Manatee Squeeze Run Rule Fast Pitch U -- Jo Anne P sez "No longer me' -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

9-1 WIN KEEPS SQUEEZE IN SECOND PLACE

There are a couple of things we've learned about this Manatee Squeeze in the FGCL Softball season. 

First, when they're "on" and hitting the ball, a multitude of runs are going to cross the plate. Secondly, when pitcher Jenna Greene (Presbyterian College) takes the circle, opposing teams are going to share in the slug-fest. Greene is now 5-0 in the circle for Manatee, leads the league in strikeouts delivered with 46 and has a very impressive 1.12 ERA. 

Greene held Fast Pitch U to just two hots and delivered 11 strikeouts in Manatee's run-rule five-inning win yesterday. This one was over, honestly, after the first inning -- as the Squeeze plated six runs. Stepping up huge for the Squeeze at the plate were Jordyn Kadiub (USF) who drove in four runs and hit a home run and Stormy Kotzelnick (Washington) who went 1-2 at the plate and also homered....batting lead-off in the lineup, she started the game with a four-baser to center.

The Squeeze sent ten batters to the plate in the six-run first inning.


Cardinal softball right fielder Jordyn Wolfe started, was hit by a pitch in one of her three at bat appearances and scored a run. Paige Schindler entered the game in the fourth inning and played left field. She did not get a plate appearance. 

The Squeeze (8-3) have a firm hold on second place in the league and are 2-1/2 games behind the Myakka City River Mocs (11-1) who defeated the Bradenton Slice last night 7-1. 

Tonight's action puts Manatee against the SUA Pioneers, who are 4-9 in league play. A 7:30 p.m. start for this one. 


DUKE WBB COACH JOANNE P. MCCAULEY RESIGNATION

Long-time Duke WBB head coach Joanne P. McCauley announced yesterday that she was leaving the Blue Devils as their skipper.

The reason she gave was because of a salary dispute on a potential extended contract deal. 

"I am choosing to step away as head coach at Duke," McCallie said. "As a coach in the final year of my contact, uncertainty is natural and it takes away from confidence and fun. I am pretty sure there is a level of uncertainty among the Duke family."

The resignation isn't that surprising.

McCauley hasn't done much for the Blue Devils since  the days of Rebecca Greenwell and Lexie Brown. I don't blame the Duke athletic director at all for not feeling confident about jumping into that uncertain water again. She never quite matched the success of former Duke Gail Goestenkors and there were internal "rumors"abut her, also. 

This is a prime job, though, in women's college basketball and Blue Devil Athletics shouldn't have any trouble finding a quality replacement. 

I have no "inside scoop" on this but I'll toss three names out there that might be a good fit.

1) Michelle Clark-Heard (Cincinnati).  Clark-Heard has done well wherever she's coached. 154-57 at WKU in six years. 32-15 at UC in two years. She also knows the ACC quite well, from her years as Jeff Walz's assistant. 


2) Lindsay Gottlieb (Cleveland Cavaliers).  She was a powerhouse coach at California before deciding to take a year to explore the NBA.

Is she thinking it's time to get back in the college dance with a team in a Power 5 conference? She sent a lot of Bears to the WNBA in her Cal days and could that could be a recruiting plus for Duke. 


3) Gail Goestenkors. You remember Gail, right? She was the architect for success at Durham before she left for Texas in 2007 and McCauley replaced her. She didn't get it done in five years with the Longhorns, but...at 57... says she's "re-charged, revitalized and ready to go" if a coaching job she had interest in should develop. Duke fans would probably welcome her back. She's been out a coaching, though since 2012...

Maybe Fred Flintstone could take the vacant Duke job and
install a new cheer..."Yabba Dabba Duke!" 

Or...do the Blue Devils emulate UNC and go after a young and upcoming coach who has done well at a lesser power?  Maybe they hand the reigns to former all-world great Alana Beard, now retired from the WNBA...who played for both Gail and McCauley at Duke? 

I'm not trying to "start" something here, just having a little open speculation on who will be the next coach to sit on the bench inside Cameron? 

Let's just hope some sub-human doesn't fall out of his/her tree and start pushing the worn-out, idiotic "Jeff Walz to..." boulder uphill again. I wonder if a certain moronic "journalist" from rural Mississippi is still around, making up lies and running around with a Confederate flag serving as a diaper? 


We shall see....


FINALLY...

Have a safe, enjoyable and responsible fourth of July!

paulie
xxxxx





  

Who's Next for Louisville basketball -- Goodbye John Asher -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS WBB IN THE RUNNING FOR SEVERAL 2019 PROSPECTS

So, on one of those rare days here in late August where there are no UofL women's athletics events to attend, watch or cover...let's turn to one of the sports on campus that brings a goodly share of readers to Cardinal Couple and peaks Cardinal fans interest. Women's basketball. 

First off, yes, the 2018-19 team is on campus, going through practice a few times a week under NCAA guidelines, of course, with Jeff Walz, his associates and assistants and the Cardinal training staff. The 2018 freshmen are on campus and working to gel with the returning players from 2017-18. 

As it is, though, with some programs, the Louisville fan base is akin to a toddler who has weathered a Christmas morning and later wants to know: What's next? 

That "next" would be the 2019 recruiting class. Some of the answers are already in place. The Cards WBB program will be bringing in several good players. Nyah Green, a 6'0" guard (or wing...we feel she can play either) is in the Cardinal camp. So is Ramani Parker, a 6'4" post. 


So, how many more does UofL WBB want to bring in? That would be the question of the day. Although we're pretty sure here at CARDINAL COUPLE that Coach Walz and the staff probably have a "number" in mind...you never really know until the final determining factor of them making the commit and then showing up on campus. 

Like some of you, we've hear some names and have  done a bit of speculation. We have no "inside pipeline" to the thoughts and strategies of Walz...so we'll throw a few names out there and see what happens down the road. Mind you, again, this is just speculation on our part.

Today, I'll toss out five names that have shown interest in the Cards for 2019. I'm definitely "flying on instruments" here but, here goes. I know I'm leaving a few out. 

AIJAH BLACKWELL, who played for Walz and USA Basketball in Mexico City, has narrowed her potential places to further her student-athlete status to six schools. As it is with many of these, they are in no particular order. Louisville, Ohio St., Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi St. and St. Louis are who she's considering. This 6'0" guard has it all and would be a welcome addition to the Cardinal roster. 

MAORI DAVENPORT. She's another player who went with USA Basketball to Mexico City and she was named to the All-Tournament team. She's named Louisville, Mississippi St., Georgia, Florida and Rutgers. Depending on what you read and who said it, there are conflicting reports on if any of these are in the lead for her enrollment. At 6'4" she'd be a great "add" to any of the schools listed above. 

JORDAN HORSTON. A 6'1" guard out of Columbus, OH who is ranked in the top three at her position...she recently agreed to visit Tennessee for a weekend. Still on her list, at last glance, were Louisville, Tennessee, UConn, North Carolina, Ohio St., South Carolina and UCLA. Any time you have a shot at one of the top three at a position, that's a good thing, right?  She's also had official visits to UCLA. UConn, South Carolina and North Carolina. She's had one unofficial visit to Louisville and plans another. She likes Jeff Walz and the staff. We'll see...

JADA BOYD. She was the Virginia Player of the Year and a force on the court at 6'2". She has her list down to four schools. Louisville, Maryland, NC St., and West Virginia. She says: " I really like coach Walz a lot and my mother is fond of him and his coaching style." Jada plans official visits to all four schools. She's developed into a top target for the Cards in 2019 and played well here in the NIKE EYBL tournament here in Louisville this summer. 
As a junior, she average 35 points a game and 13 rebounds, with eight blocks per game. 

RICKEA JACKSON. A 6'2" wing that recently visited Tennessee along with Horston and Zia Cooke (who has also shown UofL interest). Jackson made an unofficial visit to Louisville back in December and is another in the top three according to ESPN at her position. Last we heard, there are still seven or eight schools on her list. She's a wing that runs the court extremely well, makes opponents pay with a variety of scoring options and can definitely clear the glass. 

As mentioned above, we have NO idea how accurate or relevant this list is, or how it will be in the next few months...but these are a few players that caught ol' Paulie's eye. Any or all would be a great addition to the Louisville roster. The Cards graduate four after the 2018-19 season, so there will be ample opportunities and roster sports open. 

Time will tell. 


A FAREWELL TO JOHN ASHER

John Asher and I were the same age. He went to college at WKU with CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Founder and my wife Sonja. I saw John a lot over the past 20-something years. He faithfully addressed The Sportsmen's Supper Club each March or April with an annual Derby preview and I was usually responsible for lining him up for the engagement. He always said "Yes" and always told me how much he enjoyed addressing our group. 

He actually gave us the winner this year as well, in Justify, when he delivered his picks. 

I will miss him. John was a huge part of Churchill to me, along with the Twin Spires, Scotty Harris and that long stretch

I'll share a couple of Asher stories in his memory.

-- Last Saturday, I went to Churchill after THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR broadcast. A combination of reasons...to be with some people who knew recently-departed Scott Harris as well as I did...and to watch an important stakes race at Saratoga (The Travers). John used to tease about his inability to pick a Derby winner, but he nailed his 2018 pick.  

As I pulled into the lot, I saw John in the row in front of me walking to his car. I went over to talk to him. He was leaving after taking care of a few details at the track (he was the vice-president of racing communications at Churchill Downs) and going home to prepare for a vacation in Florida with his family. He said he was ready for some fun and rest with them. We talked about the Travers, he didn't give me a pick, but smiled and nodded when I mentioned CATHOLIC BOY, who won the race at 7-1 odds. John was a "Catholic boy" himself, attending Holy Spirit parish here in Louisville.

I also teased him about former WKU WBB Coach Michelle Clark-Heard leaving the 'Toppers' to go to Cincinnati. John was a huge WKU fan but also knew a lot about UofL WBB. John had a photographic memory. He recalled Clark's playing days at WKU, her time at Louisville and then also reminded me that Greg Collins, the new coach at WKU, was another former UofL assistant and John thought he'd be a great head coach for the Toppers. He pointed out that Collins basically held the UofL program together after Martin Clapp left and before Tom Collen accepted the job.  

I could tell he was in a hurry, so I wished him a "happy vacation" and walked away. With the sun shining down on him, that "always-big-glad-to-see-you-grin" on his face...two regular guys just exchanging a few pleasantries...that's the way I'll remember my last encounter with John. Doing what he loved and loved what he was doing. 

Another John-related story: 

-- It was Thursday of Kentucky Derby week this year.  "Thurby", as it's called...if you will, and I awoke that morning and discovered I was missing my cell phone. I thought back to Wednesday. I had been at the track. I remembered using one of the charging plugs in the Gold Room at Churchill Downs to re-charge it. I checked the car, it wasn't there, so I told Sonja I must have left it plugged-in at Churchill and I was going to go see if it was still there. Fortunately, David Watson had agreed to do the Thursday Cardinal Couple column for me.



Getting into Churchill on Derby Week Thursday...without tickets, proper passes or before they open...beginning with parking in the Longfield Lot, is akin to climbing Mt. Everest in a "speedo". My gift-of-gab, out-dated WCHQ media pass and tale of woe got me by parking lot guarders, gate attendants and security folks and I went into an almost deserted Gold Room  quite early on that Thursday morning. 

The phone was no longer plugged in where I had left it. One of the hosts of the room, no other than Scotty Harris, who was already on-duty,  suggested I try lost-and-found over in the administration building...so off I went. As I walked over, back-tracking to get around locked gates, I turned a corner and there was John Asher, getting in a little morning cardio-walk.

We smiled at each other and started to talk. I explained my plight. He wished me the best of luck in the search and told me to keep positive thoughts. He told me that they had a good group of people there at Churchill and it would most likely turn up somewhere. I told him that it was good to see him that morning. I went down the steps in front of me, he continued up. 

After I had a lengthy wait, lost-and-found opened but no one had turned in my phone. Dismayed, I left. The attendant said she'd call my home phone if it showed up. I asked her to call the Gold Room, since I planned on being there.

 I went back to the Gold Room to see if I could get a coffee. As I entered, my bartender from the day before was coming on shift and she asked me if "I was missing anything?". The bartenders have a cabinet behind the bar where they store lost or forgotten items...which I didn't know about. My phone, with charger, waited for me on one of the shelves in the cabinet. 

Goodbye, John. Churchill won't be the same without you. I hope you and Scotty Harris get together up at that big race track in the sky and get some successful handicapping done. 


paulie
xxxxx

USA U 23 women's Basketball -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TEAMS HEAD INTO THURSDAY SEMIFINALS

We now know a little more about how things are going and what's happening in the USA U 23 women's basketball tryouts in Colorado Springs. For example...the team coaches are Jamelle Elliott (Cincinnati) for Team 1,  Michelle Clark-Heard (WKU) on Team 2 , Cori Close (UCLA) heading up Team 3 and Courtney Banghart (Princeton) skipper of Team 4.  Jeff Walz is not coaching any of the four squads...which is probably best...so he can over-view all the action without a vested interest in a particular squad. 


We also have some player/squad correlations. Myisha Hines-Allen is on Team 2. Asia Durr is playing on Team 4. Erin Boley suits up for Team 3. We were able to find the nine-player rosters for Team 1 and 2...but nothing complete for Teams 3 and 4...so were not sure who Rebecca Greenwell and Mariya Moore are suited up with. 

The standings after yesterday's morning and evening sessions: 

Team 2 - 2-1
Team 4 - 2-1
Team 3 - 2-1
Team 1 - 0-3

The semifinals matchups that will start this morning at 10 a.m. EDT pit Team 1 vs. Team 3 in the opener and Team 2 vs. Team 4 at 11:30. Because three teams stands at 2-1, a point differential was used to determined the seedings. 

HIghlights from yesterday's evening games: 

-- Asia Durr scored 13 points for Team 4 in Wednesday night's win over Team 1 68-56. Kristine Angiwe added 11 points on 11 free throws. For Team 1, Brooke McCarty and Jatarie White finished with 12 each. 

-- Erin Boley had 20 for Team 3 in the Wednesday night opener...a 89-50 win over Team 2.
Kelsey Mitchell had 14 for Team 3 and Sabina Ionescu delivered nine assists. Ariel Atkins ended up with 15 for Team 2. 

Earlier in the day...

Team 3 downed Team 1 77-71. Kelsey Mitchell and A'ja Wilson had 13 each for Cori Close's Team 3. Destiny Slocum nailed three threes for Team 1 in the losing effort. 

Team 2 ran past Team 4 80-57. Azura Stevens (19) and Ariel Atkins (17) led Michelle Clark-Heard's squad in scoring. Napheesa Collins tallied 13 for Team 4. Looks like Myisha's squad got the best of Asia's in that one...

Jeff Walz has been watching. Effort seemed to be on coach's mind. His thoughts: 

"I've been really impressed with the effort by the young women. i know it was a tiring day for them. They put a lot of effort into it. But, I think its been better as they understand what we're trying to do. The competition is getting better and better. Overall, just very pleased with their effort." 

After today's games...we'll know who will participate in the Gold and Bronze medal contest on Friday. Tomorrow's matchups will be televised on usab.com. I didn't see any mention of telecasting today's semifinals...but I may just pop over there to see if there is any live streaming. We know for sure that either Myisha's or Asia's squad will compete for the Gold Medal....since #2 and #4 get a rematch today. 

FIBA rules for these contests are a little different than what you might be used to seeing in the NCAA. The squads play (4) quarters...eight minutes each. There is a 24-second shot clock. The back court clock is only eight seconds. Only coaches can call time outs.

So...what does it all mean? The competition gives the coaches and committee an opportunity to see how quickly the players can learn information and how they adapt and perform under it. The styles and play may be different than what they're used to in their college programs...but with four quality coaches in Elliott, Close, Clark-Heard and Banghart heading up the practice teams (and two of them assisting Walz when the final team is chosen) it's a "show-me" period on why you should make this squad. The committee and the coaches are looking for those twelve girls that can fulfill the roles of team players, leaders, motivators and instruction followers. The talent is there in all 36 at camp. The question is...which 12 will be the best combination? 

Think about it...what coach would turn down the chance to have Kelsey Mitchell, A'ja Wilson and Erin Boley in their lineup for 32 games? Or Asia Durr, Mercedes Russell and Kristine Anigwe? Would you be tickled to coach Azura Stevens, Myisha Hines-Allen and Linnae Harper through a conference schedule? Yes...this is the best of the best. Narrowing the 36 to 12 is going to be a tough job.   

The truth is, USA U 23 could probably take all four of these practice squads over to Japan and sweep the top four spots in the competition against Canada, Australia and Japan...there is that much talent on each of the nine-team rosters.

We still don't have any insight into how the four practice squads were picked. Obviously, we would have loved to see both Myisha and Asia on the same team. We did notice that two University of Texas players are on Team 1 (Brooke McCarty and Jatarie White) and that two Notre Dame girls are on Team 2 (Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepard.)  

We'll continue to monitor the action in Colorado Springs and provide you information tomorrow on today's action. Stay with CARDINAL COUPLE for your USA U 23 news! 



(thanks to USAB.com and gocards.com for some of the information used in today's article.)  


paulie
xxxxx

Sunday Cardinal Couple - Worldwide Roundup

It has been a few weeks since I've written an article here at Cardinal Couple.  Life gets in the way sometimes, you know.  Thanks to Paulie for affording me the ability to step away for a bit to put a little more attention on some other events in my life (generally positive, no need to worry for me, just busy).  It's also been great to hear the great writing voice of Case and just get to enjoy that.

So, returning, I have several topics to cover today.

Heisman Hero

Unsurprisingly, Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy last night.  The most prestigious award in college football.  This, of course, is the first Heiman winner at UofL, and he also has the distinction of being the youngest player to have been awarded the trophy.

Good news for Cards fan is that he still has at least one more year with us as he doesn't become NFL draft eligible until after next year's season.  He has also hinted at wanting to stay for both of his remaining years of eligibility.  I won't be holding my breath for that, but wouldn't it be exciting to see a senior year Lamar Jackson at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium?

If you'd like to be among the first to see Jackson and the Heisman Trophy...well, I have no inside information on this...but I would wager that attending today's Women's Basketball Game would be a wise plan.  Also, maybe you might want to stay in your seats at halftime, if I had to make a guess.

Women's Basketball vs WKU

WBB SALUTES LAMAR WITH "THE POSE".

Speaking of Women's Basketball, the team will be looking for another "Oh, buddy!" moment against those ballers down I-65 south of here -
WKU, after losing the game to them at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green last year.  OK, there's not quite the same level of angst and pressure in this matchup as there was against UK, but it still stings to lose to an in-state team like that.

Michelle Clark-Heard will always have a threatening team.  They are 5-3 on the year, with loses to George Washington, UT Arlington, and DePaul.  A lose to Doug Bruno's DePaul team is never one to hang your head over.  The only win of any real consequence is over IU, so at this point it's a bit difficult to judge the quality of this team without having watched them play (which I have not had the opportunity to do so, yet).

The game starts at 2pm at the KFC Yum! Center and will be streamed on The ACC Network Extra if you can't make it to the arena. You can always catch the great call of Nick Curran and A.J. on Cards Radio 790 as well. 

Volleyball Final Four is Set

I wouldn't normally talk about volleyball much after UofL has been eliminated, but I did want to take a moment to bring attention to the continuing success of the Nebraska squad.  Of course, their assistant coach Dani Busboom Kelly, will be coming to Louisville to take over as the skipper of our squad after her duties at Nebraska are completed.

Top seed Nebraska won easily over Washington to punch their ticket to the Volleyball Final Four (technically the name Final Four is specific to NCAA basketball, but no one has come up with a clever name like that for volleyball.  Soccer has "The College Cup", baseball and softball have "The College World Series" and "The Women's College World Series" respectively, Ice Hockey even has "The Frozen Four", which I think is particularly clever.  Suggestions for volleyball are welcome.).  They will face 4-seed Texas on Thursday in Columbus OH after Texas swept the Cinderella team of the tournament, Creighton, without a great deal of difficulty.  The other side of the bracket features 2-seed Minnesota, who swept 10-seed UCLA, and the only upset of the quarter-finals, 6-seed Stanford, who eked out a barnburner of a win over 3-seed Wisconsin in 5 sets to advance.  The Championship match will be Saturday at 9pm.


Hello, Radio! 

Another episode of THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO SHOW aired yesterday and Paulie, Case
and Worldwide discussed Lamar, WBB, MBB, and gift cards. It's always an adventure at Crescent Hill Radio and yesterday was no exception...with technical glitches and us not realizing we were actually on the air until we noticed the frantic motioning of our studio engineer.

The rebroadcast is available at the WCHQ website....It didn't get lost and the gremlins or Lamar Jackson didn't steal it or receive it in a ceremony.

LINK: CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO 12-10-16


JMcA

Moore, Durr named to USA Women's U-19 team -- Monday Cardinal Couple

TWO CARDS HEADED TO RUSSIA FOR USA

Incoming freshman Asia Durr and returning sophomore Mariya Moore are two of the twelve that have been selected to represent USA Basketball in the U-19 women's World Championships this July in Chekhov, Russia.

Duke star and Owensboro's Rebecca Greenwell has been named to 2015 USA World University Games Team.  



The selections for U-19...announced on Sunday...also include three UConn signees...Napheesa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield and Katie Lou Samuelson. The squad will have two other ACC performers in Shakayla Thomas (FSU) and Azure Stevens (Duke). Others on the roster include:

A'ja Wilson - South Carolina
Kristine Angiwe - California
Chatrice White - Illinois
Gabby Ortiz - Oklahoma
Lauren Cox - uncommitted

Cox has visited Louisville and is one of the most sought after players in the class of 2016.

Having Walz coaching her for the summer is a great advantage, one would think, is possibly getting the talented 6'6" post to don the red and black. 

Giving Walz some extra time before the 2015-16 season starts with Moore and Durr is also a reason to celebrate. Seeing how the girls perform against the best in the world will no doubt be helpful when the Cards face Duke, UNC and other talented ACC squads later this college hoops year. 

Durr, a veteran of three previous USA teams, is also representing the USA in the FIBA 3x3 U-18 World Championships in Debrecen, Hungary from June 4-7. 

WKU head coach Michelle Clark Heard will also have a busy summer...named as an assistant to the 2015 USA Pan-American Games team.

paulie
xxxxx

WKU looking to be "Toppers" of the Hill in CUSA

WKU 21-4 Under Michelle Clark-Heard

Pardon, if you will...today's slight deviation from UofL women's sports. Former UofL assistant coach (and current WKU head coach) Michelle Clark-Heard and former UofL great and current assistant coach Candyce Bingham are having a season to remember "up on the Hill" in Bowling Green at Western Kentucky University. 

Toss in ex UofL assistants Margaret Richards and Greg Collins who are assistants at WKU and this is..in theory...basically a UofL women's sports article about former Cardinal coaches and players.  

Things are hopping on the Hill. 

WKU is 21-4 on the season and 10-2 in Conference USA. Not

much is left of the old CUSA that the Cards were a part of...but the Hilltoppers are involved in a three-way dog fight for the conference lead. Middle Tennessee State is atop the leader board at 11-2, Cardinal fans will remember Southern Miss...the Golden Eagles are 10-3 in CUSA play and WKU sits at 10-2. 

Michelle Clark-Heard's red towel wavers can determine their fate in the rankings in a showdown with visiting MTSU at the E.A. Diddle Arena in a Saturday 2 p.m. CST battle. Before that, they'll host UAB on Thursday night...another team that UofL followers will remember. 


With a little luck, WKU could be 23-2.

They suffered a one-point loss at UTSA and two-point home loss to Southern Miss. Mississippi State downed the Hilltoppers in Starksville by 11 in the non-conference part of the schedule and Louisville handled Gooch and Govan by 21 in the KFC YUM! Center. 

In all fairness, it was an exhausted WKU squad that took on Walz's bunch. The Louisville game was their fourth in eight days...the Toppers getting to the finals of the Preseason WNIT prior to facing UofL. 

Alexis Govan and Chastity Gooch are the leaders of the Big Red's ballers. They have scored an identical 427 points in 25 games...good for a 17.1 ppg average. They've been the backbone of a team that Michelle Clark-Heard took over in 2012 that had less than desirable success over several years prior to her arrival.

Clark-Heard is getting it done with Kentucky home-grown talent. 

Micah Jones is from Greensburg, Kendall Noble hails from Hazard. Kierra Muhammad is out of Lexington and Ivy Brown comes out of Hodgenville. Gooch played at Franklin-Simpson and Jalynn McClain was a star at Jeffersonville High school...right across the Ohio River from Louisville. 

"What Michelle Clark-Heard has done is instilled pride

back in Western Kentucky.... Now with Michelle Clark-Heard, with the passion and pride she has, because she was a player at Western Kentucky, she is bringing that back to Bowling Green."

ESPN's Carolyn Peck

What they need now is fan support. WKU averages 1797 for home games. To bolster that, WKU is offering free tickets to anyone who wears red into participating IGA stores and asks for a ticket for the MTSU game. The first 1000 fans in the door will get a exclusive t-shirt. The first 1000 students in their seats get free pizza from Pizza Hut.

We see good things continuing for Michelle and her squad in the future. We hope that they take down a good MTSU squad Saturday night. Michelle is doing it the right way and we'd love to see them win the CUSA crown, get a bid to the NCAA this year and make a big run. She's won 20+ games each year she's been there. Not even Jeff Walz can say that. 

Good times and great hoops have returned to the E.A. Diddle Arena. Spurred on by a UofL contingent that helped build the Cardinals to national prominence.  

Big Red.. the loveable WKU mascot deserves nothing less.

The classic 1977 release 'Aja' by Steely Dan contains the lyrics:

"Up on the hill..they think I'm OK"

We'd agree here at CARDINAL COUPLE.



paulie  

Smith's triple-double helps Cards top Toppers 89-67...Wednesday Cardinal Couple

Bria goes for 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists in win

Bria Smith became the first UofL WBB player to record a triple-double since Angel McCoughtry performed the feat on Dec.10, 2008 against Hartford with 18 pts., 10 rebounds and 10 steals.

It was a nailbiter to get her the triple...the final assist coming with two seconds left in the game on a pass to Shawnta' Dyer in the post. Smith had two turnovers in the last 45 seconds trying to get the triple-double amidst the roar from the imploring crowd of 8463.

The game? Well, it had its peaks and valleys. The contest was tied 4-4 two minutes into action before Louisville went on a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes. Emmonnie Henderson had eight of the points in a four minute stretch that put Louisville comfortably ahead 20-8.

Louisville continued to run on the Hilltoppers...scoring inside and pushed the advantage to 40-19 when "E" got her tenth point of the half on a putback off a missed Smith free throw with 3:18 remaining in the first twenty. Smith nailed two free throws with 59 seconds to go to send the Cards into the locker room up 44-26.

WKU was getting production from their two stars...Chastity Gooch and Alexis Govan...who had six of eight Hilltopper first half baskets...but Michelle Clark-Heard's squad couldn't buy a "three"...going 1-11 from the deep in the half.

10 Cards played in the first stanza...Smith's 15 points led the way and Henderson was the other double figure producer with 10. Sara had nine, Myisha Hines-Allen added five, Megan Deines gave good off-the-bench production with four and Arica Carter hit a free throw.

The Cards had a 32-8 advantage with points in the paint and 15 off 12 Western Kentucky turnovers. They also held WKU to 27.6% first half shooting.



The Toppers were a tired team....playing their fifth game in ten days...and it showed at the start of the second half. Louisville pushed out to a 32 point lead in the first six minutes...a Smith layup made it 63-32.

The Cards led by 34 at 70-36 after two Dyer free throws at 12:17 and it looked like the rout was in full swing. WKU would not back down...though and outscored the Cards 17-2 over the next five minutes...making it 72-53 and necessitating Coach Walz to call a timeout.

After ranting, yelling and challenging the players in the timeout huddle about the Cards poor shooting (the Cards missed six shots -- including three layups)...the Cards head coach inserted Myisha, Sara, Jude and Bria back into the game.



Assumption H.S. Chorus sang the National Anthem!

From there on the Cards started to pull away again...a Moore layup made it 81-54 with 4:30 left. "E" hit a jumper to increase the lead to 85-57 at the 2:34 mark.

WKU outscored the Cards 10-4 the rest of the way...Govan and Gooch getting eight of the points.
Smith led all scorers with 22. Myisha and Sara added 16 each -- Hammond getting a double-double with 10 rebounds -- and Henderson finished with 14 to round out the double figure scorers. Dyer and Moore contributed eight each, Deines finished with four and Carter 1. Schimmel, Vails and Freeman all played but failed to score.

Gooch (20 pts), Govan (20 points) and Tashia Brown (14 points) were the Toppers offense...making 19 of the 22 goals scored by the visitors.

Louisville won the points in the paint battle 72-36, rebounding (49-40) and points off turnovers 23-11. WKU finished with 4-22 three-point shooting and only four fast break points...

Things we liked

- Gotta be good to be ya, Bria! Her best effort, by far, of the season and...despite the five turnovers...did exactly what Walz wanted her to do...drive the middle and score.

- Sara Hammond took free throws finally! Breaking the four game drought, she went 4-6 from the charity stripe.

- 52% shooting for the game...including a 0-6 failing from three point range.

- 72 points in the paint. It's what the Cards look to do...score inside...and they accomplished it Tuesday night.

Things to work on

- Finishing around the basket. Way too many points squandered by missed putbacks, follow-ups and lay-ups.

- Free throw woes. 13-22 is 59%. At least it was better than the 44% from Sunday...but we'd be happier with 70% or better.

An easier-than-expected win for Cardinal women's basketball Tuesday night against a WKU squad that heads back to Bowling Green 3-2. Govan and Gooch are the real deal, and it was great to see Clark-Heard, Greg Collins, Candyce Bingham and Margaret Richards again. They'll do well against their C-USA foes...but they do need to develop a center that can help prevent the buffet line that opponents will try to help themselves to in the paint.

The Toppers just ran out of gas against a Cardinal team that runs at high octane on eight cylinders...with, granted...occasional sputtering. The mechanic Walz got their attention in plenty of time in this one. One wonders how this team will respond to a 19-2 run by Kentucky, Duke or UNC...not being up by 34.

Louisville hits the hardwood again Friday night at 7 p.m. when Lafayette comes to town.

Tuesday Cardinal Couple -- Volleyball impresses Worldwide...The return of Michelle

Volleyball Shows Life

Its almost certainly too little, too late, but the Cards Volleyball team showed some life over the weekend.

In matches against #21 Duke, and #7 North Carolina, the Louisville squad took a loss in both games, but showed spark and some great play that has been hinted at all season, but hasn't frequently made it to the surface.

The team finally came together and played like they were really capable of, starting in the third and final set of the match against Duke, Friday night.  After, frankly embarrassing, 25-15 and 25-12 losses in the first two sets, the Cards came out of the break and pressed Duke hard in the third set before finally falling to The Blue Devils in a 34-32 barn burner.

So what accounted for the Cards resurgence?  There are a few factors, I believe.

First, with Roxanne McVey out with mono, Gabbie Wiley moved over to the Libero position, and between the two matches may just have cemented her role in that spot barring a challenge next season from the just signed Molly Sauer out of Assumption.  Gabbie has shown that she's more mobile, and more consistent in her passing than Roxanne.

Second, we started getting some more effective blocking.  While it doesn't really show on the stat sheet, with UofL only marking 4 total blocks overall, we had a lot more tipped, deflected, and otherwise slowed shots due to blocking on the opposing hitters.  The blocking helps the defense get a solid pass on the ball and gets the offense in system for much higher effectiveness.

Third, I think the team was more relaxed in their playing.  Maybe we're seeing a bit of fatalism, and having accepted that there isn't going to be a post-season...I suppose it was still a possibility when the match was played Friday, but already a long-shot...the team came out with nothing to lose, and nothing really on the line except pride.  I'm sure that makes it easier to be loose and calm, rather than playing so tense and making mistakes.

Whatever the causes for the newfound play, it continued on Sunday against North Carolina.  This one was competitive, against the #7 team in the country, all the way through the match.  Again, the Cards took the loss, but there is no shame in this one at all.

All four sets were close battles, with 25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 26-24.  So a total of 3 points separated the overall scores.  Again, blocking helped, with Louisville outblocking UNC 7-6 in total blocks, and Tess Clark hit a blistering 16 of 26 for a torrid .615 hitting average.  Katie George found a team that apparently hasn't yet scouted her dump and was able to put five of nine down.

Overall, what I saw this weekend has me very excited for next year's season.  While there is one more match Wednesday evening at 4 p.m. against Pitt (on ESPN3, who has pretty much set up shop in Cardinal Arena here in the late season), the only thing really to be decided is final records and whether we go out on a win or a loss.

We lose Courtney Robison and Tara Gowan to graduation but with the returning talent, and newcomers coming in, I think this team has the potential to put a good season run together next year.  Nothing is guaranteed, of course, and our passing still has to get better, but I saw a spark of life this weekend, and a hint of what these players are really capable of.

Spend the time in the off-season wisely volleyers, I'll be back in my seats late August and ready to go, I hope you all are too.

The Hilltoppers Visit

Tonight we welcome WKU head coach Michelle Clark-Heard and Assistant Coach Candyce Bingham back to Louisville for what may prove to be the first real test of this year's Women's Basketball team.  Clark-Heard has proven that she can wring every last bit of performance out of her players in seasons past, and they are obviously familiar with Coach Walz's coaching techniques and tactics, so you know they will be prepared for what our team has to throw at them.

Tip is at 7 at the KFC Yum! Center.  I would say wear red, but WKU's colors are red and white, so maybe go with the black for this one.

This Hilltopper team is no pushover. They finished second in the Pre-Season WNIT. They'll probably win C-USA. Gooch and Govan are legit All-American candidates. 

Paulie will have the coverage tomorrow, but I will not be able to attend. Go Cards!

-jmca