WBB: Cards shuck Huskers 85-68 -- Volleyball faces Dayton today -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

ASIA DURR'S 25 LEADS CARDS TO SEVENTH WIN OF SEASON.

The word to Cardinal WBB fans this morning is enjoy greatness while it is still around. Asia Durr knocked down four three pointers and totaled 25 points in a 85-68 win over Nebraska in the ACC vs. Big Ten shootout last night in the KFC YUM! Center in front of 7334 fans. 

Durr was one of four Cards that hit double figures in a close game for three quarters that eventually became the Cards seventh win of the year...thanks to strong start to the final quarter. The Cards stretched a 12-point lead into a 24-point advantage in the first six minutes of the fourth. A spectacular lob to Jazmine Jones from Durr with 9:47 to go led to a basket that got the crowd roaring and was the first step in finally shaking off a very pesky and resilient Cornhusker squad. At the 3:45 mark, Arica Carter buried a soft jumper generated from a fast break that set the totals at 81-57 Cardinals. A 19-7 run. The Cards had a 8-0 run in the quarter, but a 9-0 run from Nebraska was coming. 

Then, things got a little weird. Asia was called for a foul, her first of the night. Walz went to the bench and brought in the freshmen. Seconds later, the refereeing crew of Dee Kanter, Eric Brewton and Mark Resch called a technical foul on Durr for bouncing the basketball too hard. 

Fueled by the displeasure of the crowd and the ridiculousness of the whistle, Jeff Walz began a tirade from the sidelines that eventually led to a technical against him. Two more free throws for designated Nebraska shooter Hannah Whitish, who sank a total of four of them without the clock moving. With possession, the Huskers got the ball to 6'5" center Kait Cain, who connected in the paint. All of a sudden, the Big Ten visitors were on a 6-0 run, in a mere two seconds. 

The Cards did go on to preserve the victory, with Lindsey Duvall, Segan Robins, Jess Laemmle, Mykasa Robinson and Kylee Shook on the hardwood for the final minutes. 
This was a Nebraska team that caught Louisville napping several times throughout the game, especially early on, with the old "back door" cut. The first ten Nebraska points came from this strategy. They led the Cards 11-10 with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter by employing the technique to counter the over-lapping aggressive Cardinal defense. After the media timeout, where Walz addressed the defensive efforts of his squad, Louisville rallied with a 11-4 run...fueled by strong interior play by Kylee Shook and Sam Fuehring and a timely three from "Nite-nite" to take a 21-14 first quarter lead. 

The second quarter was a fairly even effort from both squads. Louisville was getting offense from Durr, Fuehring and Bionca Dunham...but the Nebraska squad hung in there with impressive guard play from Nicea Ellery and Sam Halby, plus interior help from Maddie Simon. The Cards 40-31 halftime lead was augmented by forcing the Huskers into 13 first half turnovers and the Cards getting 13 points off these. 

A Durr "3" early in the third quarter pushed the lead to ten. Although Nebraska was able to trim that to eight several times in the quarter, Louisville won the quarter after halftime 22-19 and had weathered Nebraska best punch. 

Dee "T" on Coach. 

Defensively, Louisville did allow 42.3% shooting by the visitors. The Cards also committed 21 fouls...fortunately the Huskers were only able to capitalized at a 75% success rate. In addition to Durr's 25, double figure scorers for Walz's squad included Fuehring with 14 (on 7-11 shooting) and a double-double with 10 rebounds. Arica Carter added 12, with a couple of threes and Bionca Dunham was good for 11 (5-6 from the floor). Asia made sure everyone enjoyed the party with eight assists. The Cards enjoyed a 38-26 points-in-the-paint advantage against the taller Nebraska squad and barely won the rebounding battle 35-33. 

THE FRED REPORT

This "Fred" -- Fred McGriff --
would appreciate UofL's
power-in-the-paint

FREE THROWS -- Not the Cards strongest feature of the night. 12-20 equals 60%, the Cards lowest "at the stripe" percentage of the year. We can't award a letter here. 

REBOUNDING -- Sam and Kylee combined for 19 grabs and held the towering Cain to 10. Only one from Durr...anytime you out-rebound a taller team and win the "second chance" battle (9-3) it's a mark of effort and grit and I'LL AWARD THE CAPITAL "R' HERE

EFFORT/EXECUTION -- The Cards came out wanting to run and they did all night, something that eventually wore down the foe. Creating 23 turnovers, scoring 26 points off them and winning all four quarters...while only committing 15 turnover are good. The fourth quarter "door closing" included...I'M GOOD WITH A CAPITAL "E" FOR THIS CATEGORY. 

DEFENSE -- Early success by Nebraska and good shooting show that there is still work to be done when UofL doesn't have the ball. Walz pointed out it's easier to teach defense than scoring with a team...Louisville did hold Nebraska to under 70 and forced the 23 miscues...but I'll only offer a lower case "d" for the sum of the night's work. 

FRED TOTAL:  -_R-E-d



At 7-0... Louisville moves on to a Sunday match up against Tennessee State. With these Thursday to Sunday type turnarounds, there isn't a great deal of time to study, breakdown and review film or work on flaws...but I'd think that coaches and staff will work on trying to creating a little more consistency, shoring up opponent's "in paint" scoring and continue to fine-tune what won this one today for the Cards. Quickness. It's how you overcome height.

Let's give a lot of credit to the Cards paint-prowlers, though. The trio of Shook, Dunham and Fuehring are getting the job done and holding their own with taller teams. Dunham's continuing improvement and fine-tuning is a joy to behold. Fuehring continues to be the hardworking, blue collar, let's-get-down-and-do-it warrior and Shook is getting more and more aggressive and become a paint pugilist every game. That will be needed more and more as the schedule grows tougher. 


This is Asia's squad, make no doubt about it...but, as a unit, the Cards are setting up and creating the successes she has. Louisville got to 7-0 by employing teamwork and sacrificing so that the overall success outweighs the individual numbers. Let's continue to see that grow. 

A lively Thursday night in the YUM! with Louisville exhibiting their penchant for quickness, spectacular efforts...like the JJ "alley oop" score pictured here and "TV Dee" putting on a oscar-worthy performance. Ah, the thrill and excitement of Louisville WBB...

Post game comments below: 

POST GAME ASIA AND SAM

POST GAME WALZ


(photos by Jared Anderson, when he wasn't busy eating cookies) 



VOLLEYBALL TO FACE DAYTON IN CHAMPAIGN

An active day for NCAA First-round Volleyball matches and the Cards are on the University of Illinois campus awaiting today's 5:30 match against the A 10's Dayton Flyers. 

A tough first round match, yes, and I can't help be a bit envious of Cincinnati's seeding in the Marquette quadrant. Still, in tournament time, you go to your strengths and the Cards have plenty of those. 

The front line attack of Melanie McHenry, Amanda Green and Jasmine Bennett will need to be on their "A" game and force the issue. Wilma Rivera's ACC Setter of the Year accolades have to be a strong presence and guiding force. Molly Sauer's libero and serving skills will be very essential in securing the win today and getting the Cards to the round of 32. Any other contributions will be of prime importance from Dani's squad for Louisville to get a shot against what certainly appears to be a showdown with Illinois on Sunday. 

Illini Volleyball website saying that the Louisville vs. Dayton and the Illinois matches will be available (free) on line at: BTN2Go.com on the BTN Plus format.



DONATION MONTH

We come to the end of Donation Month here at Cardinal Couple. Honestly, it wasn't quite what I hoped for, but it wasn't a total disaster. A heartfelt "THANK YOU!" to all who helped out in our drive to fund the site for 2019. 

It's not too late to be a part of it. We will carry on, as best we can, in 2019. I'll reach heavily into my own pocket, again...to keep this site up, running and providing the joy and excitement of UofL women's athletics. 

If you'd like to help: 

CARDINAL COUPLE
P.O. BOX 91521
LOUISVILLE, KY  40291

I'll renew and double my efforts to get corporate sponsors for 2019. It is still my hopes and dreams to make this a fully corporate-advertising sponsored site. I want to thank those of you again who provided donations to help sustain us, until that happens, in the months ahead.  


CAPTION THE PICTURE

CAPTION ME! 

Finally today...our "shared" writer/photographer Jared Anderson approached me last night with an idea for home WBB games.  He proposed he take a picture of Coach Walz and let you, the readers, create a caption for it. 

Keep it clean, in good taste and let's have some fun with Coach and his movements during a contest. 

No prizes or awards, but we'll make mention the following day of ones we thought were pretty clever and creative captions. Leave those captions in the comments section, along with your dirty laundry and bus vouchers...or e-mail them to Paulie at cardinalcouple@twc.com or text them to @cardinalcouple 


paulie
xxxxx






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Cards vs. Cornhuskers in Big 10 vs. ACC WBB Challenge -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

2-3 NEBRASKA NEXT CHALLENGE FOR UNDEFEATED LOUISVILLE WBB

The University of Louisville WBB squad will play their second of six straight home games Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the KFC YUM! Center against the Big 10's Nebraska Cornhuskers. At 6-0, the Cards are coming off a 95-73 drubbing of Miami (OH) on Monday Night. 

The broadcast will be shown on the ACC Network Extra (hopefully they've straightened out the technical difficulties that prevented many viewers from seeing Monday night's game) and...you know it's a big event when you get "TV" Dee...Dee Kanter...in to head the refereeing crew. She'll be joined by "Brew" (Eric Brewton) and Mark Resch on court to undoubtedly fire up Louisville fans with their whistles and judgments. 

Louisville entertains a Nebraska squad that has stumbled down the sidewalk a few times this season so far. With two losses to top 25 teams (Drake and the ACC's Miami) and a double-overtime drop to Washington State, the Huskers just recently got back to winning ways with a 77-39 rout of Radford last time out. 

WHO TO KEEP AN EYE ON? 

It has been "offense by committee" for head coach Amy Williams this season. Eight of her players are averaging over seven points a game. A young squad, they are led by freshman guard Sam Halby's 11.4 p.p.g. Sophomore guard Taylor Kissinger is a three-point threat with a 66.7% (12-18) success rate from the deep and averages 9.6 p.p.g. 

RAISING CAIN

Nebraska does have significant height on their young roster. Out of the 11 student-athletes listed on the roster, eight are 6'1" or taller and they have 6'5" sophomore Kate Cain returning in the middle...she was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams in 2018 and was a four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. She also set a Nebraska record last year with 100 blocks.

HOW'D THEY DO LAST YEAR, PAULIE? 

The Huskers complied a 21-11 record in 2017-18 and were selected for the NCAA Tournament. They went home after a 73-62 first round loss to Arizona State. 11-5 in the Big 10 isn't a bad record...they were also a fairly decent road team...going 9-2 in gyms where they visited.  

SO, HOW DO THE CARDS BEAT THEM? 

For Louisville, it'll be an attempted employment of speed and defense, plus accurate shooting, that'll be key if the Cards are to move on to 7-0. In six games, the Cards have held opponents to under sixty points three times and have reached the 70+ plus scoring plateau five times. Louisville will look for another energized start from Jazmine Jones, shooting accuracy from Asia Durr, Arica Carter and Dana Evans and needs a return from Sam Fuehring to her "chairwomen of the board" status. Expect a fast-paced game tonight and let's hope a proliferation of whistles and stoppages don't slow down the pace. 

HOW HAVE THE CARDS DONE AGAINST THEM IN THE PAST? 

Only three lifetime meeting between the two, which the Cards took two of. They last met in 2010 in Las Vegas and Louisville recorded a 65-51 win. They met twice when Jeff Walz was an assistant at Nebraska back in 1998, splitting the meetings.   

The Cards got Iowa last year in the challenge and disposed of them pretty easily, with a 86-52 win in the KFC YUM! Center. The ACC went 10-4 against the Big Ten last year in the challenge. 


WHAT IF I CAN'T ATTEND? 

As mentioned, the ACCNE will show the contest. Don Russell and Sara White return as the play-by-play and color analyst. They provide a lively and comprehensive picture of the action. On the electric radio, you can depend on Nick Curran and Adrienne Johnson to keep you in the loop on the action on Cards Radio 790 AM WKRD. 

WHAT'S THE PROMO TONIGHT? 

Thirsty Thursday returns. $3 beers and other items for your consumption. They hang the Final Four banner tonight. Come out and consume and cheer the banner.  


GUESS WHO'S NOT COMING TO DINNER?


Jeff Brohm has decided to stay at Purdue.

Not all the details are available, but we know Brohm met with Vince Tyra north of Indianapolis and then went back to West Lafayette to think it over. He informed UofL last night that he was staying put. 

Cardinal fans are shocked and disappointed by his decision. Next step. Next candidate. This is not a "how dare he refuse us?" scenario.  Jeff has a good job and is committed to his current players and the Purdue program. Can't blame him. And, the money was there in UofL's offer. We heard rumors of a seven-year, $35 million contract offered. We heard that Purdue bettered that.

Brohm is known for loyalty. Louisville must move on. 

Trinity High School cancelled Thursday classes because of an Internet threat about a reprisal toward Brohm's former high school if Brohm didn't take the job. In today's society, even vague Twitter threats, joking or not, are considered serious. Safety first. A joke in poor taste, most likely, but...you just never know anymore. You just can't joke about schools and kids in today's society, people. We live in a different world these days. 

The search continues. According to A.D. Vince Tyra, several high-profile inquiries were received yesterday after Jeff turned down the offer. We trust that Vince will do his job and get a guy who wants to be here. 

Brohm Watch is over. I'll close Brohm Watch with a Jeff Walz saying: 

"We want kids who want to be here. If I have to convince a kid they want to be here, it probably isn't the right fit for us...or them".  Apply as needed. 

Song to match Cardinal fans feelings this morning...the classic Fleetwood Mac "Gold Dust Woman" from 1977. Back when Stevie Nicks was "all that" and they had the under-rated Lindsey Buckingham firmly ensconced on guitar for them.

LINK: GOLD DUST WOMAN


VOLLEYING WE GO


The Cards Volleyball squad heads to Illinois to face Dayton in first round NCAA Tournament Action. A tough A-10 opponent, no doubt. 

Dayton went 23-7 this year. The A 10 does have a conference Volleyball tournament and Dayton won it with a 3-2 match triumph over VCU. Dayton has won the A 10 conference tournament 12 times and has made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Going to watch the zany, multi-hat wearing Dayton pep band would be worth the price of admission alone. With Dayton men's basketball scheduled to host #25 Mississippi State tomorrow night, though, it's probable the band will stay home to perform there. 

This is the third time that the Cards have been assigned to Champaign to start the NCAA Tournament. In 2003, Louisville knocked off Notre Dame before falling to Illinois. In 2013, the Cards fell to Marquette in the first round. If the Cards get by Dayton, they'll most likely face the Fighting Illini again. That Illini squad opens against Eastern Michigan after the UofL vs. Dayton match. 

Our "Worldwide" Jeff McAdams plans on a trip to Champaign to view the match. We'll try to catch up with him on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR Saturday and review the successes and/or failures. 


DONATION MONTH 

To all our readers, It's a little awkward, so we'll get straight to the point: This month of November we humbly ask you to protect Cardinal Couple's independence and help assure our continuance. We depend on donations averaging about $25, but 99% of our readers don't give. If everyone reading this gave $5, we could keep Cardinal Couple thriving for years to come. The price of your morning coffee and croissant is all we need. When we made Cardinal Couple a non-profit, people warned us we'd regret it.
 But if we became commercial, it would be a sign of defeat and selling out. Cardinal Couple is a place to learn, not a place for blatent and overly conspicious advertising. Our site unites all of us who love knowledge about UofL women's sports. To our readers and the donors who keep us thriving: "The heart and soul of what we do here is a community of people working to bring you unlimited access to information". Please take a minute to help us keep Cardinal Couple alive. Thank you.








                                                     















paulie
xxxxx






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Bears hunting Deines? -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

DEINES FUTURE UNCERTAIN AS WE ROLL INTO JUNE

The transfer process. It can be a tricky thing. When Megan Deines' name popped up as a transfer possibility/probability/seen on (fill in your choice campus) with (fill in your name choice)...the general consensus was this:

If she wants a year of significant playing time somewhere, then a transfer would be a logical choice. A mid-major seemed logical as well. 

We've heard Kansas State and Nebraska mentioned as possibilities. A buddy who knows very little about her or the program speculated that she might stay close to the Louisville area and go to Bellarmine or NKU. Maybe even WKU. We're not buying that hypothesis...even with your money. 

Deines has had an interesting career at UofL in three years. She started 15 games in 2012-13. Averaged 4.9 points on a team that went to the NCAA final game and a team that beat Baylor. She also hit 20 of 65 threes that year. She 2013-14 campaign dropped off..just 1 start in 33 games. 3.2 ppg average and was 5 for 23 from beyond the arc. Last season? She played in 24 games, no starts. She missed nine straight with an ankle injury. 

She is a Missouri girl, however (Glendale)...and the speculation arose that she might be interested (or vice versa) in a Missouri school. Here's an interesting piece from a Missouri State blogger that speculates on the possibilities of Deines and Missouri State:   

I've been asked numerous times if I thought that Kellie Harper and Missouri State would look to go the transfer route, specifically with high-profile area products such as Megan Deines (Glendale-Louisville), Michaela and Moriah Dapprich (Branson-Wichita State), and Kyndal Clark (Webb City-Drake) all announcing their decision to leave their current institutions within the last two weeks.

In short, the answer is no.

If we entertain the idea, assuming there is mutual interest from both sides and roster spots available, there wouldn't be a possibility of the Dapprichs or Clark coming to Springfield, as it is virtually impossible to transfer within the conference.

While the idea of an Ozarks return is nice and while we can certainly agree that the previous regime dropped the ball by not offering any of the three players, the chances of seeing them in maroon and white are about as likely as it is for me to stop binge eating Insomnia Cookies and Andy's.

Deines is  a different conversation.

Assuming that Missouri State and Louisville don't continue the current trend of playing every other year as they have in 2011-12 and 2013-14, Deines would likely be a viable option.

After sitting out a year, Deines would slide nicely in the spot vacated by Kenzie Williams, forming what could be the Valley's most dynamic backcourt in two years with Liza Fruendt and Riley Rose.

But, is it really necessary?

So....for the time being...she stays on the UofL roster until she heads elsewhere or decides maybe being a reserve on a top ten WBB team may not be such a bad gig after all.

paulie
xxxxx