Welcome to the ACC, SMU -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

As we approach the 2024-2025 sports season, we will see three new schools regularly appearing on the other side of the field/pitch/court from UofL. The addition of Southern Methodist (SMU), California (Cal), and Stanford took effect recently. We will go through the sports that each school offers over the next few weeks.

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

SMU currently fields 16 varsity sports, noticeably less than the 21 Louisville has. 10 of those teams are women's programs while the remaining six are men's programs. The only sport they carry that Louisville doesn't is Equestrian. There are currently 21 Division I schools that field Equestrian. 

Women's Sports offered:

-Basketball: Last season, the Mustangs went 14-16 and fell in the opening round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

-Cross Country: Unlike many schools, SMU does not have both men's and women's cross country. Their women's team had a fairly successful run last fall, tying for fifth in the NCAA Regional round.

-Equestrian: SMU is the reigning back-to-back national champions, narrowly beating out top-ranked TCU for the title back in April. 

-Golf: The Mustangs have a strong women's program. They advanced to the national championship and finished 24th overall last year.

-Rowing: The Mustangs won a tight one in the AAC Championship.

-Soccer: At 11-6-1 and falling in the AAC title game, SMU was one of the first schools out to miss the NCAA Tournament.

-Swimming and Diving: The Mustangs finished second in the AAC Championships. They did not send a team to the NCAA Championships but did have a couple individual divers compete.

-Tennis: A 14-12 overall record would not have gotten SMU into the postseason, but they won the AAC title to earn their way in, where they advanced to the second round after upsetting #33 Alabama.

-Track and Field: This is another sport where you typically see men's and women's programs together. SMU only carries a women's team. With just three points recorded, the Mustangs placed 50th overall in the NCAA Championships.

-Volleyball: SMU went 26-7 overall and 18-1 in the AAC en route to a conference championship. They fell to Texas in the second round.

Although we won't see them in on the lacrosse or field hockey fields, since they don't field sports in those two areas, it still appears that SMU is pretty strong in the women's events they do offer. Granted, the step from the AAC to the ACC is a pretty huge one. but the WBB home court...Moody Coliseum, as been described as a being a very tough place for opponent to come in and win. The legend of "Moody Magic" for SMU against incoming opponents is an interesting local tradition. . 

Men's Sports offered:

We found it interesting that a school of almost 12,000 enrollment only offerss (6) men's sports. We don't cover men's sports in our Cardinal Couple columns, but a cursory glance indicates that the men's sports they do carry at SMU did pretty daggone good in the AAC last year. 

-Basketball: 20-13 last season

-Football: 11-3 last season with AAC Championship

-Golf: 2nd in AAC, 26th at NCAAs

-Soccer: 14-3-2 last season

-Swimming and Diving: Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Champions, 18th at NCAAs

-Tennis: 17-11 last season

We will break down the sports Cal and Stanford bring to the table in the future.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared

ACC Expansion Almost Here -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SMU, Cal, and Stanford Set to Join this Summer

While we have known about the addition of three teams to the ACC for several months now, the time is nearly here for this to take effect. SMU will be joining the ACC after departing the American Athletic Conference (AAC) effective July 1, 2024. California and Stanford will be departing the Pac-12 and joining the ACC effective August 2, 2024.

Note: Due to the by-laws of the Pac-12, Cal and Stanford are not able to join until August 2, 2024.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is located in Dallas, Texas. The private Methodist school was founded in 1911 and has an enrollment of about 12,000. Their nickname is the Mustangs and their school colors are red and blue.

The University of California, Berkeley (Cal) is located in Berkeley, California. The public schoolwas founded in 1868 and has an enrollment of about 45,000. Their nickname is the Golden Bears and their school colors are blue and gold, specifically Berkeley blue and California gold.

Stanford University is located in Stanford, California. The private non-sectarian school was founded in 1891 and has an enrollment of about 17,000. Their nickname is the Cardinal (a tree) and their school colors are cardinal and white.

We will dive deeper into the addition of these three teams this summer. We will look into the different sports each school will bring with them.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared

Cardinals open first (and last) season of league play in the AAC today

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

The women’s basketball team opens conference play in the American Athletic Conference today at the KFC YUM Center with a 3:00 tip against Southern Methodist University (SMU).  The Cardinals are entering the game on a 5 game winning streak and a 12-1 overall record.   The Mustangs of SMU have a 9-2 overall record. 

Senior guard Keena Mays is coming off a huge game, scoring 32 points to lead the Mustangs in an overtime victory against North Texas.  Mays is also the leading scorer in the AAC averaging 20.9 points per game.  No doubt, the Cardinals scouting report will focus heavily on Mays.   Supporting Mays on the court in scoring is senior forward Akil Simpson who is averaging 14.1 ppg and is also the leading rebounder with 8.3 per game. 

The Mustangs lone elite matchup of the season they were crushed by Tennessee.  In that game Mays was held to just 12 points while Simpson 11.  The Mustangs lost to Tennessee by 40 points. 

Unfortunately for the Mustangs I do not see this game much differently.   The Cardinals should dominate from the tip.  One could likely expect Henderson, Niamke and Deines logging extended minutes in this one.   In my opinion, this is likely to be the kind of game where the Cardinals can really work on specific aspects of their individual game, as well as specific aspects of team play.  In recent games the Cardinals have been focusing specifically on passing in and out of the post and working hard to manage the ball and limit turnovers. 

The team is reconvening after a brief holiday that break that likely saw most of the team headed home for the Holidays.  They were to report back to campus on Thursday, December 26. 

The Cardinals will hit the road for a midweek matchup against the Temple Owls on New Years Day.  They will return back home next Saturday for a match against Cincinnati.    We hope to see you at The YUM Center!

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The men’s basketball team had a tall order in Lexington and fell just shy on the day losing by 7 to the Cats.  National Championships are not won, or lost, in December.  Bragging rights go to the Cats for a sweep of the men’s and women’s team this season.

The highlight of the day was the dominant performance of the football team pounding Miami, winning the Russell Athletic Bowl, handedly.  Cardinal fans now await the announcement of Teddy Bridgewater, will he stay or will he go?     While I would love for Teddy to usher the football program in the to ACC, with a degree under his belt (how impressive is that, by the way?), I expect we will see Teddy in the NFL Draft. 

Jenny O'Bryan

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EDITOR NOTE

Teddy Bridgewater may have put on the most spectacular performance by a UofL quarterback in a bowl game ever. Some would counter with Browning Nagel in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl...but "Teddy Bowlgame" shone on a night where the Miami defenders mirrored the cartoon characters a few miles away at Disney World. Goofy. Donald Duck. Mickey Mouse and Dumbo.

Teddy needs to go. Best to walk out in the white hot spotlight when you can. (See Brian Brohm and Steve Kragthorpe as a "not to do" example). Maybe Devante Parker goes, too. It does not matter. Coach Charlie will reload, rebuild and make the Cards competitive in the ACC. I wonder how the 'Canes would vote now about accepting Louisville into the league?

Good luck Teddy! As a friend remarked last night, "So, if Teddy goes...can we consider it 'water under the bridge'?".  Hmmm...more like a raging river headed to the vast seas, maybe.

paulie



Jenny O'Bryan

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Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Catching up with The American WBB Conference

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- THE AAC PRESENTS CHALLENGES FOR UOFL WBB


We got an e-mail the other day at CARDINAL COUPLE asking how Louisville's nine opponents in the AAC were doing this season. I knew immediately about UCONN but found I was not real sure about most of the other WBB squads that the Cards will face. So, a bit of research and...voila!...a report on the teams is below.

UCF   (7-1)

The name around Orlando in women's basketball is Briahanna Jackson. She's had two 30-point efforts this season -- the latest coming in a 84-79 win over Flagler. The sophomore guard has led UCF against a less than challenging pre-conference slate and gets plenty of help from Sara Djassi, Zylira Lewis, Stephanie Taylor and Brittni Montogomery.

Excuse me if I'm not impressed with a five point win over the Saints. No, not the New Orleans version.

CINCINNATI  (4-4)

Hopeful things for Jamelle Elliot as her freshman star Bianca Quisenberry was named AAC Rookie of the Week. And Dayeesha Hollins is playing well with 12.6 a game for the Bearcats. They get a test Sunday when Ohio State comes to town. They did beat Youngstown State in their last...but losses to Northern Kentucky and Fordham aren't anything that you write home about. Unless you play for NKU or Fordham.

UCONN  (10-0)

What we know:  #1 in the country. Better than half the men's teams in Division I.

What you may not know: They're down to six healthy scholarship players currently.
 
What does it mean? Those six are pretty darn good. Brianna Stewart, Bria Hartley, Saniya Chong, Brianna Banks, Stefanie Dolson and Moriah Jefferson are a strong core.

Who they play next? A respite of sorts before they tangle with #2 Duke on Dec. 17th.

Geno vs. Coach Joanne P. Must see TV.


HOUSTON (3-6)

A loss last time out to Alabama in a game where they only managed 44 points. They lost to Washington before that. I have a feeling the word "loss" is going to be a part of most of the Coogs game descriptions this season. They have talent...Yasmeen Thompson (C), Marche Amerson (G) and Te'onna Campbell (F) play stifling defense and are the leading scorers...but they'll probably dwell in the AAC cellar for the season.

Think Seton Hall stats from our previous association with that other league.

MEMPHIS  (4-5)

Freshman guard Breigha Wilder-Cochran was huge in a win over UAB last out with 14 points and AAC Honor roll recognition but their next against Tennessee Tech will probably put another "L" in the Tigers loss column.

Compare this. They beat Wright St. 83-75. Louisville beat Wright State 99-40. The Tigers also have losses to Samford, Ark-Little Rock, Texas A&M (by 10), Syracuse (by 19) and Texas (by 29).

Teams are taking the Tiger by the tail this year and will continue to do so...

RUTGERS  (6-2)

Back in a big way is Betnijah Laney...averaging a double-double for the season (10.7/10.1). They demolished Davidson and pounded Princeton. They'll wear out Wagner in their next
game. It's a cupcake schedule...except for the loss to LSU. The defeat to UMass (2-7) is a head-scratcher.

C. Viv Stringer's squad hasn't scored over 80 points a game yet this season, though. Despite a win over Texas Tech, I'll need to see more offense out of the Scarlet Knights before I can consider them a threat to Louisville or UConn.

But...they still have Precious Person on the roster. Julie Hermann is the AD. That's enough to make me cheer for them all season long...except when they play The 'Ville.


USF  (5-3)

Gone are the Smith sisters. The Russian Rocket Inga Orekhova is out with knee trouble 3 or 4 more games. Courtney Williams is filling in nicely with 15.6 a game, though, and veteran Akita McDonald is still a beast of "board"om.

Jose Fernandez also has a very talented player by the name of Ariadna Pujol from Spain on the roster that'll make an impact this season.

Losses to Clemson and Maryland aren't too surprising. Falling to Florida-Gulf Coast isn't shocking either...but this Bulls squad isn't quite the caliber of previous years.


SMU  (8-2)

Keena Mays is turning heads in the AAC. She's been named the Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week and third time this season. Mays had 34 against UTEP last out in a loss to the Miners. She and Louisville's Shoni Schimmel are battling for the assist lead in the conference. 

The Mustangs return to ballin' on Dec. 21st against North Texas. They'll get tested soon enough...their first two AAC games are road trips to Louisville and Cincy.

They also fell to Tennessee this year. No shame in that.


TEMPLE   (4-2)

A twenty point loss to city-rival St. Joseph surprised me.  Freshman Feyonda Fitzgerald leads them in scoring (14.2) and they travel to Montana Saturday.

The Owls lost to Michigan State by only 4. Four starters average in double scoring figures.

They just might be might dark horse team in the AAC to crack the top four by the end of the season. Like every other women's sport they face Louisville in, though...they'll lose in hoops also to the Cardinals.

Owls. Dark horses. Bill Cosby. And Philly Cheesesteaks.

Go Owls!


paulie
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