WBB Cards and Cats announce 2026 date. -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TWO TOP TEAMS IN STATE TO MEET ON DECEMBER 9TH

We now know when the 2026 edition of Cards WBB vs Cats WBB will take place.

The two schools will face off on December 9th in Lexington in Rupp Arena.  No game time or network viewing information has been released yet. Since it is a weekday game, the best guess here is that it'll be snatched up by the SEC Network and get an evening time slot...but that is just speculation. 

This is a switch from the last game between the two in Lexington, in 2024, when the two squads met in Memorial Coliseum. The Cards have won three of the last five meetings between the two squads. Last year's contest went to the Cats 72-62. Louisville won in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

Georgia Amoore. a pretty kitty. Now with the Mystics. 

The larger arena venue in 2026 means more people will attend, in all probability. The last time I was in Lexington, the two squads played at Memorial Coliseum. That one was an overtime classic..where the Cats roared back from a late deficit under the leadership of Teonna Key and Georgia Amoore. A Saturday night game, and a tough drive back to Louisville after the loss. 

Jeff Walz is 13-7 all time against UK. He has had a seven game win streak against the Cats, until two years ago. 

paulie

Scouting UK WBB -- Volleyball vs. Texas Today -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SPECIAL UPDATE !!!!

Louisville Volleyball upsets #2Texas 3-2 in the Sweet Sixteen. Biggest win in the program's history. CARDS WIN! Case Hoskins will have much more on this in the Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE. How about those Cards ! 

OH, YES THEY DID !!!!  (LINK) 


CARDS WBB FACES 10-0 UK SUNDAY IN RUPP

The 9-1, #7 ranked Louisville Cardinals women basketball team travels to Lexington Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest vs. in-state rival Kentucky. Today, let's tale a preliminary look at what the Cards are running into up in Rupp Arena. 

UK is 10-0 on the season. I'd say their schedule to this point has been fairly weak and they've had eight of their ten games in Memorial Coliseum on the UK campus. No tropical paradise tournaments for the Cats, just a continuous session of beating up on mostly "less-than-mid-majors" so far...with the exception of the ACC's Virginia and Middle Tennessee State University. 

The Cats combined opponents are 32-46 on the season, with just MTSU, Charlotte and Austin Peay sporting over .500 records to date. The Virginia Cavaliers gave UK all they wanted in Charlottesville, before falling 50-47. MTSU faced UK in Murfreesboro but ended up losing 67-52. 

UK has blowout wins over Samford (3-8) by 30, Winthrop (1-6) by 55 and Charlotte by 47. Grambling (1-6) also took a beating from the Cats by 46.  Other cupcakes on the dessert tray were Austin Peay (5-2) who fell by 29, Morehead State (3-5) a 25-point loser to Big Blue, Stetson (4-5) losing by 19 points and Mt.St.Mary (4-4) a 15 point "wrong side of the scoreboard loss. 

To say that the Cards would be the first major test for Matthew Mitchell bunch would be a vast understatement. The are, however, an opponent that should be respected and feared. 

Individually, UK is led by Rhyne Howard, a 6'2" sophomore guard, who leads the Cats in points scored a game (19.6) and rebounds (5.6). She's a multi-talented and prolific offensive threat and will pose matchup problems for Walz's squad. 

Sabrina Haines, a 5'10'' guard is an Arizona St. redshirt-senior transfer and the other Wildcat in double figures with 11.6 a game. The rest of the UK probable starters are 6'2" junior forward Tatyana Wyatt, 6'1" junior forward Keke McKinney and redshirt senior, 5'7" guard Amanda Paschal, from Gulf Coast Junior College, who averages 4.2 assists a game. 

Key subs are 5'6" senior spark plug guard Jaida Roper, who went off for 30 points against Winthrop Wednesday night and three-point specialist Blair Green, a 6'0" guard from Harlan, KY.  

All told, the Cats average 74.8 ppg, while holding opponents to 45.6 a night. They shoot 43% from the floor while holding opponents to 33%. UK out-rebounds opponents 38.6 to 34.2 and the Cats average 8.2 made threes a contest


Is UK "Fools gold" or a legitimate foe?  The AP voters think enough of the Cats body of work to rank them #14 in the nation. Their RPI checks in at 40th., however, while Louisville's is #5 in DI RPI. 

Coach Walz is 6-6 against Matthew Mitchell coached teams. The Cards are on a three-game win streak against UK.

UK likes to run when possible and looks for Howard or Haines on just about every possession. Roper comes in and provides a huge spark off the bench, but the UK front line doesn't quite match up against the Cardinal contingent of Dunham, Shook, Dixon and Diop. Can UK slow down the dangerous Dana Evans or halt the athleticism of Jaz? How big a factor will Balogun be in her first UK vs. UofL rivalry. Will Konno play? And, how many UK fans take advantage of the cheap tickets available for the contest in Rupp? Will the Cards faithful travel well? 

My thoughts? 

I see a close first half, Louisville tends to stumble out of the gate early in most of their games and UK might even be holding a halftime advantage. The Cards will settle in, get good efforts inside from Shook and Dunham and Jaz manages to stay on the court, un-saddled by foul trouble. Dana does what she does and UofL heads home with a 71-64 win.

We'll have the rest of our crew's predictions on Saturday's radio broadcast of The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour. What's your thoughts on the game? Who wins by how much? Let us know in the comments section below...

Walz had deemed a presser for this one is in order and it'll be held today at the Koeber at 12:30 p.m. We'll have it linked up here later this afternoon, so be sure and check back !! 


A busy Friday for media obligations facing the Cardinal head coach. He'll also be on the ACC Network morning show with Packer and Durham this morning at 9 a.m. With these two guys, you never know just what they'll come up with in the way of questions. 

All leading up to the annual Battle of the Bluegrass WBB style. It should be a good one and we encourage you to head to Lexington Sunday to take it in. We'll have coverage from me and Sonja, Jared snapping photos and maybe even Worldwide in the seats cheering. 

LINKS: 

WALZ INTERVIEW 12-13-19

WALZ ON PLAYING IN RUPP ARENA




VOLLEYBALL VS. TEXAS TODAY


We've spent the last two days here at Cardinal Couple breaking down today's 4 p.m. Volleyball Sweet Sixteen matchup between Louisville and Texas. The contest will be televised on ESPNU. 

Yesterday the Cards were part of the Sweet Sixteen press conference. Quite a few questions were asked of the Cardinal head coach Dani Busboom Kelly and several Cardinal student-athletes.

Notables from that: 

Opening atatement: 
HEAD COACH DANI BUSBOOM KELLY: Just like the start of the NCAA Tournament, we're just really thankful to still be in it and have the opportunity to play in the Sweet 16, especially at a storied program like Texas. We're just real will I excited. We worked really hard to get here and had a lot of adversity this season, so I think that makes it even sweeter, too, to be here, one of the last 16 teams standing.

Q. Can you describe how big of a deal it was for you guys to lose Melanie?
COACH DANI BUSBOOM KELLY: It was a huge deal. She was our only senior, captain, she led us in kills. She statistically was honestly our best player in every category. When you lose somebody like that, you think about the kills, but that wasn't even what mattered to our team. I think we had to adjust to everything else that she did and figure out ways to block balls, dig balls, pass, serve.

It took some adjusting, and I'm just really proud that we were able to adjust and when it mattered and now we're here.

Q. What did you learn about your players after your five-set win last weekend?
AIKO JONES: I learned we had a lot of grit, more than I already knew that we had. I learned that we want this and that we love the game so much and that we just want to see how good we can all be and that each game just means more and more to us.

It was fun, just seeing that come out in each player, yeah.

TORI DILFER: Yeah, I think it showed that we didn't need it to be perfect. We just needed to compete hard and trust and know that we were the better team and we were going to come out on top if we played like it. It was super fun like she said. It was awesome compete against somebody that we got to play previously. Both of us were super different teams early in the season, but yeah, showed a lot of grit and just showed that we really want to be in that position and we're just here to make a statement.

Q. Tori, you obviously have familiarity with Texas, so what do you know about them and what do you expect to see?
TORI DILFER: Yeah, I do think they are a very different team this year. They are more physical than I think I've ever seen them be, and just obviously a really well-rounded team, but I guess having experience against them helps. I competed with them hard. Obviously it's a different program, but they are really fun to play. They are going to bring their best, so you have to match them. You have to respect them and respect yourself to give everything, every point and really play clean volleyball. If you play clean volley pull and put pressure on them, you're in a good position.

Q. Is there one thing you pinpoint with Texas?
COACH DANI BUSBOOM KELLY: I think we focus on our side of the net and we know Texas is going to make great plays. Probably the mindset to have a next-point mentality and know that each point is just a point. You don't get extra points for bounced blocking and bounced killing balls which we know they are going to do. We have to hang in there and make sure we don't get caught up in emotion and the crowd and everything that comes along with playing Texas.

Best of luck to our Volleyball Cards today! 


Have a fantastic Friday!

paulie
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Lacrosse Releases Schedule -- Field Hockey News -- Preview of Cats -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LACROSSE SCHEDULE FOR 2019

Year two of "Teeter's Term" begins on Feb 8th. Officially, that is, with a game in Evanston against Northwestern. Long before that, Coach Scott, Kay Morrissette, Renee Poullett and the squad will be practicing, preparing and planning for the season and, from the eyeball test, it looks to be a challenging and exciting schedule. Who will be some of the players to get to know?


Only one senior on the Lacrosse roster, and she's a great one in Tessa Chad. In her first year donned in the Red and Black, she was second leading scorer on the squad with 42 goals. She played in all 17 Louisville Lacrosse matches. Before the Cards, she was with Teeter at Canisius and earned quite a few MAAC honors in two year as a Golden Griffin. 

The Blaylock sisters return for their sophomore year. Midfielder Caroline made second team ALL-ACC last season and led Louisville in scoring with 45 goals. Sister Sarah is also a midfielder and had eight scores in the 17 games. Lexie Ball is back to compete for the starting goalkeeper role and her backup Jen Schaaf is back as well. 

Freshman Shay Clevenger is a name you might want to get to know. She was ranked #32 in the Inside Lacrosse Top 49 Young Gun Seniors for the 2018 season. The defender played at Marriots Ridge high school, where the Blaylock sisters played. 

A roster of 24 student-athletes that includes 11 sophomores and nine freshmen. Geographical breakdown of the roster shows nine players from Maryland, four from New York, three from Canada, two each from North Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia and one apiece from Kentucky and Florida.  

After the opener against Northwestern in Evanston, the Cards travel to play Marquette on Feb 10th. and then at Denver on Feb.,16th. 

They'll take the pitch for the home opener on Feb.24th against Mercer. Vandy stops by next on Feb 27th. to close out February action. 

March finds the Cards in South Bend to face the Irish of Notre Dame on the 2nd. They'll find out if the Butler did it on March 6th up in Naptown and return home for action against Duke on March 6th. A trip to Pittsburgh will bring a match against Duquesne on the 11th. Back home, the Cards will invite Cincinnati in on the 13th., and Syracuse on the 17th. 


A few days with action before they travel to Blacksburg to go gobbler hunting at Virginia Tech on the 23rd. Then, it's back to the Ville for three in a row to close the home part of the schedule...Delaware on the 31st., North Carolina on April 7th., and Ohio State  on the 9th. 

Louisville concludes the regular season travelling. They'll visit Virginia on April 13th. and Boston College on the 19th. The ACC Lacrosse Tournament is in Boston this year and that begins on April 24th. 

A challenging 2019? You bet. Seven of the Cards foes participated in the NCAA Tournament last year. The Cards went 5-1 early in the 2018 schedule before losing 10 out of the last 11 to finish 6-11. This year's squad should have better luck of it, it's easy to see at least equaling last year's wins and maybe even getting a few more to hit double figure wins and achieve Teeter's first ACC victory. 

We'll cover and report on all the LAX efforts here at the Couple. Go Cards! 



FIELD HOCKEY HONORS

Congratulations to three of Justine Sowry's "stick girls", who received NFHCA DI All-American honors! 

Senior Ayeshia McFerran took first-team accolades, the goalkeeper extraordinaire became the first Cardinal in history to be named to the All-American team for all four of her four years at UofL. The best goalkeeper in the world was named to the third team as a freshman and first team her sophomore and junior years. Her accolades at Louisville would take me a full hour to list here...she is the best to ever step on the Trager Stadium turf and will have a long and successful career playing for the Irish National team now. 

Sophomore Mercedes "Meche" Pastor was honored with second team status. She showed her magician-like skills with the stick and ball for the Cards this season and added this award to her All-West Region and ACC first team selections. At 5'1", the Buenos Aires native meets the qualifications for our "Attack Yorkie" status and we look forward to the next two years of seeing her baffle, confuse and score on the competition. The "pastor" is in the pulpit again! All rise and rejoice! 

Senior Taylor Stone caps off a very successful student-athlete time here at the Ville with third-team honors. This is the second time she's made All-American status and the Herndon, VA native was also named to the All-West and ACC squads this year. She's also a part of the USA Field Hockey National Development squad. 

We wish all three the best of luck as they continue their skills on the field for Louisville and beyond in 2019! 



CAT COMMENTARY

Since I'll be out of the CARDINAL COUPLE writing rotation until Monday, I thought I'd provide a few thoughts and observations on the upcoming UofL vs. UK women's basketball game this Sunday at the KFC YUM! Center.  

Rest assured that Jared, Case and Jeff will provide much more in the next three days about the annual "Battle of the Bluegrass". Be sure to check back here for their columns. The Sunday contest should be all that's advertised. It is a "red out" so dress accordingly! 



CATS GUARDS WILL BE A CHALLENGE

Maci Morris and Taylor Murray run the show out front for Matthew Mitchell's squad and they've been quite successful in helping UK go 8-0 so far. Morris poured in 31 points last time out for UK in a 87-57 win over Morehead. Point guard Murray leads the squad in assists and has 13 against the Eagles. She's showing a brand new confidence out front and has picked up her aggressiveness this season. Backups Blair Green and Jaida Roper are quite capable of providing quality backup minutes. We'll cover another guard below. 

FRESHMAN FIREPOWER

Rhyne Howard has come in and found instant success. The freshman, who played under Walz on the FIBA Americas squad, leads UK in scoring with 18.1 p.p.g. She's listed at 6'2" and classified as a guard. She also leads UK in three-pointers made (23-45) for 51% and has the highest rebounds per game average at 6.9 a night. 

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS

Keke McKinney , a 6'1" sophomore and Tatyana Wyatt, a 6'2" sophomore are the other two probable starters for UK and prowl the paint. They combine for 8.3 p.p.g. a night and 8.5  grabs a contest. They could be the "weak links" in the UK configuration and an area where the Cards try to capitalize. 

Sam, Kylee and Bionca should prosper. 


WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? 

The Cats are 8-0 and their wins have come against Alabama St., Southern, Virginia, High Point and Morehead at home. They won the Paradise Jam Tournament with wins over South Florida, UCLA and UNC. A two-point squeaker against the Bruins. Every thing else has been by 10 points or more. They downed the ACC Cavs by 12 and the Tar Heels by 10.

They are ranked #19 by the AP. This will be their first top 25 test of the season. 

We'll have much more on the match-up in the following days.  If you want a sneak peek of UK, you can catch them tonight against Rhode Island in Lexington on the SEC Network tonight at 7 p.m.

(The weekly Paulie Podcast is up and you can hear him ramble at the following link):

Paulie Podcast for 12/6/18 
paulie
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Coaching changes and additions in WBB -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

STEPHANIE WHITE AT VANDY THE RIGHT MOVE

MELANIE BAUCOMB

As of a couple of years ago, the thought of Melanie Baucomb ever leaving Vanderbilt would have drawn a raised eyebrow from me...and many basketball analysis. Not that I consider myself to be a basketball analysis, but she had a good thing going in Nashville and was producing. 310-149 isn't anything to sneeze about. You're winning two out of every three games you coach. How many coaches would snub a 26-13 season if offered to them before the season began? 

Things change. 

After a 15-16 season in 2014-15 and 18-14 mark for the Dores in 2015-16...with no NCAA appearances...there were rumblings that it might be time for a change in Music City. 

STEPHANIE WHITE

Baucomb spared herself the embarrassment of a possible firing by stepping down on April 27th. After 14 years at the SEC school, she indicated that she wanted to spend some time with her family. She also left the door open for a return to another hiring down the road. After all, you can only spend so much time with family before you start second-guessing coaching decision on televised games you're viewing, right? 

The nationwide search for a replacement didn't take that long. Stephanie White was brought on-board to take the reigns and decided to bring ESPN analyst and former national champion coach Carolyn Peck with her as an assistant. 

CAROLYN PECK

White, an excellent player in her own right and having success with the WNBA Indiana Fever, is a splendid choice for Vanderbilt. They'll have the #6 nationally ranked recruiting class to work with coming in. She'll also have the three leading scorers from last year's squad in Christa Reed, Rachel Bell and Rebekah Dahlman returning for their junior seasons.

Should her fellow SEC Coaches be worried? Maybe not this upcoming season, it takes time to set and convince a team on your philosophy and style and there can be bumps in the road...but, beginning in 2017, the 'Dores could very possibly return to the top echelon of SEC WBB. 


UK ADDS LIN DUNN TO WBB STAFF

If Matthew Mitchell is looking to bolster his coaching staff in case he doesn't survive the UK fiasco...or if he wants a few highly regarded second opinions...he's doing quite well in the hiring process. 

Add Lin Dunn to the roster as an assistant for the Cats. Dunn came out of retirement to head to Lexington and help Mitchell reassemble Humpty-Dumpty and if there's anyone who has experienced the X's and O's...it would be her. 

25 years in college for Miami (FL), Ole Miss, Austin Peay and Purdue. Seven NCAA appearances and one Final Four trip. Head Coach of the WNBA's Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever. 

You might say that...if there's anyone who has seen the game of women's basketball from every imaginable aspect possible, would you please raise your hand?...Dunn's hand would be one of the first in the air. That much coaching experience is an asset. Anywhere. 

And, with her hire, it's doubtful she'll be coming in to replace White at Indiana. 

Mitchell is assembling some nice collectibles to assist him in re-filling the curio cabinet at UK. He needs to do a bit of work on the shelf that will store players...and just how much identification will today's players have with the venerable Dunn?...but, as of now,...at least he's brought to Lexington a group of coaches and staff in Dunn, Amber Smith, Kyra Elzy and Niya Butts that would make any dinner table conversation a lively one. 

paulie
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