Worldwide's Holiday Wish List -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas to Cards fans the world over.  I was, as I suspect most of our reader was, raised in a Christian tradition.  So Merry Christmas to you.  To those who celebrate in other religious traditions, Happy Hanukkah, Habari Gani, blessed Kwanzaa  and even Happy Festivus!

It is at this season in the year when we almost a habitually look back to review the year past, and look to the new year and make plans and wish for better.  The general consensus seems to be that 2016 was mostly a dumpster fire, so let's look to the future.

So here are my Christmahanukwanzikah Cardinal wishes.  And I may throw in a Festivus Airing of a Grievance just for good measure.

Free Throw Shooting

I like the letter "F".  It's a fine letter.  It's fun, it's fancy, it has plenty of typographic features.  It's footloose and fancy-free, and it's free to all.  I would dearly love to give away some genuine Cardinal Couple "F"'s to the Women's Basketball team.  We just need to hit some stinkin' free throws.  I think at this point, Paulie would probably even award a lower-case "f" for free throw percentages in the 65% range just as a measure of good faith.  Get your shots up over the break, please.  Let's F this place up!

Deep Runs

I've become quite the fan of Lacrosse and Field Hockey over my years of writing (and radio show co-hosting) for Cardinal Couple.  These are two teams that have remarkably similar circumstances overall.  They have been steadily building their respective programs in recent years into national powerhouses, they both compete in an ACC conference lineup that is far and away the dominant conference in the land for their respective sports, and they both have struggled to get beyond the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Let's keep in mind, however, that these tournaments are among the smaller NCAA sports tournaments.  Field Hockey has had only 18 teams in the past couple of years and Lacrosse, 24.  That means even the opening rounds of these tournaments are already very stiff competition.  There is no shame whatsoever in the success of these two teams over the past couple of years, but man oh man wouldn't it be magically if they could go at least a couple of rounds deeper into their tournament runs.

Think of the lift that would provide to these programs.

A New Day

It's a new dawn, a new day, and I'm feeling good (with apologies to Michael Bublé), about UofL
Volleyball.  2016 was a pretty tough year to be a volleyball fan at UofL, but we've got a new head coach and associate head coach.  We can look forward to another great hire to assistant coach, and we're looking for a new resurgence in this program.  For now, I'm not asking for miracles and immediate national championships...though I certainly wouldn't turn one down.  I want to see this program built, like the Lacrosse and Field Hockey programs have done, over time to be a perennial national powerhouse.  I think we've got the potential to do it, we've got a coach, who in typical Tom Jurish fashion, is being given a shot to prove herself.   I don't think Dani plans to miss her chance or throw away this shot.  (Thanks, Eminem, and Lin-Manual Miranda)  Let's start with just asking for a great season of volleyball.  I'm not asking for a national championship, or even necessarily a deep run in the NCAA.  Let's build this program right and get it on an upward trajectory.

A Wish and a Grievance

I've hit this topic before, so I'll keep this one short, but I still see this happen, so I like to keep the idea on this one out there.

The student-athletes at the University of Louisville represent the school, they are Louisville Cardinals...all of them.  Some schools will delineate their women's teams by calling them "The Lady Mascots" (fill in the mascot of choice for the school), sometimes to some comical effect ("Lady Bulls"?).  UofL makes a distinct point of not doing that.  All of the student-athletes at UofL are "Cardinals" plain and simple.  To call the men's teams "The Cardinals", and the women's team "The Lady Cardinals" would give the appearance and impression that the men's team are more representative of the school and program than the women's team are.

Please, let's try to stamp out the usage of "Lady Cards" when it comes to UofL.  If other teams wish to call their teams Lady Bulls, or Lady Vols, or Lady Whatevers then that's their choice.  UofL has chosen to be bold in supporting the women's teams at UofL and present them as full representatives of the school, let's support them in that.  This is reflective of the deep commitment and approach to women's athletics at UofL, where there is no distinction drawn between the different programs, and their support within the athletic department.  I, for one, am proud of how UofL handles this.

A Radio Break

We're taking a break from radio this week, due to Christmas Eve commitments for us and Kathy, the amazing engineer that produces the show for us at WCHQ.  We hope to be back on the air next week with plenty of basketball to catch up on.

-- JMcA

SHONI, ANGEL and The Dream are coming -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

WNBA DOUBLE-HEADER AND SEMINAR HIGHLIGHT WEEKEND

In case it may have slipped your mind...the Atlanta Dream will be part of a WNBA pre-season double-header at the KFC-YUM! Center Saturday night. There's also a great seminar going on Friday at the YUM! with some very impressive dignitaries. Here's the scoop: 

ATLANTA DREAM TO HOLD INSPIRING WOMEN E.N.E.R.G.Y. SEMINAR SERIES LUNCHEON MAY 21 IN LOUISVILLE

--- Seminar, which will include former U of L standouts Angel McCoughtry and Jude Schimmel, will discuss “The Future of Women in Sports Leadership” ---

ATLANTA, May 14, 2015 – The WNBA Atlanta Dream announced today that it will hold a luncheon for its Inspiring Women E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series presented by The Coca-Cola Company on Thursday, May 21, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

The topic for the luncheon will be “The Future of Women in Sports Leadership” and will feature an impressive array of panelists, many of whom will be in Louisville for the Atlanta Dream Classic – a doubleheader of WNBA games to take place on May 23 at the KFC Yum! Center. Headlining the lineup is former University of Louisville All-American and Olympic Gold Medalist Angel McCoughtry, currently of the Atlanta Dream, as well as another former U of L standout, Jude Schimmel, who just completed her career with the Cardinals and will be signing copies of her new book, “Dreamcatcher”.

Other panelists include Kara Lawson, currently of the Washington Mystics and a basketball analyst for ESPN, as well as another former Olympic Gold Medalist; Anne Donovan, head coach of the Connecticut Sun; Angela Taylor, President and General Manager of the Atlanta Dream; and Christine Herring, Senior Woman Administrator/Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Louisville. The event will be moderated by ESPN and FOX Sports basketball analyst LaChina Robinson. The event will also include a recorded video interview with Atlanta Dream owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler.

“The Atlanta Dream is proud to showcase our Inspiring Women E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series with this event in Louisville,” said Taylor. “This will be a great opportunity to learn from an accomplished panel of women with a broad range of viewpoints on the direction women’s sports are headed. We are pleased to add this to the programming surrounding the Atlanta Dream Classic, and we know that the folks at the KFC Yum! Center will help us put on an outstanding event.”

                                                                  

The Inspiring Women E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series, which is also sponsored by the Marriott Atlanta Marquis, Cooper Global, SpeedPro Imaging and Georgia Lottery, focuses on personal and professional development for women, targeting college level, young professionals and executive level women.

The E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series is a central component of the Dream’s Inspiring Women platform, which supports the team’s objective to empower women. The platform is built on six key components:

·         Empowering – Identifying topics that resonate with women in Corporate America such as career mapping and providing platforms to gain more knowledge on same

·         Networking – Providing forums for women and men to connect with and learn from other like-minded colleagues

·         Engaging – Hosting events that allow our community to engage with one another and celebrate inspiring women as well as serve as a culmination of our recognition, networking and empowering activities

·         Recognizing – Identifying and showcasing women and girls who have positively impacted others through their deeds and accomplishments

·         Growing – Providing growth opportunities for all people who interact with the initiative whether it be on a personal or professional level

·         Year-Round – Emphasizing visibility and action 365 days a year

Tickets, which cost $40, can be purchased by clicking here, contacting inspiring.women@atlantadream.net or calling 1-877-977-7729.

 University of Louisville women’s basketball season ticket holders and waitlist members are eligible for a pair of exclusive events this weekend at the 2015 Atlanta Dream Classic in the KFC Yum! Center.

Surrounding the first WNBA event in the Cardinals’ home venue, which features a doubleheader on May 23, season ticket holders and waitlist members can take part in a private signing with Jude Schimmel for her new book ‘Dreamcatcher’ and also participate in a meet and greet with members of the Louisville women’s basketball team.

Fans must have a ticket to the event to gain admission into the KFC Yum! Center. In order to attend the events, fans must have a photo ID and at least be on the waitlist by noon on Friday.

Schimmel, whose book will be sold on site for $20, features her struggles and upbringing on a reservation in Oregon, experiences after leaving home, and successes in college and abroad. The Louisville graduate will be signing copies from 4:30-5 p.m., leading up to tip of the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun.

Before the second contest between the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream, which boasts Louisville All-Americans Angel McCoughtry and Shoni Schimmel, members of the Cardinals’ women’s basketball team will be available in a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. until tip.

Fans looking to purchase season tickets for the Cardinals’ 2015-16 campaign can put down a $20 deposit per seat, and season ticket holders should expect renewal offers in June. A ticket office representative will be on hand to answer questions and take payment on the main concourse of the 100 level, or those interested can contact John Anderson at 502-852-8544.

paulie

Much to be thankful for -- Jeff Walz keynote speaker at UofL WBB Luncheon -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

The UofL women's basketball luncheon Tuesday afternoon at the Galt House drew a sold out crowd of over 700 Cards fans. Included in them was one very thankful man. 

Jeff Walz.

Walz spent the majority of his time on the dais thanking those who have helped make Cardinal womens basketball what it is today. Beginning with guys at the top...President James Ramsey and Athletic Director Tom Jurich...Walz went through the support staff and those associated with the Louisville squad and expressed his thankfulness with their efforts and sacrifices in keeping the program going. 

Paulie interviews Coach in the pre-banquet presser

He also spent time thanking his players for the success the program has had. As he likes to say:

"I've never scored a basket or grabbed a rebound in seven years here...but I'm very thankful and proud of those who have."

Lola Walz speaks for Coach at the presser

Walz is also very thankful for the fans who support WBB. University of Louisville women's basketball ranks seventh in attendance of both the men's and women's basketball programs in the ACC. There will be places the Lady Cards play this year that won't have as many in the stands as there were fans at the tables attending for yesterday's tipoff luncheon. 

Jeff Walz is also real. What you see is what you get. 

He tells it like it is and he makes sure his players know that

up front before they ever make that first visit to campus. If you follow the coaches instructions and give it your best...you and he will get along quite well. Two classic Walz axioms:

"I have players that tell me they are shooters. I tell them that's fine...but I need makers." 

"I have players come up to me during games and tell me that they are wide open. I tell them...there's a reason for that." 

This year's team, according to Jeff, could have a different look. Gone are the three-point bombers Shoni, Nita and Tia. Returning and arriving on campus is a strong arsenal of post and paint players that will likely provide the team's best chances of scoring. 

Walz also took time to catch the crowd up on the four graduated seniors. Shoni is touring the nation...passing up six figures to play EuroBall, to speak to Native American groups and conventions. Nita Slaughter is a graduate assistant at Drury. Tia Gibbs is the leading scorer in her EuroLeague. Asia Taylor has been the Player of the Week for two straight weeks in her EuroLeague. 

I was able to get some great interviews with assistant coach Sam Purcell, Megan Deines, Syd Brackemyer, Arianna Freeman (our next possible intern at CC?) and we'll play those sound-bytes plus the pre-banquet interview with Walz and much more on the Saturday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO on Crescent Hill Radio at 11 a.m.

All in all, a great 90 minutes with the Cardinals and plenty of Cardinal fans on Tuesday. Thanks to Ira Green for the great pre-banquet debriefing for me and Worldwide and also thanks to Matt Andrews (admittedly not quite out of baseball mode yet) for handling the emcee duties with aplomb. And...it was good to see many of our CARDINAL COUPLE readers and listeners and chat about UofL sports.

Jeff Walz is a thankful man. As Cardinal fans, we should be thankful also. Thankful that he is our head coach.

31 days until the first game. 31 was Asia Taylor's number at Louisville and also freshman Syd Brackemyer's number. 

paulie

Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Walz named assistant on USA WBB U18 National Team

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Staley, KBA and Walz to lead in FIBA Americas U18

Jeff Walz has the end of May planned for him already. It's when the trials for the 2014 USA Women's FIBA U18 National Team will be held (May 23-27) at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He'll be an assistant coach for the team...Dawn Staley (South Carolina) assuming the head coaching duties and Kim Barnes Arico..."KBA" as we refer to her here at CARDINAL COUPLE...also being selected as an assistant.

Here's what the Louisville WBB head coach had to say about the honor:

" I am honored to have been selected to represent USA Basketball as an assistant coach for the U18 Women's National Team. Since beginning in this profession, the realization of this endeavor has been a life-long ambition. I am thrilled to be amongst some of the greatest collegiate coaches and hope to contribute both on and off the court. I appreciate USA Basketball for recognizing my passion and will work diligently to help mentor and coach some of the most talented women in the game."

To participate in the trials, players must have been born on or after Jan 1, 1996. They receive invites to try out.

An interesting sidebar to the selection process is that a committee, and not the coaches, make the selection on who makes the squad. All the coaches do is coach who is selected.

This, of course, eliminates any potential favoritism situations that could possibly arise. A scan of the 2010 and 2012 rosters shows them heavily laden with UConn and Tennessee players...but no coaches from either school were coaches on these teams.

Sometimes, talent does win out.

Where the actual games will be played has not been officially decided yet or released. Eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean will participate in the games, which are held every two years.

Whether any of the future Cards will have a shot at the squad remains to be seen. We'll keep you updated.

paulie
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Shoni named to John Wooden Award Watch list

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- SHONI NAMED AS ONE OF 21 WOODEN FINALISTS

The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced that senior guard Shoni Schimmel was one of 21 players named to its John R. Wooden Award Women’s Midseason Top 20 today. This list is comprised of 20 student-athletes who, based on individual performance and team records, are the front-runners for college basketball’s most prestigious individual honor. The list is chosen by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board. This year’s midseason list contains 21 players, not the traditional 20, because Duke’s Chelsea Gray was voted to the list by the media based on her play so far this year, despite suffering a season ending knee injury last week.

Schimmel was named to the preseason list after being a key player in the Cardinals' success last season. She was named the Most Outstanding Player for the Oklahoma City Regional. She also earned WBCA All-Region honors and first team All-BIG EAST honors.

This season Schimmel is leading the Cardinals in scoring with 17.5 points per game. She also leads the Cardinals in three-point field goal percentage, connecting on 37 percent. She ranks fourth in the conference in scoring. She also ranks second in the conference in free throw percentage and second in three-point field goal percentage. She leads the conference in three-point field goals made with 3.5 per game. She currently ranks third on Louisville’s all-time scoring list with 1,826 points.

 

 

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CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR WILL BE ON CRESCENT HILL RADIO THIS MORNING @ 11 AM. WORLDWIDE AND PAULIE DISCUSS WOMEN'S SPORTS AT UOFL FOR AN HOUR !!

 

JOIN US!

 

LINK:

WE TALK...YOU LISTEN 

 

paulie

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Tuesday Cardinal Couple

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( JEFF MCADAMS DELIVERS THE TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE WITH A REVIEW OF THE LOUISVILLE WIN OVER QUINNIPIAC, GOOD NEWS FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL NEWS. ACCORDING TO COACH, WE ARE THE WORST "EFENSIVE" (NO 'D')
TEAM AROUND. OFFENSE...NO PROBLEM, PAL...)

 

Basketball Beats Quinnipiac

Coach Walz didn't like the defensive effort from his basketball team tonight.  If you don't believe that, just ask him...he'll tell you...multiple times, as Matt Andrews found out in the post-game interview.  Walz also took a bit of a shot at the free throw shooting, at least the free throw shooting in the second half, which did fall short of our 70% benchmark that we use here at the Cardinal Couple.

In fact, Walz was so emphatic about the UofL team not playing well, that you could be forgiven for thinking that we had lost the game, or that it was at least close.  It wasn't, really.  The Cards get the win with another century mark, 100-82.

The free throw shooting was not as good as it should be, and the defense was a bit sluggish, but we did win the game solidly, and there were bright spots in the play.  Sara Hammond looked great with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but I believe the player of the game should be Jude Schimmel.  Excellently fulfilling her role as the primary attack yorkie of the team, she was one of the only players that showed a spark on defense.  Add in a career high 16 points, and only 3 turnovers, season with some of the most heady play on the court for either team, and you have a player that showed how it should be done.

Big sister Shoni had a bit of a rough night shooting, only hitting one of her 13 attempts.  On the plus
side of that equation, though, she did dish out 11 assists.  Nita Slaughter had a hot hand early, ending up making five of her eight 3-point attempts.

With the win, the Cards will host LSU on Thursday night in the Semifinals of the WNIT.  Come early, if you're one of the first 2,500 people (21 years of age or older) through the door, your first beer is on Jeff Walz.


POST GAME STATS BELOW


http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/game02.html


WALZ ADDRESSES THE MEDIA

(Wait for it...near the end, Coach Walz informs me that my beer on $2 night Thursday will be slightly higher...)  LINK BELOW:


MY BEER IS $20 on Thursday says Coach WALZ

UConn injury report

UConn's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis went out of their game against Stanford in an ugly fall where nearly all of her weight landed on her arm, and particularly her elbow.  Early reports are that her elbow is very swollen and she is in considerable pain.  Mosqueda-Lewis is one of many weapons that UConn has at their disposal, but her loss is a blow to the team.

Top ranked UConn did go on to solidly beat the 3rd ranked Stanford Cardinal 76-57.

As much as we here at Cardinal Couple want to see UConn get knocked off their perch, we never want to see it at the expense of the health of a player.  Best wishes to KML.

Soccer to Host in NCAA

The women's soccer tournament draw was yesterday and Louisville will be hosting Illinois State Saturday afternoon at 1pm.  The Cards got an at-large bid after finishing second in the AAC and being eliminated from the conference tournament by Memphis is a double-overtime game.

Illinois State gained their berth in the tournament by winning, for the third straight year, the MVC conference championship.  Illinois State and Louisville have never met in women's soccer play.

Beating Illinois State will earn Louisville the right to play either Milwaukee, or more likely, the three seed in the tournament, Michigan State.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students (with student id) and kids under 18.

Weekly Volleyball Honors

OK, all together now...

Maya McClendon picked up another Freshman of the Week honor from the AAC.  This is the 5th
time she has picked up this award.

Emily Juhl was named to the honor roll for the week on the strength of her 29 kills in the weekend, as well as 6 aces against SMU.  She also became only the 16th Cardinal to reach 1,000 career kills.

Getting no love from the AAC, is Caitlin Welch, who got 46 digs on the weekend, reaching the 2,000 career dig mark that we've been watching for during the Houston game on Friday.

-jeffmcadams

Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Walz receives two year contract extension

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-UofL WBB head coach Jeff Walz receives two year contract extension.


-Olympic Opening Ceremonies. What did you think?


- ANGEL OFF BENCH LEADS USA TO WIN


Tom Jurich realizes the importance of good coaches. 

University of Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz received an additional two years on his existing five year contract with UofL. The add-on extends his contract to coach the Lady Cards through the 2018-19
season. Financial terms weren't made available.


Details are as follows. Coach Walz is under a rollover type of contract. This type of agreement means that the five year term automatically is renewed each year. 


Jurich offered this to Coach Walz after the 2008-09 season, a season where Louisville was the national runners-up. 

Walz's new contract adds a few perks. A retention bonus for staying at least four years and an additional bonus if he fulfills the entire length of the contract. 


What it means for the University of Louisville women's basketball program is stability and security under the tutelage of one of the finest coaches in the nation.


He also stresses the academic excellence he expects out of each player who suits up for him. 


It also, hopefully, puts an end to the rumors circulated last year that other universities might be in the hunt for Walz's services.  


Walz is 119-56 in five years as the Cardinal women's basketball head coach. 

Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, we're very excited to hear this news and it strengthens the concept that we believe Coach Walz is out to make a reality...to make Louisville women's basketball a contender on the national level year-in and year-out. 


The man is tireless and relentless in his dedication and efforts to bring the best talent in high school to the University. He's got more frequent flyer miles than a lot of major corporations. His staff is stellar and, as a tribute to his teachings...two of his original assistant coaches here at Louisville are now head coaches of their own programs.


LINK:


 Walz presser after DePaul win


You don't waste good. You don't let good get away. You encourage good to keep getting better and you reward good. 

Jeff Walz is good. The man wants to build a top-flight program here at Louisville. 


Tom Jurich has signified that he's "all in" when it comes to that. 


And, that...basketball fans...is fantastic news. In an era where coaches jump around like transient fleas in a kennel, Jeff Walz has indicated he is staying put.


And, why shouldn't he? Look at the athletic director he gets to work for. Look at the facility his team plays in.
Look at the fan base that flocks to University of Louisville women's basketball games. 


Louisville women's basketball is good. Very good. It's poised to become great. Reaching the status of a UConn, a Tennessee, in terms of national championships is possible...to borrow the words of legendary football coach Howard Schnellenberger:


"The only variable is time."


Jeff Walz has time to build his dream. 


Charlie Strong and his coaches advise Cardinal football fans to "get on the train". We advise Louisville women's basketball fans to "get in the Yum, great things are going to come." 


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Did you watch the opening Olympic ceremonies last night? WE were with a few friends and members of 80 Under 80 last night and saw portions of it. The storms that rolled through Louisville Friday evening had the Dish TV signal down for periods of time. 


What we did see was typically British odd and strange. 


Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) was...at least...pretty funny. LINK BELOW.


Bean in the Orchestra


A parachuting Queen, though?


Right...


Tons of pre-Industrial Revolution laborers walking on a big clump of dirt? 


Yep.


At least Paul McCartney didn't disappoint. If you made it that far. 


Bring on the games. And spare us the hype. 


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The USA women's basketball team was having more trouble than expected with the Croatian squad in the first game of pool play. Croats up by three? Surely you jest! 


Geno finally used his noggin and sat the UConn starters. Enter (guess who?) #35. 

The talented Ms. McCoughtry scored 13 points, had three steals and two blocks (at least) in a reserve role as the USA team pulled away under her guidance and won 81-56.


Yeah, I know. Basketball is a team game. No one player does it all on their own. McCoughtry's spark, enthusiasm and play...along with the other subs who entered the game with her...quellled and quieted the inspired Croats, though and USA is now 1-0 in pool play. 


WE like Augustus, Big Syl, Angel, Harding and Maya Moore on the court together, Geno. They just may have saved your bacon today, pal. 


Angel. Yeah, she's a Cardinal. Any other questions? 


USA, USA, (not UConn) USA! 
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Final set for NCAA WBB...Bears vs. Irish

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-UofL Softball falls to DePaul 3-0


-Notre Dame, Baylor to play Tuesday night for title


-CARDINAL COUPLE Pick 'Em Contest has a couple of scenarios left. 


-Chunky Monkey and other assorted Lady Cards cinema


The University of Louisville softball team finished their three game series against the DePaul Blue Demons with a 3-0 loss Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Kirsten Verdun was the only pitcher to beat Louisville (29-2) this year and she duplicated the feat again Sunday...limiting the Cards to just two hits. 

This one was decided early. By Verdun. After two DePaul players reached on a walk and error in the bottom of the first inning, Verdun cleared the bases with a bomber over the left field fence. 3-0 DePaul. 


Louisville would put their two hits together in top of the sixth when Whitney Arion and Maggie Ruckenbrod started the inning with singles. Verdun, though, retired the next three Cardinal batter to eliminate the threat. 

The Cards return home and will host the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday. Tickets are $5 and available at the UofL Ticket office. CARDINAL COUPLE will be there to cover the game and even offer to take a turn at the plate and see if they can help shore up the absent offense of late.


Louisville managed just one run against the Wildcats last week and scored just six runs in three games vs. DePaul. It's obvious to us that the competition level Louisville has been facing has taken a step up...as has the pitching.


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


The NCAA Womens' Basketball Championship Game will take place Tuesday night in the Pepsi Center in Denver and the participants will be Baylor and Notre Dame. 

The Irish survived a frenetic final minute against UConn last night to stagger into overtime. Notre Dame broke open a 70-70 tie in the extra session, though, with some timely threes from Brittany Mallory and Natalie Novosel to send the Connecticut Huskies home 83-75.


Have to wonder...if Step Dolson hadn't been saddled with four fouls most of the second half...could the Huskies have continued the dish and paint play that led them to a three point half-time lead? 

Notre Dame returns to the final game to take care of some unfinished business. They were there last year and lost to another BIG 12 school in Texas A&M. They get the Baylor Bears (39-0) Tuesday. 


Baylor took control midway in the first half in their game against Stanford last night and despite the double and triple teaming of Brittany Griner by the Cardinal defense...Odyssey Sims and teammates were able to step up and win 59-47. 


Tuesday night will be a re-match against two schools who met earlier in the season. Baylor won that one 94-81 in Waco. 


We'd also like to extend our congratulations to the KENTUCKY WILDCATS for their Saturday win over UofL and wish them the best of luck tonight against the Kansas Jayhawks this evening in he NCAA Men's Final game.

Act like you've been there before, Wildcat fans, regardless of the outcome. 


Burning couches and automobiles are bush league. Celebrations are meant to be such that, not random acts of violence and destruction. Moderation is the key.

Our second nominee for the "What was I thinking?" award goes to former UofL and current Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino, who dumped his motorized hog in the streets of the Razorback State Sunday. Petrino was hospitalized but is not in serious condition. 


WE say...seriously? Especially to the governing board of Razorback sports. You're paying HOW MUCH? a year to this guy to guide your football team and there's no codicil in his contract that prevents him from being Easy Rider? 


And, to you, Mr. Bob...pretty silly behavior for someone in your position, sir. Or...is this your next job-jumping career move...leaving college coaching to become the next Evil Knievel? Cue up the Steppenwolf golden oldie Born to be Wild.  


Whatever...


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


Speaking of final match-ups and destructive behavior...we get a report from Commish Mark on the CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA Womens' Basketball Pick 'Em Tournament. 


Going into the final game the top five are:


Paul's Experimental Bracket (which does not count) 148 
stark61 142
PDX Phil 131
Marks on Walz 127
LouavulFan 126


Lady Cards bracket (Commish Mark) is 12th with 112 points BUT CAN STILL WIN. 


SOME NOTES, SCENARIOS and OBSERVATIONS

-Looks like the P.E.B. (Paul's Experimental Bracket) "WINS" regardless of how anyone else or how the Baylor vs. Notre Dame game ends up. This bracket, which came out of the highly secretive CARDINAL COUPLE Think Tank and Sandwich Delivery Division deep in the secret lair of CARDINAL COUPLE far below the Parrish House facilities, was constructed by some of the world's most brilliant and "out of the box" (more like out of the "Ha-Ha" hotel) thinkers, dreamers and dissidents. 


-In reality, it was just taking the better seed in each of the 63 games. Some food for thought for next year. Paul thought he had a second entry and his picks entered as well in the contest. We've been able to determine that special Scandinavian scanner and hacking technology was used to enter the CARDINAL COUPLE Bracket Picks and remove this apocryphal entry. We'll get you next time, my pretties...


-stark61 is your winner if Baylor wins Tuesday and this entry would have a total of 174 points.


-Lady Cards is your winner if Notre Dame wins. This would give Commish Mark 144 points...narrowly defeating stark61

Paul has a statement prepared for media outlets at the conclusion of the CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA WOMENS BRACKET PICK 'EM CHALLENGE and CRAWFISH BOIL. Here's an exclusive peek at it: 


"I offer my sincere congratulations to _______________, the winner of the second annual CARDINAL COUPLE WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET PICK 'EM CHALLENGE. You are the fortunate winner of the Panera Gift Card and you have earned the respect, admiration and acknowledgment of participants worldwide with your superior skills in bracket selections. As competitors on the field of honor, we all are winners today...regardless of how our brackets did. At CARDINAL COUPLE, we pride ourselves and are in gratitude for our readers' philosophy that sportsmanship, competition and hard work are the real winning features of contests...not just the final score. 


The great philosopher and iconic spokesman George Carlin once commented that there are seven words you can't say on the air, and I'd like to incorporate all those in congratulating you....but I'm late for darts...so, way to go________________and here's to you! (Extends hand and gives one-finger salute). 


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Mark also sends these video clips of Lady Cards Asia Taylor, Nita Slaughter and Bria Smith. Ah, for the fun and carefree days of college again...


Chunky Monkey


Singing It

(The second one is best viewed if standing on one's head)


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Senior Day, Becky Burke

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Lady Cards, Becky Burke in final home game

The Cardinals take to the court at The KFC YUM! Center for the last time this season on Saturday, February 25 vs. DePaul with a 12:00 p.m. tip time. This is also Senior Day. Becky Burke is the only healthy senior on the squad and will play in front of her home court fans for the last time.

Before we wish Becky farewell, perhaps we should take a small trip down memory lane to remember how she found her way to Louisville. Did you know that Becky was originally recruited by Coach Susan Walvius and signed to play with South Carolina? With a coaching change prior to her arrival to South Carolina, Becky re-opened her recruitment and found her way to the University of Louisville.

Upon her arrival at Louisville Becky was quoted as stating that she “brings energy, toughness and shooting” to the team. When asked what her Sport Center Highlight would be Becky stated, “knocking down a 3 pointer at the buzzer to win the National Championship”.(Louisville Women's Basketball Media Guide, 2008-09) While that is not exactly the highlight reel to date, she came eerily close in her freshman year.

In her freshman season Becky was known as a stand still shooter on the wing. Her job was to stand beyond the 3-point line, wait for Angel to kick the ball out and shoot her shot. She saw action in 38 games. Becky led her team at the foul line shooting 88.4%. Late in her freshman season she hit the proverbial freshman wall. She had a tough February, which garnered her a heart-to-heart talk with Coach Walz, and later Coach Norman. It was that talk with Coach Norman, Becky stated, that set the stage for Becky’s post -season play. Becky went on to have great post-season play, guarding some of the best players at the time in Kristi Toliver (of Maryland) and Whitney Hand (of Oklahoma). Becky hit some clutch 3 pointers in the game vs. Oklahoma and was on the only team in Louisville Women’s Basketball history to make it to the Championship game. While the Cards went on to lose that game against UCONN in St. Louis, it was an incredible run and the freshman who was supposed to be at South Carolina found herself on the national stage with the rest of her team celebrating an outstanding post-season run.

(Photo by Charlie Springer - Card Game)

Her sophomore season Becky started all 32 games. This was a rebuilding year for the Cards. Becky led the team in assists averaging 2.9 per game and ranked second on the team from the foul line at 80.4%.

As Becky’s junior season rolled around and came to an end she had amassed staggering numbers as the 3 point baskets continued to drop and she shot a razor sharp 91% from the charity stripe.

As Becky’s senior season quickly arrived, and has rapidly come close to the end of her career, she is just a shadow of the player that arrived on campus and to the Louisville community 4 years ago. Gone is the stand and shoot player on the wing, and instead a more mature, confident player who moves about the court. Over the years the ball handling has grown, defense has improved,the precision from beyond the arc has continued to grow, and Becky has learned to dribble penetrate and has continued razor sharp precision from the charity stripe. As the lone senior on this team, since the knee injury to Monique Reid, Becky has led by example stepping up to fill the gaps of injured teammates and transferred players.

Becky surpassed the 1000 career point mark early this season against Murray State. In a very recent match up against Syracuse Becky further established her nickname as “Big Shot Becky” knocking down 8 3 pointers tying four other players for the most 3 point baskets in a game. Becky is 12^th on the all time scoring list with 1213 points and 3^rd in career 3pt. goals at 235, 25 away from tying the second place holder, Sara Nord.

While these are all very impressive numbers and Becky will long be remembered by Cardinal Fans as having a great 3 point shot and hitting big shots, when it counts, I will remember a few other things, too.

Jenny O'Bryan (left) is a
contributing writer for
Cardinal Couple and a
big fan of UofL women's
sports.

As a fan, I do not know Becky personally. The above information was gathered from news articles over the course of the last 4 years. I did not interview Becky for this piece. I have met Becky over the course of the last 4 years on 4-5 different occasions. On every occasion, and a very recent occasion in the lobby of the YUM! Center after a volleyball game, Becky has been an approachable, gracious and appropriate face of the University. She has always been genuine in her small talk and went out of her way to meet my stepdaughter at the volleyball game when my stepdaughter not so subtly pointed across the lobby and at the top of her voice stated “that’s Becky Burke!” The star-like status she has acquired over the years at Louisville has not dampened her approachability. I truly appreciate that, Becky. I appreciate that you took the time to go out of your way to introduce yourself and meet my kiddo. My guess is Becky has done that thousands of times over the course of her career. It makes an impression, and a difference, to young female athletes (my kiddo included). Thank you!

Way back in her freshman year, at that heart to heart talk Becky had with Coach Norman, Coach Norman apparently asked Becky to come up with 5 positive attributes about herself. The news article went on to say that Becky had a hard time doing so, as she was in the middle of a bad stretch of her freshman year and was terribly down on herself. Coach Walz was quoted at this same time as stating, “when you actually invest in this, you’re going to be a good player”.("Burke leap of faith pays off", ESPN, 2009)

I think as Becky’s senior season comes to a close Coach Walz would say that Becky did invest, and she has become a good player. I also imagine Becky could easily come up with 5 things she likes about herself. If not, I have a few that come to mind:

Character.

Heart.

Courage.

Passion.

Toughness.

Phenomenally.

(We wish Becky and the rest of the Lady Cards the best of luck and a win against

DePaul tomorrow and a big thanks to our Jenny for a revealing, heartfelt and great tribute to one of the most popular and talented players to ever don the Cardinal colors.)

Finally, check out this link from April of 2009, quoted above. Great read on Becky's contribution in the post-season run in 2009:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/ncaatourney09/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=4047517




THE LINK BELOW:


Click here


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Sonja with UofL
Softball team.

Happy Birthday to CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Owner and Managing Editor Sonja today! CARDINAL COUPLE might not be in existence if it wasn't for her. She was writing for Charlie Springer at Card Game and several other places and told me she wanted to start a blog exclusively about women's sports at UofL.

Now, over two years later...CARDINAL COUPLE receives over 2000 hits a day. Sonja doesn't write much anymore - preferring to handle the managerial and editing aspects of the blog - but is still a essential part of the site. 


Happy birthday, little "deer" Love ya mucho!

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