Softball falls to Duke --- Post game thoughts after WBB loss to MTSU -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

A SEASON OF SO MANY "What if's" ...

I guess I'm just not used to seeing the Cards WBB season end this early in the NCAA Tournament. All day long Sunday, I sat and watched the tournament games, wishing the Cards could have had "that draw,or being glad we didn't get a differentt draw, getting envious when teams we had defeated in the season were playing well. Glad UofL didn't have to play LSU....they would have killed the Cards..A bitter, in some ways, but reflective Day Three of the tournament for me, watching games but also thinking and reflecting 

What if...the Cards had gotten a different draw in the brackets...what if UofL's guard play had been stronger....what if VanLith was still on the roster....what if,,, as you can see, it's easy to guess and second guess...

I rellected, also, that Cardinals squads tend to go a little further when there are qutie a few "lifers" (or three or four year players) that have been at Louisville the entire time on the roster. I also realize that changed dramatically (and maybe forever)  a few years ago with the advent of COVID, extra years, NIL and the jumping around of players from team to team,like checkers on a board. Jeff Walz won't use the term "play for pay" but it's here, kiddies...and will it contiunue to affect the game the way it has so far?. . 

The game changes. Players change. Coaches change. But, the women's game continues to grow and I love that, so i'll continue to cover the sport, write about it and tout it. 

Walz will get recruits and new players in, we'll find new players to fall in love with, talk about, see come and go and praise or moan about. I hope to see quite a few more seasons...I guess the cardiologists, nephrologists and other assorted doctors will help in that aspect. It helps to have a young crew here at Cardinal Couple. They'll pick up the flag when I can no longer carry it and go on with what we do here. Promote the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. Even when it is awfully hard to do...like today.. 

SOFTBALL LOSES TO DUKE 5 to 3

The Cards gave it a try late, but, could not make up the early defecit and catch the visiting Duke Blue Devils softball squad Sunday at Ulmer. 

The Devills build a 5-0 lead on Cardinals pitchers Alyssa Zabala, Sam Booe over the first five innings, while the Cardinals batters were ineffective against Duke's 11-0 Jala Wright. 

Louisville finally put a run on in the bottom of the fifth when Ally Alexander made it all the way around, aided by a Paige Geragthy single and Duke error. 

The Cards added two more runs in their final at bat, off duke releif pitcher Dani Drogemuller and had the tying run on base, but could not get the baserunners home. 

The loss takes the Cards to 20-12 overall and 1-5 in the ACC. 

Louisville closes out the homestand when IU visits Tuesday night.

NCAA WBB TOURNAMENT AND CARDINAL COUPLE PICK EM

We now have eight of the Sweet Sixteen established, with Duke,Colorado,South Carolina, LSU, Oregon St, Texas, Baylor and Stanford, all getting wins. Eight more games today...

KStarkSr and and Thomas have battled their way to the Pick Em lead. Nick O, Blue Lou and Jason are a footstep behind. We'll have a full standings report once the Sweet Sixteen is wstablished. Thanks to Jared for his work here.  

paulie

PHTOS BY JARED ANDERSON

paulie

NCAA WBB Tournament: Thoughts and Reactions Before the Storm -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 IN A SEASON OF UPS AND DOWNS, WHY SHOULD THE NCAA TOURNAMENT BE ANY DIFFERENT FOR CARDS?

(Jared studies a book on Women's College Basketball...OR IS IT PHOTOGRAPHY ?)

I've heard a lot from our readers here at Cardinal Couple over the last couple of days, since the NCAA WBB Tournament Selections came out. I do have a policy that, if anyone e-mails me directly, instead of the site, i seldom run those emailed or texted thoughts of the sender or in our columns, though. In most cases this time of year,  those missives are complaints or criticisms of the NCAA...and/or the Selection Committee's decisons, placings and specific team or player tirades.We promote joy and excitement here. 

Heck, I even get a coaches, or former coaches sound off to me on issues. I appreciate thecontact, I do start my responses lately, though, with the caveat "although I missed watching much of the last two months of the regular season because of heart surgery and recovery"  

I still think i can talk a pretty good game...or as a head coach in NCAA DI WBB once remarked to a former sportswriter, in reference to me......"Paulie? he's so full of s#!t ...why are you reading him?" 

I'm just glad to report things are going well for me. On my last cardiologist visit, the doctor took a look, shrugged and said: "You're fine, come back in six months." That, however, isn't a reply that fits Louisville WBB: 

Let me explain: 

The 2023-24 squad has no clear leader. Yes, they have some very spectacular talent and can do some really good things as a team, but if you ask...let's say...five people... "who you want having that ball in crunch time at the end of a close game", you're probably going to get five different answers. I did just that, from five Louisville WBB fans a couple of days ago and got the following answers:

"WHO DO YOU WANT WITH THE BALL IN A CLOSE UOFL WBB GAME AT THE END?"

I got a vote each for: Olivia Cochran, Kiki jefferson, an experienced ref, Mo Reid and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Maybe that's good, it makes it hard for a UofL opponent to key on one person to stop, and maybe that's bad, because who do you go to if you are the Cards coaching staff. As of late, you just hope the Cards don't turn it over or get a bewildered referee involved in the outcome. Also, I don't know about the Jesus answer, isn't HE in support of all mankind?  . We don't need 30+ tie games on our record.   Maybe General George Patton had it right when he was asked if he read the Bible and he replied "every goddamn day." .Is Jeff Walz trying?  (see Patton answer above..)

I

n Louisville women's basketball's fortunes and prospects, though...saying "all is fine"  isn't a term I would use as the Cards prepare for their Friday opener against MTSU in Baton Rouge/ It'll be strange not being in the KFC YUM! Center for the first and second rounds of the NCAA WBB Tournament but, going from "the Ville" to"the Rouge" is a 11 hr 14 min (762.9 mi) via I-65 S and I-59 S drive .I'm gonna pass on the drive.and watch it on ESPN 2 and probably turn the sound down and listen to Nick Curren and Cortnee Walton's call on 93.9 FM while viewing.  As far as Baton Rouge goes, i expect MTSU, Rice and LSU will have more fans in the stands than we do.

(me after watching 96 hours of opening round NCAA WBB Tourney action)

What are UofL's chances of getting out of Baton Rouge with two straight wins? Well, nothing is impossible but this task isn't likely. I will point out, though, a Cardinals squad, ranked #5 back in 2013, defeated a #1 Baylor 81-80 on two Mo Reid free throws, in the upset heard around WBB DI hoops. THE UPSET MANY DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.  Miracles can happen.  You can relive he final moments of that one here:  Cards vs Baylor. Remember the Kim Mulkey striptease near the end? 

As long as you have the mad scientist on the sidelines, nothing is impossible.

Let's not overlook MTSU either, They beat the "beejeebers" out of last year's UofL squad (a squad that had HaileyVan Width on it). Maybe LSU should be more worried about playing them, instead of Louisviile in the second round, if both advance...the Blue Raiders whipped Hailey and the Cards like a bad dog last season., in an almost 30 point win.. Van Miss was 1 or 30 or some such ridiculous number from the floor. 

If Louisville should emerge from the "Rouge" as the winner. who would they likely face?  Most will say, UCLA...I'll venture. Time will tell, on the far-flung prognostication. 

Louisville needs to remember the basic concept of the tournament....if you win, you advance. If you can win six in a row, you are the NCAA WBB D1 champ. Let's hope the Cards WBB squad can pull off two in a row and be in the Sweet Sixteen...if they accomplish that, we'll see if a South Carolina or Iowa are stiil around to menace.. And, UConn is a team that is usually part of the tournament's Sweet Sixteen

we had a number of transfers come in through the portal who came to Louisville to try and reach a Final Four or National Championship.

 It's showtime,

SOFTBALL FALLS AT MIAMI. OH 8-7

IN A MIDWEEK MATCHUP, Louisville Softball dropped a close one to the Miami (OH) RedHawks 8-7 at the RedHawks home field.. The RedHawks drove across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh when they knocked a two RBI double to left center with two outs... on a full count. Alyssa Zabala received the loss, after pitching the final 1-2/3rd innings of the contest. 

The Cards go to 19-10 on the season, while Miami improves to 19-6.

Miami jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first inning, despite a two RBI Riley Frizell homer, The Cards took the lead in the sixth innngs and scored five riuns in the final two innings. Frizell led Louisville in hitting, going 2 for 4 and driving in three runs. The senior transfer from Missouri leads UofL with 32 RBI's this season and also in four-baggers with eight. 

The Cards return home to face #4 Duke for a three-game series beginning Friday.

CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA WBB PICK 'EM TOURNAMENT CONTEST

Don't forget to get thsoe ntries in for then CC NCAA WBB Tourney Pick Em. We have a $25 gift card for the winner and you can choose either the Cracker Barrel or Wagner's card

We highly recommend either for lunch or breakfast...I recently dined at Wagner's and had a delicious ham and cheese ommlette. It's simple to play, just pick a winner for the 63 games.and most winners wins you the prize of either card. Second place gets the other remaining card..we also request you include a final game total score prediction also, in case of anny ties. iSonja has a nicce format to follow. 

SONJA SELECTIONS

So Car, NC, Okla, IU, Texas AM, Ore, Ole Miss, ND
Tex, Ala, Utah, Gonz , Tenn, NCST, Maryland, Stanford
Iowa, Princeton Drake, Kansas, Lou, LSU, Creighton, UCLA
USC, Kansas,Baylor, VT, Syracuse, UConn, Richmond, Ohio St
Iowa, Kansas,Lou, UCLA ,VaTech, USC, Syr, ,Ohio St.
SoCar, ND, Utah, Stanford, Iowa, UCLA, Va Tech, Syr
So Car, stanford, Iowa, VaTech, So Car, Va Tech, Va Tech

Questions. Leave them in the comments section.  Please leave your picks there also

Good luck ! 

paulie