target Mercedes Russell has named the ten school that are in the running for her services. An impressive list, for sure. 
The Springfield, OR star is the #1 ranked recruit for the 2013 class and from what we've seen of her on video, it's a just and fair assessment. Click the link below to see who "made her cut". 


Top 10 for Russell


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 The announced crowd for the Derby Festival Classic in the KFC YUM! Center Friday night was slightly over 6500. This is a far cry from the glory days of the event back in Freedom Hall when over 16,000+ attended. 

Quite frankly, the Kentucky Derby Festival committee has dropped the ball on this event. Other high school Classic events have become more popular and the festival's inability to land UK future stars has killed the attendance. 


Also, moving the event to Thurs-Fri hasn't helped. Pulling the Night of the Future Stars from Bellarmine University and sending it to New Albany High School was disappointing as well. We understand the reasoning, since several future IU ballers were taking part in the slam dunk, three point shooting and 2 on 2 competitions...but it isn't the "New Albany/IU Night of Future Stars" and more than a few probably chose not to cross the Sherman Minton bridge and watch. 

Add a girls game to the event. 

Maybe having just one UofL future star hurt attendance. Maybe they need to ADD A WOMEN'S GAME to the activities -- like the top Classics do. Maybe they need new leadership, organizational staffing and a hook-up with a major sponsor. Maybe they're tired of our advice...but the numbers don't lie.


WE didn't attend this year. It's the first time we've missed this annual event in over 20 years. And, honestly...besides not getting together with friends we usually attend with...we didn't miss it.


Also, we used to receive several e-mails each year from the marketing folks who promote the Classic...some well in advance of the two-day event...with news, features and stories. Those disappeared this year, too. 


Get a new strategy, KDF. This used to be one of the top two post-season high school basketball classics. 


It isn't anymore. 


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Finally, supporters of embattled University of Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino have planned a support rally Monday night at 7 p.m. in front of the university administration building. We couldn't pass on this. 


Here's the "Top 10" on the rally. 


10. Supporters leave notes taped to the steps explaining why they didn't show up


9. Everyone shows up on motorcycles with 25 yr. old blondes riding on the back.


8. Bobby shows up nailed to a cross and wearing a crown of hog tusks.


7. The movie Pinocchio is shown immediately after the support rally.


6. Louisville and Atlanta Falcons fans hold a counter-rally at the Fayetteville airport. (In secrecy, of course)


5. John L. Smith is flown in from Weber State just in case things get out of control.


4. A blonde, vestal virgin from the football staff is sacrificed at the rally. 


3. Feeling slighted, the University of Arkansas basketball team schedules a "Support Mike Anderson" rally at the same time over at the basketball arena.


2. Former UofL women's basketball coach Tom Collen shows up on a moped not wearing a helmet. 


1. It's a hoax...designed to draw attention away from Petrino's secret decision to become the new head coach at UK. 
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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE...SOFTBALL GOES TO 28-0

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Austin's blast gives CARDS 1-0 win over UK


-BECKY BURKE to participate in 3-point challenge tonight


-"One Shining Moment" 


-How crazy is the UofL vs. UK rivalry?

Kristin Austin's first home run of the season couldn't have come at a better time. The senior right fielder from Hartsburg, MO. led off the top of the fourth inning by planting a 3-2 pitch from UK pitcher Chandra Bell over the left center fence for a solo home run that proved to be the only run of the game. It was the most important of the six hits UofL managed against Bell and UK reliever Rachel Riley Wednesday night in Lexington and only the second career home run for Austin in her four seasons as a Cardinal. 

It was also the first hit of the game for the CARDS off Bell in the game. She and UofL's Tori Collins had produced a pitchers duel through three innings...Collins allowing just a double to Brittany Cervantes in the first and single by Lauren Combess in  the home half of the second while striking out two Wildcats.

The CARDS staved off a seventh inning rally by UK to notch their 28th. win with no defeats. Chelsea Leonard, on the pitching stripe in relief Collins, got Griffin Joiner to pop up for the first out of the inning. UK's Ginny Carroll worked Leonard for a base on balls, though. Leonard looked like she was working her way out of the jam by striking out Ellen Weaver...but Combess reached first on a UofL fielding error and Carroll went to third on the play. That brought Gaines to the plate...who had entered the game in the bottom of the fifth as a pinch hitter for Krystal Smith...and Leonard got the save by getting Gaines to strike out swinging.


Another exemplary pitching performance by Collins and Leonard...allowing just two UK hits and none after the 2nd inning. 


And, for the Cardinal bats, a home run blast by a singles hitter. 

The Cards head to the Windy City this weekend to take on their BIG EAST foes DePaul for three games. The Blue Demons are one of the favorites to capture the BIG EAST regular season title. It'll be the first home game of the season for the Blue Demons (16-10) and their first BIG EAST game of the year as well. Two on Saturday and one on Sunday for these two squads...first pitch at noon. 


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UofL women's basketball standout senior Becky Burke will participate in the 24th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-point Championship tonight in Fogelman Arena on the Tulane University campus. The event will be shown on ESPN at 9 p.m. EDT.


(Just in case you wondered...Burke WILL be popping threes and not trying to do a Brittany Griner impression)


Besides Burke, seven other WBB seniors will be playing string music in the shootout. They are:


Brittany Rayburn (Purdue) -  Jess Jenkins (St. Bonnie)
Ashley Corral (USC) - Taylor Alton (Michigan State)
Courtney Ingersoll (Toledo) - Alyssa Shoji (S. Clara)
Markeisha Grant (South Carolina)


(Thanks to Commish Mark for the player roster) 

If you're already down in "Nawlins" and are reading this, admission is just $8 for UofL alumni. How you prove you are an alumnus is beyond us...but belting out the UofL Fight Song for the ticket sellers might do the trick...


Burke is the first UofL women's basketball player ever to take part in this contest, to the best of our knowledge. She finished her career third on the all-time 3-pointers made at UofL with 249. Kristin Maddox made 271 (1992-96) and Sara Nord had 260 (2000-04)


Square, set, release and follow through...double B!!


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We all know the poignant "One Shining Moment" song that is played at the conclusion of the final game in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Here's a glance at the first ever showing of it...from 1987. A great article that accompanies the video goes into the writing, discovery and history of the song. Notice how young Rick Pitino looks on the Providence sidelines and what a meanie Bobby Knight is during the clip. 


WE always loved the way Luther Vandross did this song and wish CBS would return to that version of it. Lose the Jennifer Hudson version, please...CBS.


Who hasn't daydreamed that they were in this thing...cutting down the nets and celebrating your buzzer beater to win the championship game?


And, wouldn't it be great if someone could come up with such a dramatic and popular accompaniment for the end of the NCAA women's basketball tournament? 


We hope that this year's version of it has plenty of Cardinal clips...including a final shot of UofL players celebrating the National Championship. 


Enjoy the clip. And, it's OK if you get a little misty eyed. We did. The Syracuse cheerleader's expression at the 3:54 mark...priceless! Almost looks like a young Geena Davis.


One Shining Moment


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Finally, we give you this article link about the rivalry between UofL and UK. It's by Gregg Doyel..who WE go hot and cold on as far as his journalistic reports. 


Heaven help the loser 


56 hours to tip-off and counting here at mission (out of) control @ Cardinal Couple. The annual chimp UK vs. UofL banana creme pie fight is today at 1 p.m.


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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-UCONN DEFEATS NOTRE DAME


-BIG EAST Final...the usual suspects. Notre Dame vs. UConn


-Girls about town


-Arion named BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week.


-Russell has Cards in the mix. 


-Pick 'Em down to four contestants


GAME REPORT : UCONN 63 - NOTRE DAME 54


1st half
HOO...wee! We got a barn-burner in the XL Center. 31-30 UConn at the half. Notre Dame up early. UConn goes on a 15-3 run and eventually leads by ten at 27-17. Irish battle back and end the half with a 13-4 run to get within one. Kaila Turner with the clutch three as the clock gets near 00:00. Both Novosel and Peters with two fouls each for N.D. The offense disappeared for Geno's group in the final few minutes. Here we go... 


2nd half
And your 2012 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT championship goes to....the Connecticut Huskies. A 63-54 winner tonight. Strong Husky defense, poor Irish shooting in the final twenty and questions on why Notre Dame got out of the zone that had UConn baffled at the beginning of the half. More on this in the Wednesday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. Will this knock the Irish out of a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? 


GAME PREVIEW

It has come down to this.


Notre Dame and Connecticut will vie for the BIG EAST Tournament crown tonight in Hartford's XL Center. Most of us expected this. The St. John's and WVU insurgents have been driven from the palace gates. Rather rudely, in fact.

Loading up the truck and headed
to play the Okies! 

The combined 59 point margin between the pretenders and the royalty yesterday serves to show us that payback is hell, there is no rainbow at the pot of gold in Hartford and that the early season wins by the Red Storm and Mountaineers were flukes and nothing more.

Kim Barnes Arico will get another chance next year.
All but Da'Shena Stevens return for her.

We do like the fact that St. John's is returning four out of their five starters next year. They'll be poised to make another charge at the palace gates. As for WVU...we give them a superficial "prom wave" as they pack up the wagon and gather the kin to head to the midwest "promised land" to join up with the BIG 12. 


We wonder how Mike Carey feels about all this. Instead of fairly short trips to Pittsburgh, Washington, Louisville and Cincinnati -- the road excursions will now be to Norman, Waco, Lawrence and Stillwater. 

Will Big East Commish John "Marinara"
grace the finals with his largeness?

Of course, it doesn't matter how he, or 14 of the other sports available on the Morgantown campus feel. It's all about the football. Just as Jed Clampett packed up the family and moved to California in The Beverly Hillbillies, the football program is dragging the school to greener pastures in the nation's heartland. 


I guess...


We hope Louisville follows.  


Who will win tonight's game? To get a read on the masses...we went to the 'Pick Em' selections. Paul likes Notre Dame. So does Sandy and Jenny. Sonja and David Watson like UConn. We looked at all 56 entries in the contest. 23 of you had UConn as your winner. 23 of you had Notre Dame. 10 of you had neither. A lot of help that was...

Hasn't played for the BIG EAST
title since 2007. 

Whoever wins tonight gets bragging rights for another year. The Huskies have had those BIG EAST Tournament champs bragging rights since 2008. In the larger scheme of things, it's not that important...both schools will end up #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. 


But for the now...for the immediate...it's huge. Should be a fun one tonight. It's a ESPN view, straight ESPN game with no numbers or letters. Game at 7 p.m


Leave at the half to watch NCIS or stay with the BIG EAST tonight? Tough decision.


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Good stuff from buddies Shirley and Ellis Blanton on a surprising Monday for them. 

Asia was probably there for
the ham and pineapple pizza.

"Just to let you know that Ellis and I, plus our granddaughter Lily (who lives near Knoxville) were out having a bite to eat after a movie yesterday (Monday) and in walked Tia Gibbs, Bria Smith, Asia Taylor, Nita Slaughter and Sara Hammond! They were so sweet to Lily --telling them their names, asking her questions, signing their autographs and then having her repeat their names. Of course, she did, because she is a "die hard Card fan" even though she lives in "Orange" country. 

Will sign autographs
in restaurants. 

Also in the restaurant were softball players Jordan Trimble and Kristin Austin. They also talked to Lily and signed autographs as well. What a great experience for Lily and what great representatives of UofL women's sports teams! 


(Editor's note. We need to bring Lily on board here at Cardinal Couple. She's had more success in talking to players in one afternoon than we've had in two years...)

Thanks for sharing, Shirley. A great story! If we know the girls...Asia was probably watching Lily's plate to see if she could grab it away ( a rebound!), dish it to Bria (outlet pass) who'd drive it to the kitchen (penetrating the defense) and either pass it to Sara for a refill (shot from the paint) or send it to Tia or Nita for a long range toss into the dishwasher.  (THRRREEEE GIBBS!! THRRREEEE SLAUGHTER !!). 


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Whitney Arion, a freshman on the Cardinal softball team has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week after her assault on pitching down in Knoxville this past weekend. Arion batted .500 with four hits (two of them home runs) and drove in five runs. She's a shortstop or designated hitter, whatever Sandy Pearsall needs her to do, and it's obvious she does it quite well. Caralisa Connell was selected to the BIG EAST honor roll for her six-inning no hitter over Memphis. 


Louisville hosts The Red and Black Classic this weekend at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards play two on Saturday...taking on St. Louis at 11 a.m. and Michigan at 1 p.m. We think you should go and take in both games...


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From CARDINAL COUPLE writer Jenny, a great link on Cardinal WBB target from Oregon...Mercedes Russell. Encouraging things in this read...


Mercedes drives Springfield to Oregon State Tournament

Having her as a part of the 2013 incoming class would make it the best in UofL women's basketball history. Speaking of 2013 recruits... congratulations to Marion County's Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers...who won the 5th Region title and are going to be one of the favorites and team to beat
in the State Basketball Tournament. 


It's time to move this thing to Louisville and put it in the KFC YUM! Center or at the very worst, Freedom Hall. Is the rest of the state that stupid not to realize that Louisvillians love and support girls basketball with attendance? 


Probably a David Williams mastermind and plot to keep it away from the largest city in the state.  


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Finally, it's down to four contestants in the CARDINAL COUPLE BIG EAST Pick 'Em and one game to go. Here's the scenario:


Willie. The lone undefeated player at 14-0. He has Notre Dame winning the title. We finally got an e-mail from him, giving us some background details. It's printed below this article. 


PDX Phil. At 13-1 and with Connecticut winning the title, he's the only one with a chance to beat Willie. Phil's a regular reader and sends good e-mails and comments


Sandy. Our CARDINAL COUPLE writer is 13-1 and has Notre Dame taking the crown . She can't win...but could take second. Louisville's loss to St. John hurt her.


Smitty. The affable plumber says he knows very little about women's college hoops. He's 13-1, so he must know a little something. Has UConn winning but can't win the contest (see below)


If UConn takes the title tonight, PDX Phil wins the Pick 'Em and Smitty finished second.Phil wins the "tie-breaker" between he and Smitty because he had all the final four teams correct. He wins the tie-breaker against Willie and Sandy because he had the tournament winner.


If Notre Dame takes the title tonight, Willie wins the Pick 'Em and Sandy takes second. 


Good luck contestants! 


CARDINAL COUPLE Writers totals....aw, forget it...we're at the back of the dog sled and can't see the lead dogs. Sonja isn't repeating as champ, Paul and Jenny have four losses and David's threatened bodily harm to me if I list his final four and winner. That's doesn't scare me...bring it, Hoosier...but I agree, his picks were pretty embarrassing. 


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Willie M. is undefeated in 14 picks in the 'Pick Em' contest. He writes:


Hey Cardinal Couple. Sorry took me so long to get back with you.  Here some things about me and my excellent picks. I live in West Virginia. Near Huntington and I am a Marshall not West Virginia fan. Did not go there. I went in the Army after getting out of high school and made career of it. Been stationed in lot of places. Germany, Japan, plenty of places here in states. Even at your Ft Knox and Ft Campbell. I am from West Virginia originally and come home after retiring three years ago. My wife from Louisville so that is my Cardinal Couple connect. Sonja probably don't remember this but Brooke play basketball in high school with her. She a senior when Sonja a sophomore. She do a search online for some old teammates and that how she discover Sonja again and Cardinal Couple. You all crazy with all that chimp, goat and Cletus stuff but you write good articles too. 


My picks no big deal. They was pretty basic in first round except I liked Marquette over Cincy becuase I don't like Cincy becuase Bob Huggins coach there before he go to WVU and I still don't like him. Was the only reason I pick Marquette. 


The second round I just go with all the lower rank seeds and it turn out OK. I pick the lower seeds again in the next except WVU over Georgetown. Just a guess. Brooke a bigger Cardinal fan than me and she tell me WVU beat Louisville but Louisville beat Georgetown. I got lucky.


I liked Conn and ND to play in the final all along. And I like the ND to win it becuase they beat Conn already two times this year. So there it is.


(Thanks, Willie for the background! And Sonja does remember Brooke. Says she fouled a lot in games but was a good scorer.) 
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