Lady Cards release 2011 WBB non conference schedule...Mercedes Russell ranked #1

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-WBB releases non-conference schedule

-Russell ranked #1

(Notes from the deserted lobby of the Ramada Inn. At least they play good music...)

The University of Louisville has released the Lady Cards WBB non-conference schedule for 2011. Thirteen games, one exhibition and seven of them in the KFC YUM! Center. Here's the list:

Sunday Oct. 30th.         Lindsey Wilson (exhibition)
Sunday Nov. 13th.        Missouri State
Tuesday Nov.15th.       at Texas A&M
Thursday Nov. 17th.     at Eastern Kentucky
Sunday Nov. 20th.        Xavier
Tuesday Nov. 22nd.      Austin Peay
Friday Nov. 25th.         at Florida State
Saturday Nov. 26th.     at Florida A&M
Tuesday Nov. 29th       Murray State
Sunday Dec. 4th.          at Kentucky
Saturday Dec. 10th.     Gardner-Webb
Saturday Dec. 17th.     at Portland
Monday Dec. 19th        at Washington State
Wednesday Dec. 28th.  UT-Martin

Coach Walz weighed in on the lineup:

"We are excited about the new home and home series against Texas A&M and Florida State. We are also excited to add two in-state schools in Eastern Kentucky and Murray State this season. This is the toughest non-conference schedule we have had in my five years at Louisville. Playing Texas A&M, Florida State and Kentucky on the road will give us a lot of opportunities to improve with each game and prepare for the BIG EAST schedule."

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(CARDINAL COUPLE would like to introduce staff columnist Jenny O'Bryan to you. She just may be the true definition of a Lady Cards WBB fan and she brings us a great piece on Louisville target Mercedes Russell. Jenny excels in recruiting scoop and we hope she'll keep us up-to-date on the latest news about future Lady Cards. Welcome aboard, Jenny...and keep up the good work!)

RUSSELL tops Hoopgurlz list for 2013
by Jenny O' Bryan

Mercedes Russell is a name all Lady Cardinal fans will want to know. This high school junior just may be the biggest recruit to consider Louisville ever. (At least this writer hopes so)

Mercedes is from Springfield, OR. This time last year, Mercedes was a virtual unknown outside of Oregon...under the radar...as HOOPGURLZ noted.  Fast forward to May 2011 and this young woman headed to the USA basketball U 16 trials. She exploded on the scene - making the squad and helping bring home the gold. In the process, she set five USA U16 records.

Early this summer, HOOPGURLZ released a top 25 prospect list for 2013. Mercedes was ranked #4. She continued her fabulous summer after the U16 games and in the most recent HOOPGURLZ ranking, she is #1.

Guess what? This #1 recruit in the nation for 2013 is considering Louisville!

She visited Louisville upon her return from the U16 games in Mexico...along with trips to Tennessee and Kentucky. It was later reported that all three schools offered her a scholarship. There will certainly be a lot more offers before she can sign a national letter-of-intent in November 2012.

This is where it gets really exciting for me, as a fan of both Mercedes and the Lady Cards. Coach Walz has made huge inroads in Oregon by signing the Schimmel sisters and has created a large Louisville WBB fan base on the west coast. Add to this that the Lady Cards took a summer trip to the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Canada and will also play two games in the Pacific Northwest this winter at Portland and Washington State.

It's a lot of good exposure. With Louisville expected to make a deep run in the 2012 NCAA Tournament next March, the popularity of the Lady Cards should continue to grow right in Mercedes backyard.

Mercedes will choose where she'll play her college ball when she's ready. The recruiting battle is just beginning to heat up. I absolutely believe that Coach Walz and his staff are up for the challenge.

So, Cardinal fans...remember the name Mercedes Russell. With the excitement created by Shoni Schimmel last season and the upcoming, expected success of the 2011 recruits, Walz is showing that Louisville is a major player in the high school recruiting battles. A player that can land the talents of a Mercedes Russell.

Coach Walz is building. With a #1 recruit on the horizon and in the mix...it appears he could be constructing a skyscraper.

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The Lady Cards WBB team will open with an exhibition game against Lindsey Wilson.  They do list three players 6'2" or taller, though...including former Card Ashley Rainey....and 2011 Louisville target Monny Niamke is listed. We'll stay tuned. If roster depth and height mean anything Lindsey Wilson could be a juggernaut in the NAIA this season....
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