It was a welcome surprise to the Cardinal fans in Freedom Hall Tuesday. Brandie Radde back on the court after a year long sabbatical to work on academics. A new jersey number (44) but the same old Brandie...with the long, loping stride and dribble as she warmed up with the other Lady Cards.
Details on Radde were hard to come by after she abruptly left the squad last year. Rumors of problems between her and Walz were spread. Walz refuted these, saying that Brandie came to him and told him that she needed to concentrate on academics...to make that final push to keep her GPA high and follow up on her dream to eventually attend medical school and become a doctor.
Fortunately, I was able to find her on FaceBook, become a friend with her on there and follow her. She lived the life of a normal college student for a year away from basketball, joking about situations and exploits in her own life and talking with former and current college teammates on the site. Staying in shape by jogging and intramurals. Just being a typical coed at a major university. You had to be happy for her but you also wondered in the back of your mind if the Lady Cards 8th all time 3 point scorer missed college hoops.
Obviously she did. And, obviously she hasn't lost the touch that made her one of the best three point specialists in the Big East last year. In 26 minutes of action against Cincinnati, she netted seven points including one three, and made no turnovers playing for the first time in over a year.
Welcome back, Brandie. It's good to see that smile and that intense look when you're on the court containing an opponent or launching a three.
Written by Sonja 2/4/10
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