Tuesday Cardinal Couple -- Sandy taking care of everyones odds and ends Laundry - once again!

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

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SPECIAL REPORT.....
2:30 p.m.
Our sources tell us that Marion County front-liner Kyvin Goodin-Rogers has committed to play basketball at the University of Kentucky after visiting the campus.

Great work and scoop by our recruiting guru Jenny O'Bryan on this !!  

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(Sandy takes us on her usual madcap jaunt through women's sports at UofL...driving the Cardinal Couple golf cart recklessly from venue to venue while Timmy the Intern operates the GPS. Look out ahead!)  


A woman caught taking care of the details behind the scenes to make sure the job gets done.  Nothing new there, right Sonja!


RECRUITING JIGSAW PUZZLE

As has recently been announced on this site; prior to the November early signing period, we have several extremely high quality sought after 2013 recruits coming to campus for September and October official visits. Currently those with announced dates are Saniya Chong, Alexandria Harris, Emmonie Henderson and alphabetically last but certainly not least, Mercedes Russell.  In order to not be left behind we now have 2014 recruits checking out the facilities.  It is reported that in August Clinton Massey junior forward, Sydney Brackemyre (who is reported as having been made a scholarship offer by Jeff), will be here on an unofficial visit.  It is great to see the quality recruits who now recognize Louisville as a force to be dealt with and are here looking to determine where they could fit into its energy.  It is fascinating to see the national championship team Jeff is in the process of assembling.  He sees the shape, size and unique attributes of players needed to complete a one of a kind national championship jigsaw puzzle.   Jeff has now gone across the world seeking those players who look like they could fit into the remaining needed specific puzzle sections.

What is more remarkable is that I can see how each of these players, instead of competing with one another for corresponding positions, could instead fulfill our need for each of their unique talents with roles (double post anyone?) which include that of challenging the 2013 returning players to once again step up their own game as the challenge of the competition will cause them to dig deep into talents which had been unknown even to themselves.  Hopefully each of those coming to visit will determine it best to be on the side that others will have to deal with rather than facing off against us later at competing schools. Wonderful things are happening with Louisville WBB!  

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FOLDING LAUNDRY

Today we also feature a special lesson showing our fans the proper way to fold their shirts in preparation for looking good on the ESPN's Monday Night UL showcase event detailed next.  Go to

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5789051621080544400 

and very carefully watch the video at least twice prior to trying this yourself at home. 

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ESPN2’S MONDAY SHOWCASE TO FEATURE U OF L WOMEN

Unless you are able to travel to South Bend, IN on a Monday night in February to see the Louisville women beat Notre Dame...(and we certainly hope they will prevail over the Irish),

mark your calendars for Monday February 11 at 9:00 to watch the game be featured as part of “ESPN2’s Big Monday” and part of their “game-of-the-week series”.  This will be one of only10 games featured during the Monday night ESPN season.

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THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENT UPDATE

Louisville’s competition in its Thanksgiving Hardwood Tournament of Hope played at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico includes UC Santa Barbara, Central Florida, Gonzaga, Mississippi State, Missouri State, Winthrop and Oregon State University.  All games of the November 20-22 tournament will be played at the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center with fan packages apparently only available from the tournament organizer.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday             8/24   

           

            Soccer            vs Purdue                  @ Cardinal Park                  7:00 pm

            Field Hockey             Sherrill Brakmeier Classic

   vs Northeastern         @ Trager Stadium                6:00 pm  

            Volleyball                              Active Ankle Challenge

                                    vs Western KY          @ KFC YUM! Center            7:30 pm

Saturday        8/25

            Volleyball                  Active Ankle Challenge

                                    vs Morehead State     @ KFC YUM! Center          11:00 am

                                    vs Penn State             @ KFC YUM! Center            7:30 pm

Sunday          8/26

           

             Field Hockey   vs Northwestern        @ Trager Stadium               11:00 am

                                      or Miami (Ohio)                                               or      1:00 pm

Wednesday   8/29

            Volleyball       vs KY                           @ KFC YUM! Center           7:00 pm

                                                                                                           

Friday             8/31

            Soccer            vs SEMO                    @ Lexington, KY                    5:00 pm

 Volleyball       vs Duke                       @ KFC YUM! Center             7:30 pm

          

Please double check upcoming events with the U of L official schedule website

@ http://www.uoflsports.com/scoreboard/ as events are subject to change – and transcription errors by our special student, Coco are entirely possible. See you at the games!

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Phoenix Arizona mayor Greg Stanton was planning to use his attendance at the WNBA Phoenix Mercury practice as a photo op.  Things did not work out so well as while running drills with the practice squad, instead of coming down with a rebound against the Mercury's Nakia Sanford,   he instead left the practice with a broken nose.  He later indicated that he had a great time and injuries are just part of the battle wounds of the game.  He showed himself a good sport as he was quoted as saying, "My biggest mistake was thinking I could actually get a rebound".  At last report he was planning to attend the upcoming game.

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FIELD HOCKEY

The Big East Conference Field Hockey preseason coaches poll resulted in Louisville receiving the 3rd highest number of first-place votes and Erin Conrad, Dominique Pasqualichio and Alyssa Voelmie being chosen as preseason all-conference team.

Monday Cardinal Couple -- Marion County pair headed to WKU?

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- WKU a new player in the hunt for Epps, Goodin-Rogers? 

We don't normally engage in a lot of speculation and rumor-mongering here at CARDINAL COUPLE. This one may have some teeth to it, though.

Zach Greenwell, a sports reporter for the Bowling Green Daily News, is reporting that Kyvin Goodin-Rogers has talked with WKU head women's basketball coach Michelle Clark-Heard. 

According to Trent Milby, head coach of the Marion Country girls' basketball team..where Epps and Goodin-Rogers will play their senior season...Epps has not had contact with Clark-Heard, but the two have re-confirmed their interest to play basketball together in college. 

They've also had contact with Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio State University, according to Milby. 

The puzzling world of recruiting...

Nothing wrong with the five schools mentioned above. UK has become a force in the SEC and Matthew Mitchell has opened another spot on the roster with the dismissal of seldom-used guard Bre-shay Ali. MTSU recently got a verbal from China Dow from Christian Academy in Louisville.

They love their women's basketball in Murfreesboro. They have success, too.

 Indiana is looking to rebuild with new head coach Curt Miller after a rough 6-24 season last year. Ohio State went 24-7 last season before bowing out to Florida in the first round of the NCAA. 

Big Ten women's hoops isn't quite at the level of the SEC or BIG EAST, but not a bad place to spend four years.

The WKU angle is intriguing. Michelle Clark-Heard was heavily involved in the recruiting of Epps and Goodin-Rogers while an assistant at Louisville. WKU hoops is looking for a re-birth of sorts after a 9-21 campaign in 2011-12. Chances are the playing time would come early and frequently for both. You can't blame Clark-Heard for trying to get the best talent available for her squad. She's added one of our favorite assistant coaches in Greg Collins. WKU was a women's basketball power back back in the seventies.

Paul Sanderford led them to the Final Four in the nineties. NCAA runner-up to Stanford in 1992. The Hilltoppers beat Louisville ten straight times from 1984-2002. 

It's 2012. Can Clark-Heard, a WKU grad and player who made four straight NCAA appearances, right the ship on "the Hill"? And, would Epps and Goodin-Rogers give credibility to a program struggling to get back on it's feet? 

Epps and Goodin-Rogers have been highly publicized as the one-two punch that has led Marion County to several Sweet Sixteen appearances in Ky Girls High School Basketball but no state titles. Sold on the Louisville program following the Cards march through the NCAA Tournament in 2009, the duo verballed at the end of their sophomore year.

What a difference a year makes. 

WKU participates in the Sun Belt Conference, a far cry from the elite BIG EAST, SEC or BIG TEN conferences as far as fan base and NCAA successes go. Do Epps and Goodin-Rogers really want to take their talents to a school that plays Troy, Louisiana-Monroe, North Texas and South Alabama each year? Or is it a case of seeing who was at Louisville, who might be coming and figuring out that playing time may be hard to come by. 

Maybe I'm dense here...but if you've got a spot waiting on a team that plays in front of the second-largest crowds in NCAA women's basketball, a program basking in the sunlight of an alumni who's the leading scorer in the WNBA and tearing up the Olympics and a squad who has perhaps the brightest young coach in NCAA women's basketball...why do you suddenly decide you want to set that aside and check out schools that are an after-thought on their campuses and in their cities?  

Gotta a feeling that this is just the first "epps" isode in the tale of the two who passed on the "Ville" to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the hill...

Let's hope they don't end up like Jack and Jill...

Hmmm...playing in front of a packed house in South Bend on Sunday afternoon against the Irish or a Tuesday night road trip to Lafayette, LA to hook up against the Ragin' Cajuns? Tough call.

Link to Greenwell's article below:

Goodin-Rogers, Epps

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Tough weekend for Hansen and Shackleford in stakes races this weekend. What did we learn? Hansen needs to stay at a mile and one-sixteenth or shorter races and Shackleford doesn't like the mud. 

The blue tail on Hansen...ok, it's cute. Dye that tail Cardinal Red and he wins for fun. In wild and wonderful West Virginia, he ran fourth in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Race Track and Casino. Maybe he stopped to play roulette? Maybe the last two furlongs he was running through West Virginia football fans...  

Sometimes dumb luck is better than no luck at all. A last minute decision to wager a 1 thru 5 $1 exacta box and 1 thru 5 .50 cent trifecta box at Saratoga turned $50 into $569.35. You just never know on a muddy track and Shackleford was 0 for 3 in previous attempts on a "off" track. Still figured he might "hit the board" but the payout increased dramatically when he finished dead last. Especially with a 36-1 shot winning. 

Not bad work for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- The recruiting process

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Jenny looks at recruiting.

As Cardinal Couple reported on Monday, Makayla Epps has re-opened her recruitment.   It has also been noted that while reopening her recruitment Louisville is still being considered.  Many people are speculating and offering their opinion about why this has happened.  

All you have to do is go to a Louisville fan/message board to see everyone’s opinion about why this has happened twice now, in the last few months.   Some are suggesting that Epps and Goodin-Rogers are being “recruited over” and were worried about playing time.  Others are suggesting that perhaps something is going on with the program, questioning Coach Walz and his management of the program.   Both of those opinions, and the many variations of those opinions, I believe are completely disrespectful of Coach Walz and his program as well as these players’ talents. 

Let me offer you my opinion about this.  It is an opinion, my opinion.   It is not necessarily the opinion of Cardinal Couple or any of the staff writers.   I cannot pretend to know what has gone on in these young women’s minds.  Again, these are just my opinions. 

Epps and Goodin-Rogers both verbally committed to Louisville on May 31, 2011.  That was the beginning of last summer.  Both of these young women were beginning summer before their junior years in high school, or stated another way, just finished their sophomore year in high school. 

Any readers out there have teenage daughters in their household?  Raise your hand.  If so, would you want your teenage daughter making a major life decision at that young age?  If they did make a major life decision at that tender young age, would you really blame them if they reconsidered?  Quite frankly, I would encourage it, if it were my daughter. 

As fans, we want to know where our favorite players are going to school and who is going to show up donning a Cardinals uniform.  Read any fan board, folks are clamoring at the bit waiting for any big news. 

The NCAA has rules and guidelines about the recruitment of prospective student athletes.  There are rules about coaches communicating, visiting, watching them play, and the lists go on and on.  There is also a process put in place to help the student athlete navigate the recruitment process. 

Prospective student athletes can make any number of visits to colleges of their choices.  These are called unofficial visits.   On an unofficial visit the athletes must pay their own way.  They can make unlimited visits to as many schools as they want.  Unofficial visits.   

Somewhere along the way an athlete will start to make a list of schools that they are potentially interested in.  They will do their homework; decide what they want out of a school as well as an athletic program.  They may even attend a basketball camp being hosted by colleges they are interested in.    At some point their list of suitors has grown.  Also, at some point, they will start to whittle their list of schools they are interested in.  Eventually, they will get to a manageable list. 

In the fall of the student’s senior year in high school they can take an official visit.  Each athlete is allowed 5 official visits.  The school being visited pays for an official visit.  This cannot happen until fall of their senior year.  Official visits. 

Anywhere along the way a student may verbally commit to a program.  A verbal commitment is just that, a verbal commitment.   Nothing is a done deal, for either the student athlete or the college program that is receiving a verbal commitment, until a Letter of Intent (LOI) is signed. 

In November of one’s senior year they are eligible to sign their LOI in the early signing period.  The signing period is over the course of a certain amount of days.  Once that signing period closes, they cannot sign again until April of their senior year.  The April date is considered the regularsigning period.    Once a LOI is signed, the student athlete can get out of their agreement only under certain conditions (a coaching change for instance) and often with penalty for doing so (not signing with another school within the same conference is an example of a penalty, or sitting out a year). 

As fans, and as a culture in general, we have grown to be an immediate gratification society.  Fans love early commitments, who wants to wait to hear great news, right? 

I firmly believe early commitments, without following the recruiting process through, can and do lead to exactly this kind of scenario.  That is not to say that all early commitments fall through.  But, early commitments leave both the student athlete and the school's program vulnerable. 

Let’s look at Epps again.  As noted above, she verbally committed at the end of her sophomore year in high school.   A lot can change in a year.  She can grow, add to her strength and conditioning, become a better player, develop a deeper skill set, add to her arsenal of threats on the court.  Epps still had two seasons of summer/AAU ball ahead of her to develop, gain exposure, to have other programs see her, recruiting services rave about the growth in her game, all after she verballed to Louisville.  A lot can change in a year, and in two seasons of summer ball. 

Epps has had a fantastic month of ball so far this evaluation period.  Scouting services are raving about her game, her growth.  There appears to be a buzz about her game.   Look up the recent event in Franklin, TN at The Battle in the Boro.  Epps' stock is rising. 

I can absolutely understand why a teenage girl, in this scenario, may want to explore her options.  I am not saying that is what is going on with Epps, as I have not talked to her.  I do have a teenage daughter though.  I can absolutely see it, and as a parent, understand if not encourage it.   

As a fan, is it a little disappointing?  Sure it is.  Epps has stated she is still interested in Louisville.  That is not to say that she will, or won’t, end up at Louisville.   Only time will tell if she ends up in a Cardinal uniform playing at The YUM!

As a parent of a volleyball player who one day hopes to play on the college level I would like to think I would discourage my daughter from committing too early.  I would want her to explore all of her options.  Part of exploring all of her options, in my opinion, is allowing oneself to go through the entire recruiting process.  I am not pointing fingers or placing blame here.  Just stating what counsel I hope to one day bestow upon my daughter.   

Had my daughter committed early to a program you better believe if there were an inkling of a doubt, the tiniest desire to look around, I absolutely would encourage it.  This is a major life decision.  One must be as certain as they can be. 

I personally do not believe there is anything sinister or awry going on within the Louisville program, nor do I think these talented young recruits doubt their abilities or question their playing time at Louisville.  I firmly believe they are young and made a decision without exploring all of their options. 

While the majority of fans love early commitments I think it is a recipe for exactly what we have going on right now. 

 Look at it another way, do you want your teenage daughter to marry her high school sweetheart, right after graduating?  Absolutely not!  A major life decision deserves the time to explore all options.  Whether it is a life partner or a decision about one's education and future livelihood. It is only fitting though that this is my opinion.  I do, after all, live with a teenage daughter.  


( Wonderful commentary by Jenny today! An old adage reads that everyone wants to see, hear and know about the baby. No one cares about the nine months of labor and the delivery. Recruiting is exactly what the Webster's definition of it is: The process of enrolling members in an organization. The process isn't official until the enrollment is done.)
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Manual, Marion County advance in KHSAA Girls Tourney

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SATURDAY with the COUPLE:


-Semifinals set for KY. Girls Basketball Tournament


-Softball kicks off Red and Black Classic today


-Pitino's guys knock off Notre Dame advance to title game


-CARDINAL COUPLE "Pick Em" NCAA WBB Challenge


-Time to Spring forward...


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Marion County rolled past Hopkinsville in the quarterfinals yesterday in Bowling Green 67-30 to advance to the Kentucky High School Girls State Tournament semi-finals. Makayla Epps and Patrice Tonge had 18 each in the win. The Lady Knights finished the first half on a 10-0 run and the rout was on. They led by 40 early in the final quarter and are now on a 14 game win streak. Marion County gets Lincoln County today for a chance to go to the finals tonight. 


--Lincoln County earned their shot at the semi-finals with a 72-59 win over Magoffin County. They led by 10 in the first quarter but Magoffin County rallied to make it 40-36. Magoffin's leading scorer Jamie Castle had a shot blocked with a chance to cut it to two and hit the floor hard, spraining an ankle. She had to be carried off the court, finishing with 18 points. Emily Fox led Lincoln with 21.


Player to keep track of: 8th. grader Jazzy Howard had 21 points for Magoffin County in the loss.

--Louisville Manual demolished Montgomery County 71-33 in  quarterfinal action. Balanced scoring for the Crimsons...Kara Wright was one of three in double figures with 13 points. The Crimsons led by 14 at half and by 40 with a minute left in the game. They advance to play Lexington Paul Dunbar today...who ruined the chances for an all-Louisville semi-final match-up by knocking off Louisville Butler 70-52.


--Lexington Paul Dunbar took control early in this quarter-final contest and got 21 points from Morgan McEldowney (16 in the first half) in their win over the Bearettes. Louisville Butler could only manage 32.1% from the floor in their 10th. loss of the season. Danielle Lawrence finished with 16 in a losing effort. 


They wrap it up today in Bowling Green with two morning sessions (Marion County vs Lincoln County and Manual vs. Paul Dunbar) and the final tonight. Marion County defeated Lincoln 63-35 in regular season play. We'd love to see a Marion County vs. Manual rematch...they faced off back in January and the Lady Knights escaped with a 63-61 win over Manual...Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers had 16 each for Marion County in the two-point thriller. 


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Cardinal softball hosts the Red and Black Tournament starting today at Ulmer Stadium. The Louisville sluggers will play four games in three days...starting with an 11:00 a.m. first pitch against St. Louis this morning.


Sandy Pearsall's diamond dwellers are 15-0 on the season and are 16/17 in the polls. Kristin Austin leads the team with a .469 batting average. The senior outfielder had five triple and three doubles on the season. She's followed closely by sophomore Taner Fowler at .440. Fowler has launched five over the fence this year -- a team high -- and driven in 16 runs. 

Louisville pitching this year just may be the best in Pearsall's 12 years as Cardinal skipper. The combined staff of Torrid Tory Collins, Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard have an ERA of 1.23, seven shutouts, 140 strikeouts an a no-hitter to their credit. 


St. Louis (11-9) comes into today's game after going 1-3 in the Missouri Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament. They lost to Missouri, Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State by a combined score of 21-2. They did manage a win over SEMO 5-4 in eight innings. 


First pitch at 11 a.m. The Cards play again at 1 p.m. against Michigan (15-5). The Wolverines are 15-1 lifetime against Louisville and won in Ulmer last year 2-0. Time for a little payback, ladies! 


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NO! Not the Pitino again! 

WE don't normally go here, but...


Congratulations to the University of Louisville men's basketball team and their win over Notre Dame last night! The men advance to the finals of the BIG EAST Tournament to play arch-rival Cincinnati tonight. 


Are we back in Conference USA? 


UC defeated #2 in the nation Syracuse to reach the final...in overtime. UC head coach was a Pitino assistant before landing his first head coaching job at Murray State. WE always like to refer to him as Rick's "mini-me". 

Mick and wife appear interested in something.
Maybe an Austin Powers movie? 

"It's a hard, hard life..."

Cronin came to Louisville after serving as Bobby Huggins assistant at UC. From Cincinnati, Mick's dad Mutt Cronin was a legendary and successful high school and AAU coach in the area for years. The Cronin move to Louisville raised a few eyebrows, but Cronin claims he and "Hugs" are still good friends. Cronin finally made it back home when he accepted the head coaching position (I almost typed 'head job' in here but...hey, I did anyway!) and this is UC's first appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament title game. The Bearcats did defeat Louisville earlier in the season at Cincinnati 60-56. 

Good luck CARDS! 


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Selection Monday will provide us with the match-ups in the NCAA Women's College Basketball Tournament. That doesn't mean that you have to wait until then to sign up for the CARDINAL COUPLE Pick 'Em Challenge, though! 


YAHOO! Sports is where our group's bracket (CARDINAL COUPLE) is...and it's really quite easy to sign up and be a part of it. You can even register with your Facebook, Google or Yahoo information automatically, if you want.


When you do, keep in mind that our Group ID is 814 and our password is ladycards. 

Can you predict the future of NCAA WBB hoops? 

Under the auspices of Commissioner Schneider, blessings of Paul & Sonja and supervision of Bill the Goat, we feel that you'll revel in excitement as the rounds progress and you are locked in friendly competition with other CARDINAL COUPLE readers and foreign dignitaries. 


Link to get you there below. Whaddya waiting for? Get over there, pronto...amigos! 


CARDINAL COUPLE WBB Challenge


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Just a friendly reminder from your insomniac friends here at  CARDINAL COUPLE. Remember to set you clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed. It's that time of year again. Or do it next week, in a month or so...whatever. They're your clocks, your call. We have the staff Chimps busily at work as we type this...identifying clock locations, accuracy and ownership throughout the entire CARDINAL COUPLE complex and auxiliary facilities area. (At least that's what we sent them out to do...results may vary).
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Epps and Goodin-Rogers impress in the LIT

I found myself at Bellarmine University this past weekend to check out the girls LIT. I had yet to see our young Marion County High School recruits (2013) in action and thought it would be a great way to spend the evening. Turns out I was not the only fan of Louisville Women’s Basketball who had that idea. I saw a handful of the team there to check out their future teammates as well as Coach Walz.

I won’t bore you with the minutia of all the games I watched as I watched a lot of basketball over the course of last weekend! I saw Marion Co. match up twice. Friday night they were in the quarterfinals matched up against Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL). Upon winning that game, rather handily, their next matchup was against Mercy Academy the following morning, prior to the Louisville vs. Villanova game. I opted to skip that game, and focus my afternoon energies on the Lady Cards. Turns out the Lady Cards needed my support, and that of about 10, 679 others, to bring home the win. Of those 10,000 + fans, you could also find the Marion County team there, after their win against Mercy Academy. I digress. Having beaten Mercy, Marion County was on to the LIT Championship game against none other than Manual High School.

You may remember several weeks ago I mentioned the two teams were the topped ranked teams in the state. Manual was to travel to Marion County for an in-state match up that went down to the wire but Marion County came out on top by two.

The LIT finale was never really that close. Having watched the team on the previous night, I could tell at the start of Manual game, the Marion County kids were in trouble. They looked fatigued. What looked like a well-oiled machine the night before, clunked along, with the team hanging close to Manual most of the way, yet not able to pull ahead. Gone were the crisp passes and spot on shooting. It was not the same team from the night before. Marion County ended up losing 47-40.

I was successful in watching our two future Cardinals and getting a look at what they offer their current team, and what we might have to look forward to in the near future. I was not disappointed.

Let’s start with Kyvin Goodin-Rogers. She is listed as a 6’1” forward. She has a lean, long frame, with broad shoulders. Watching her, I found myself thinking a lot about one of my favorite Lady Cards of past, Candyce Bingham. Her shot seemed to be off on Friday night. That being said, she scored 13 on Friday, 12 Saturday morning, and 2 Saturday night. She totaled 27 points in 3 matches. But that is not what impressed me. Goodin-Rogers was all over the floor. She was at the high post assisting baskets on the perimeter and down low, screening the shooters, interrupting passes in the lane, pulling down rebounds and finding her way to the free throw line. She took long ball shots, but for the most part, they did not seem to be falling this weekend. She also had a couple of really nice moves under and around the basket. She found ways to score. More importantly, she ran the court and kept her head in the game even when her shots were not falling, contributing in a multitude of other ways on the defensive end. The athleticism and speed are apparent. Honing those moves in and around the basket will make her a threat inside and out. She was a lot of fun to watch.

Makayla Epps is listed as a 5’10” guard. She mostly ran the point, but moved in and out of the shooting guard position. First and foremost this kid can tickle the net. She can flat out shoot. Anywhere on the court, she has the confidence to put up the shot, and it often goes in. Over the course of the 3 games she scored a total of 63 points (23, 20, 20). Did I mention the kid can shoot? She has a strong, sturdy frame and was deceptively fast in the open court. What struck me most was her solid passing. On Friday night, as I mentioned above, Marion County looked like a well-oiled machine. It started with the passing. Epps’ passing was crisp and on target. There was not much time wasted on dribbling. Her ball handling was purposeful and deliberate. She moved the ball up the court and got the offense moving with perimeter, cross-court and inside passing. She can penetrate off the dribble and driving down the lane you can see the athleticism as she makes her way to the bucket. On the court, she was always talking and directing traffic. In huddles during pre and post game, Epps was always in the center squatting, with her teammates arm-in-arm in circle surrounding her. From what I could tell, she seemed to be a vocal leader, and her team appeared to look to her for that.

It was a fun couple of games to watch. I look forward to catching a few games perhaps this summer, or again next year, to look for the growth these two players make. My guess is these two will be making noise come state tournament time. I look forward to following these youngsters and their team as the season begins to slowly wind down.

While I have spent my time talking about just two of the players, there was plenty of talent all over the court throughout the weekend. I mean no disrespect to the talent of countless players that was on display throughout the weekend. My goal was to watch the future Lady Cards.

Marion County High School vs. Manual

In a recent post I talked about the upcoming game between Marion County High School and Manual High School.

The teams met this past Saturday in what looked to be a marquee matchup between the top two teams in the State. The game appears to have lived up to all the hype.

Marion County won the game, but not until two free throws were made with 2.7 seconds left, by junior Logan Powell. The final score was 63-61.

Louisville 2013 (verbal) commit Kyvin Goodin-Rogers put up a double double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Makayla Epps, also a Louisville (verbal) commit in the class of 2013, scored 16 points and dished out 8 assists.

The two, along with senior and Dayton signee Bre Elder(11 points), led the team in what will likely be the first of several meetings between the two teams. Marion County lost the last match between the two in the Sweet 16 last year.

Marion County (14-2) remains unbeaten against in-state competition.

This looks like another outstanding performance by our “baby birds”. Not to wish away their high school years, but I certainly look forward to seeing these two in Cardinal Red a few years down the road. Until then, I look to catch these two in action in the upcoming state tournament.

Foley named to All-American team...Watson weighs in on Epps and Goodin-Rogers

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Is Bergan Foley UofL's best lacrosse player
of all time?

-Lacrosse's Bergan Foley makes IWLCA All-American team

-David Watson on the verbal from Epps and Goodin-Rogers.

-Epps and Goodin-Rogers talk about the verbal.
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285 goals scored....the fourth most all time in NCAA Women's Lacrosse history. The third-best goals per game mark nationally. First team All-BIG EAST, first team IWLCA All-Midwest. And, now 3rd team All-American honors. 

WE may never see the likes of the scoring machine that is Bergan Foley again in the young history of the Louisville lacrosse program. She'll take to the field one more time in the 2011 IWLCA/Under Armour Division I North-South Senior All-Star game on June 11th. at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, PA. With her will be senior teammates Liz Lovejoy and Emily Dashiell. The three have set the bar quite high for future Louisville lacrosse athletes. Louisville lacrosse is nearing the level of the top flight women's lacrosse programs nationwide...the Maryland's, Duke's, Virginia's and Notre Dame's of the game.

Someone needs to put up a plaque, statue or some kind of recognition at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium for Foley. Better yet, for all three girls...who have helped get a novice program off the ground and competing with the best that the nation and the BIG EAST has to offer. Get it done, Mr. Jurich...

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David Watson weighs in on the Makayla Epps/Kyvin Goodin-Rogers verbals to Louisville:

The mighty fortress by the banks of the Ohio River
serves as a staging ground for the Lady Cards.  

Just what kind of monster is Jeff Walz creating deep in the laboratories of Cardinal Arena? The mighty fortress walls already reverberate from the sounds of Monique the Mighty, Shoni the Superb, Tia the Terrific, Asia the Atomic, Becky the Bomb and the other indestrutables clad in Red and Black. The ominous threats of Cierra the Conqueror and Shawnta the Storm loom menacingly. They are rebuilt, geared for missions and hungry for battle. The newest additions to the elite are Bria the Blitzkrieg, Jude the Juggernaut, Sara the Stupendous and Monney the Marauder. They ride in on sturdy steeds. Ready to compete, collide and clash with fearful foes in the fall.

Walz has been scouring the countryside still lining up additions. Who knows what the man has planned for 2012? And, 2013 already looks unstoppable with the procurement of the Marion County Monsters. Kyvin Goodin-Rogers the Great and Makayla Epps the Expert will dominate Kentucky high school girls hoops for two more years yet. Two state titles in the future? Don't bet against them.

In the streets, the villagers are vocal and swarming. They're waiting to see the force unleashed. They're hungry for the season still months away. That isn't thunder you hear in the distance - it's the University of Louisville women's basketball team rumbling toward the KFC YUM! Center at Category 5 hurricane force.

Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers have played high school basketball together for four years already. They've still got two years to go. I'm still following up on rumors that they won national championships as pre-schoolers at a Lebanon daycare facility. Their AAU participation has more miles on it than my sturdy 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck. It's safe to say that the two know a bit about basketball and were probably tossing each other no-look passes and assists in the third grade. 

In an era where UofL men's basketball has been steady but still leaves questions about the long-awaited titles that all thought Rick Pitino would produce, there are hopeful and exciting times ahead for the 15 or so that will take the court in the downtown arena to compete in women's college basketball in the BIG EAST. We've been through the NCAA Final Four / Angel McCoughtry era. What's next for this team? Can't see them bowing out in the first round of the Big Dance to Morehead. Ask Xavier about the Lady Cardinals. They're still cleaning up the wreckage Shoni and crew dumped on the Cintas Center.

I suspect that it's going to be a fun journey. That UofL will pass the Lady Vols, UConn and the others in regular season attendance. That this is only a preview of thing still yet to come. That the tradition, dynasty and indisputable recognition of Louisville women's basketball will continue to grow and rival that of the programs that Geno and Pat have built. Room at the top? Oh, yeah.

In the meantime, what's up your sleeve next, Jeff? The villagers are waiting.

(We've got this feeling that David watched way too many war movies over the Memorial Day weekend...but we like his enthusiasm and hopes for the Lady Cards. Hit the bunkers and send out the flares...the troops are ready.)

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WE like the reports that Courier-Journal writer Jody Demling provides on recruiting. He talked with Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers about their verbals to UofL. We thought his story needed to be included here at CARDINAL COUPLE...in case you missed it. Here's Jody!  

I spoke with both Marion County High School sophomore stars Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers this afternoon on their commitments to Louisville.

Epps confirmed she wanted to commit more than a year ago but the mother told her to "wait and make the right decision."

Goodin-Rogers said she "knew for a while" but decided on Saturday night that she wanted to go ahead and make a commitment.

"It's been two or three months, but I never said anything to anyone. Eventually people kept asking me and telling me where I should go and I just decided that I wanted to tell them I already knew." Goodin-Rogers said. "I love the coaches. Coach (Jeff) Walz is just like my high school coach (Trent Milby). They do the same things we do. They know when it comes times for business but also outside of basketball they're real people."

Epps said, "I love Walz. I have the same connnection with him as I do with Milby. I love the assistant coaches, the facilities and everything. And I've always liked wearing the red and black."

(Jody Demling covers recruiting and golf for The Courier-Journal. He also knows a thing or two about horse racing.)

Link to this story:
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/jodydemling/2011/05/31/epps-and-rogers-talk-about-comm...