CARDINAL COUPLE

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Showing posts with label Matt Bevin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Bevin. Show all posts

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Asia, Arica and Sam selected in WNBA Draft -- Just hush, Matt...--THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


THREE UOFL WBB PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2019 WNBA DRAFT



Asia Durr was selected second overall in the WNBA draft for 2019 last night by the New York Liberty and teammates Arica Carter and Sam Fuehring were picked by WNBA squads in the third round of the draft. Arica went to the Phoenix Mercury as the 32nd pick and Sam to the Washington Mystics as the 34th pick. 

It is the second time three Cards WBB players have gotten picked by WNBA squads in the same season. Back in 2014, Shoni Schimmel went eighth to the Atlanta Dream, Antonita Slaughter was the 35th pick in round three by the Los Angeles Sparks and Asia Taylor was the final, and 36th. pick of that year's draft, going to the Minnesota Lynx.

All told, 11 University of Louisville WBB players have heard their name called by WNBA teams inn the past 19 years. Jill Morton (2000), Lori Nero (2003), Angel McCoughtry (2009), Candyce Bingham (2009) and Myisha Hines-Allen (2018) are the previous selections who played at Louisville. 

A bit of a surprise, for many, to see Durr go second and not first. Jackie Young, from Notre Dame, who recently decided to skip her senior year with the Irish -- was the #1 selection and will go to the Las Vegas Aces.

It's hard to say why the Aces went with Young instead of Durr...although some analysts thought that Young's game would be well suited for the Aces, though and Durr goes to a club, in the Liberty, that finished 7-27 last year and has no real standout scorers besides center Tina Charles. 

Arica joins a squad in Phoenix that has Diana Taurasi as their main guard and also the duo of Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner in the paint. Phoenix made it to the finals of the WNBA Playoffs last year before losing to the Seattle Storm in three straight games.


For Sam, a chance to reunite with Myisha Hines-Allen in Washington. The Mystics, 22-12 last season, feature Elena Della Donne as their main scorer. 

All in all, the first round featured five ACC players getting selected (Young, Durr, Arike Ogunbowale, Kiara Leslie and Brianna Turner). Two players from the ACC went in the second round -- both from Notre Dame (Jessica Shepard and Marina Mabrey). The third round featured four ACC stars (Carter, Fuehring, Paris Kea and Regan Magarity). The 11 ACC picks were, by far, the largest representation from a conference. The PAC 12 and SEC had four players drafted and the Big 12 three. Five foreign players were also selected.  

It is the first time in WNBA history that a college team's staring five have been selected. Notre Dame had all five starters go in the first two rounds. 

The chance to play in the WNBA for three of Louisville's finest ever. A tribute to the excellent coaching staff on the Belknap Campus. Players reaping the rewards earned by their hard work, dedication and commitment to getting better each day. 

Jeff Walz? Yeah, he's worth every penny and then some. What's that, Matt? He can't coach? 

(Which leads to...)


JUST SHUT UP, BEVIN

(The following is Paulie commentary on Matt Bevin's recent slander on social media and on-air of University of Louisville's head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz. It may not reflect the views of the other writers and staffers here at CARDINAL COUPLE...but, that's never stopped me before).


"Put the child down, Matt. Don't eat the baby! BAD MATT!"
Fellow Kentuckians, how does it feel to have the stupidest governor in the United States? 

Matt Bevin just can't seem to control himself, when it comes to popping off about things he has no knowledge of -- or, to get "digs" in on the city of Louisville.

The man must really have something against those who teach. Even teachers who develop college student-athletes here in our fair city. I can't make this stuff up, kids. He really is that much of a moron. 

Bevin took to social media again for his latest "look what an ass-hat I am" foray with this Tweet yesterday. He also popped off on Terry Meiners radio show on WHAS: 









Here is @GovMattBevin's full comments about @CoachJeffWalz on @terrymeiners show if you missed them.
"If he had been a little more focused on game strategy and coaching that weekend and a little less on this kind of silliness, the better team would have won"


Walz wondering what Bevin the Bozo will say next
Uh, Jeff Walz did not get out-coached, dear Matt.

The Cards ran into a UConn team that was on-fire from three-point range, playing in front of their fan base in an arena where they were undefeated and...still...Louisville managed to cut the lead late to two.

Seriously, Bevin, did Jeff Walz "coach" Durr into a rough shooting night at the start of this one? Maybe you should stick to commenting about stuff you know. (I'll get back with you, dear readers, once I find something Bevin is actually knowledgeable about...) 

You didn't see any of this, of course. You were too busy congratulating UK BB players and smiling while UK paid an incredibly stupid amount of money to a coach who hasn't gotten his team out of the Elite Eight in the past five years. You wanna talk about getting "out-coached"? 


Yep. Matt Bevin. College basketball expert. Coaching genius. Our governor. Our disgrace and embarrassment. 

Hey, Samantha Williams just got the EKU job (oblivious to Bevin of course..there is only one university in the state, to his knowledge. and it's somewhere east of Frankfort, he thinks). 


Maybe...just maaybe...Coach Walz can hire Bevin as his new assistant coach to replace Sam W...

Walz could assign him laundry room duty and have him check the inflation levels of the team's basketballs, run towels to sweaty players, refill hydration bottles and sweep the floor after practice. Hand him a player/coach identification guide with a picture next to the name. 

Nah. That might be over his skill level. 

Can we just get this guy out of office? Can we just get this clown to shut up? Go away, Matt. NO ONE is interested in your analysis of coaching proficiency. I know five-year olds with more basketball coaching knowledge than you. 



It's like a little-leaguer telling Albert Pujols how to hit home runs. Just hush, Matt. 

paulie
xxxxx


Thursday, July 28, 2016

With James Ramsey out as UofL president...who's next? -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


RAMSEY'S REIGN EQUALED GROWTH

The University of Louisville executive board met yesterday in a marathon session to address the the resolution of President James Ramsey's resignation. Ramsey is out. Immediately. Offered a two-year package, thanked for his leadership and will receive a $690,000 buyout to avoid the expense and delay of litigation.  

During his 14 year tenure, the University grew, grew and grew. It will be hard to find a replacement that is more involved, interested and pro-active toward UofL sports that Ramsey was. All UofL sports, not just the holy trio of football, basketball and baseball. Yes, there were mis-appropriations and there was scandal during his tenure. There was also a change from being a commuter-based place of learning to joining the ACC and numerous dorms, facilities and a downtown arena. Never underestimate how essential Ramsey was in helping UofL get to the ACC.  I hope to still see him at Louisville sporting events. 

Neville G. Pinto, the University provost, is the top guy now...until the board interviews and hires a replacement for Ramsey. He was a chemical engineering professor at the University of Cincinnati. He came to Louisville's Speed School of Engineering, eventually became Dean of the Speed School and then moved on to interim and then permanent provost of UofL. According to University by-laws, he's the guy until the 18th president in UofL history is appointed. 

Petrino, Pitino and Pinto. It has the ring of a law firm title, medical practice or sixties pop group. 

So...the search begins. Junior Bridgeman, perhaps the most recognizable of the board members, indicates that the board "must be quick but not hurry" in selecting a replacement for Ramsey. Sage advice. I hope Jeff Walz adapts the phrase to UofL WBB guards this upcoming season.  

Is Bridgeman a candidate to become President of UofL? It is an interesting question. The man knows a lot about success and leadership. He parlayed a basketball scholarship to UofL in the early seventies into a NBA career, successful fast food franchisee owner and now soft drink bottler. Is Louisville ready for a African-American university president. Oh, yeah. Very ready. The question is, will he submit his application and would he accept the job? Honestly, he's probably made enough money in his lifetime to sustain him and his family quite well if he were to retire tomorrow. The challenge of leading a academic institution doesn't come along every day. 

I'll toss another name out there as a candidate. Jerry Abramson. He was Louisville's "mayor for life" for 25 years. Another guy who knows a thing or two about the University of Louisville's interaction with the city and Commonwealth of Kentucky. A former lieutenant-governor and successful attorney. He was also a candidate for the UofL Presidency fourteen years ago when Ramsey was selected. Would governor Matt Bevin veto any such move? Would the board consider him? Is Jerry interested? I love the guy. He'd be my top pick. 

And then there's still that whole issue of...is any of this positioning and maneuvering legal?  Kentucky's attorney general Andy Beshear is suing...saying that all of Bevin's actions in this reorganization are not constitutionally legal. 

This isn't some county ambulance-chaser trying to create a name for himself. This is the attorney general. One who has the power, knowledge and backing to keep this thing tied up in legality issues for quite some time. 

" UofL WANTS WHAT FOR CHRISTMAS? " 
Lastly, how will all of this affect UofL sports? We know of Bridgeman and Abramson's love for UofL athletics. Can we ensure the new president will give Tom Jurich the same 
'green light' to building, progress and continued growth of the sports programs we so dearly love in this community? I remember in the early eighties...there was a movement on to drop Louisville out of Division I football. Thank goodness Donald Swain came to his senses and Bill Olsen hired Howard Schnellenberger. 

Interesting times ahead...

paulie
xxxxx