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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE
( CARDINAL COUPLE Columnist Sandy Walker provides today's report on the homicide in South Bend last night. )
The washing machine broke so while CoCo and her repair team spends time trying to determine what parts to order...the Cardinal Couple Corporate Office gave Sandy the substitute assignment of reporting on the Notre Dame game post mortem instead of the week off. After last night’s game I think a trip to the coin laundry to sanitize last night’s game uniforms is in order as it appears that the accumulation of team injuries have finally caught up with Walz's women.
As Cardinal broadcaster Adrienne Johnson said, the freshly minted # 10 nationally ranked Louisville got a “good butt-whipping” from #2 ranked Notre Dame. The Monday night ESPN2 featured contest initially showed a slight promise of a true competition but it was not to be as this being the 13th meeting between these teams was truly a bad sign.
To be successful, Louisville as a team, needed to take play with confidence, care of the ball, show aggression on defense without fouling and to control the glass. The Cards did have what could be considered season best play from a few individuals for short-lived periods of time. Otherwise, as a whole, 1 out of 4 of these goals would have been an improvement over what occurred. Pick a statistic, any statistic. No real additional explanations are needed.
Notre Dame Louisville
Turnovers 19 19
Rebounds 44 23
Free Throws 19/26 for 73% 3/7 for 43%
Steals 11 9
Field Goals 34/60 for 57% 27/62 for 44%
Team Fouls 8 18
Assists 25 17
Basketball IQ 100 % Audit
Points 93 64
Yes, there were brief periods of good play by a few where the pace was definitely increased upon Jude’s entry into the game. Her poised 33 minutes of play was shown by her total of 2 turnovers and 8 points. Bria Smith, who had 18 points (10 in the first half) 4 rebounds and 5 steals was everywhere and played with a solid aggression which caught the attention of everyone. The addition of Antonita Slaughter’s 16 points along with Shoni’s 13 just were not enough. There was a brief 8-2 run by the cards at 9:20 in the first half which brought UofL to within 5 with the ball and a score of 17-22. Louisville moved into the half time break still with a breath of life remaining as the 45-35 score gave us hope of a strong first 5 minutes of play which might turn things around.
Their 2nd half brief run at 17:44 which brought them within 7 at 47-40 could not be sustained as in only 2 additional minutes of play the spread had increased to 17 as the Cards' 40 was met by Notre Dame’s 57. All American and top 4 national player Skylar Diggins, who finished with 21 points, 7 assists and 4 steals pretty much schooled Louisville in what complete game play looked like.
In his post game interview Jeff pretty much summed the game up by saying the Cards just did not play tough enough either physically or mentally. To win against a team like Notre Dame, play must more closely resemble football than chess.
Fortunately, the Cards have a few BIG EAST games left from which to position themselves for the upcoming end of season tournament. The first opportunity for the women to regroup is this Sunday’s 1:30 game at the KFC YUM! Center when they have the opportunity to reverse their earlier misfortunes against DePaul. Yes, the game is being shown on ESPNU but the women need your presence at the game, not on your recliner.
Last night’s ND crowd at the sold-out South Bend game absolutely contributed to the chaos which rained down upon our team. It is time to return the favor as well as to show the nation what a Louisville women’s basketball crowd looks like. UofL's recent slippage to number 3 in the nation for attendance is just not acceptable and ...now more than ever, this team needs us.
Sandy
Editor's Comments...So, let's go to South Bend, fail to block out, rebound or defend and see how that does. And, that pretty well sums up the final 17 minutes of last night's trouncing of the Louisville WBB squad by Skylar, Natalie and the other Muffet marauders. Sonja couldn't understand why Shoni was sitting when the Irish were pulling away. I explained to her that "matador defense" went out of style a few years ago. For a team that had only been allowing 53.1 points per game, the Cards looked like a squad that didn't realize it's OK to guard someone when they drive the lane with the basketball. It's become a dangerous sequence this season...go on the road, play a quality opponent, get your lunch taken from you.
Fortunately, the Cards finish the regular season with three in the KFC YUM! Center and only two in hostile territory...two dangerous ones, though, in Syracuse and Villanova. Walz mentioned in the post-game eulogy last night that he hoped all the television sets in Louisville were out of order last night. Something is broken, coach...but it isn't the cable service. The Wizard of Oz's Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion could have done a better job containing UND's front line last night. Put Toto and Jude out there, and you may keep the Wicked Witches of the West under 80...
The Cards probably looked the best when it was four guards and Nita on the court. Anyone know of any 6'0" and under leagues that these five could sign up for?
Issuing this amber alert. The post position at UofL has gone missing. If seen, return to the basketball offices on the 2nd floor of the S.A.C. on campus, please.
20-5 is a great record. This team has overcome injuries and played with heart and courage many times this year. Last night was a clunker. It happens. These next five are all winnable. They are also, potentially...all losable as well, except for Seton Hall. A 25-5 regular-season record would be outstanding. 21-9 would be OK, but may not be 4th seed NCAA Tournament or BIG EAST Tournament worthy.
Whatcha got left, Lady Cards?
-Paulie
They'll play in the beautiful University of Texas-Arlington College Park Center and former Louisville point guard Jude Schimmel will attend the tryouts beginning April 23rd. 
