Balanced scoring against Blue Raiders leads Cards

SPECIAL REPORT:

-Balanced scoring leads Louisville to rout of Blue Raiders.

Six Cardinals in double figures this afternoon as Louisville wins 118-41. The Cards
were up 58-19 at half-time and had 84 points in the paint. Cierra Warren led the way
with 18 points and Shawnta Dyer with 16. The Cards led in rebounding 53-19.

All 13 Cardinals that dressed played and all but Nita Slaughter scored. The starting lineup was a bit of a surprise to us...Walz went with Shelby Harper, Tia Gibbs and Becky Burke at guards, Monique Reid at power forward and Cierra Warren in the paint. His first substitution was five players...Asia Taylor, Shoni Schimmel, Sara Hammond, Bria Smith and Shawnta Dyer. Charmaine Tay was not dressed for this afternoon games...no official comment on why but academics were later given as the reason.

Same for Ashley Rainey on LIndsey Wilson. She did not dress or play because of academics.
Monny Niamke looked good at the point for the Blue Raiders..getting in 32 minutes and scoring a team high 15 points but fouled out late and had nine of Lindsey Wilson's 29 turnovers.

The halftime parade of costumes was adorable!

The "Show" was up to her old tricks of no-look passes and eye-popping ball control. She had nine points and eight assists in 15 minutes. No Cardinal played more than 20 minutes in the game (Tia Gibbs) and Dyer had nine boards to go with her 16 points. 

The Cards grabbed control of this one early and led 11-5 with 17:28 to go in the first half after a Cierra Warren jumper in the paint connected. Louisville went on a 22-5 run after that and Bria Smith's fastbreak layup made it 33-10 with 9:26 remaining in the first half. The Cards closed out the first half on a 13-0 run to lead by 39...Cierra Warren getting 10 of her points and Bria Smith adding eight of her game total ten points in the first twenty minutes.

Charlie "Dracula" Meade with his father Mike

lindsey Wilson struggled against the Louisville defensive pressure the entire first hald and that did not change to open up the final twenty minutes. The Cards outscored the Blue Raiders 22 to 8 in the first seven minutes of the second half and led 80-27. A Jude Schimmel three sent the Cards over the century mark with 7:26 remaining in the game -making it 101-35 - and held the Blue Raiders to six points the rest of the way.

Lots of good things happened this afternoon for the hard working Cardinals. Bria Smith showed why she was one of the top-ranked guards in high school basketball last year...she has an explosive first step and drives the baseline well. Same old steady and dependable Monique Reid inside...getting nine points this afternoon in just ten minutes of action. Jude Schimmel pulling the string from deep and nailing both her three point attempts and ending with 10 points in 15 minutes of play. Cierra Warren was an absolutely dominating force inside against the weaker Blue Raiders and went 9-13 from the field.

Hello, princess!

Louisville head coach Jeff Walz spoke with the media after the game and was pleased overall with team's performance. No real goals or objectives for today...just to play hard and the Cards certainly did that..in a variety of lineup combinations and situations. He even jokingly suggested that he drew today's starting lineup from a hat. He loves Shawnta Dyer's work ethic and Warren's strength in the paint.

"It was nice to get out and play against someone you don't see everyday." Walz reflected after the game.

Walz on LWC's Monny Niamke:

"Monny is a strong player. She's a great on-ball defender and, even though she fouled out...she did it by playing too hard, which is something you like to see."

Walz on what needs work:

"We are going to go to work Tuesday on fundamentals. We've got to do a better job defensively. We have to get into the passing lanes. We have to do a better job blocking out. We did OK rebounding but that's just because we were bigger than them. We can't just rely on our size and strength. We have to do the fundamental things better."

We were impressed with the freshmen. Hammond is a hard working, give no quarter paint player who can also pass, drive and rebound. Jude Schimmel did get schooled a couple of times by Niamke but her shot is picture perfect...maybe even better than Shoni's...if that os possible. Smith is destined to be one of the top guards in the country down the road. She knows the game, her first step is soooo fast and she glides down the court effortlessly. 

The Cards even shot the ball well from the charity stripe with a 9-12 performance. This is going to be a fun and exciting team to watch this year. Strength galore in the paint, multiple guards that seemingly can score at will and, of course, the "Show".

 Louisville returns to action next on November 13th, with a trip to Springfield, MO. to take on Missouri State.

nochoiceisachoice

Lady Cards should reach new heights on front line......Xavier, Lindsey Wilson on schedule

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*Louisville women's basketball team returns height, experience in the post.

*Two more non-conference games for Lady Cards announced.

*Pictures of Paul and Sonja on the Johnson farm.

Hi, David Watson with you this morning to review the third component of the
University of Louisville women's basketball team for 2011-12. WE look at the front line today.

We'll combine the "4" and "5" spots in this review and we'll look at five young ladies who will compete for playing time at these spots. First, the returnees:

1931 Model A Ford that still runs on the Johnson farm in
North Dakota. They didn't let Paul drive this one...

Asia Taylor goes into her junior year as the Cardinal front liner with the most experience in the Walz system of basketball. Taylor is an aggressive, hard-working forward who crashes the boards with skill and has quick feet on defense. Foul prone at times, Taylor needs work on around the hoop putbacks. She's shown she can score when needed to but with development of a soft putback from under the basket, her game would reach the plateau most expected her to be at when she arrive on campus. To her credit, she's been slowed by injuries during her time her and we haven't seen the "real" Asia yet.

Sherrone Vails saw a lot of court time as a freshman, primarily spelling Keisha Hines in the post. Aggressiveness and shot selection seem to be the two areas where her game could improve. She's a shot-swatter, but there's a lot more to defense than just that and her tendency to "hand-guard" gets her in foul trouble quickly. Whether she'll earn the start in the post this year or back up remains to be seen. She does give the team 100% when she is out there, though and can run the court well.

Shawnta Dyer gets to the court after sitting out last year with a heel fracture. She was spectacular in the Cards pre-season and against Indiana Wesleyan and it gives us hope that she'll be a strong force in the paint for the Cards. Her size makes her a tough one to keep off the boards. If she's developed a mid-range jumper and can rebound effectively remains to be fully seen. If so, she could nail down a starting spot before long.

Cierra Robertson-Warren is available now after sitting out her transfer year. She should be an immediate and strong impact in the post based on

Paul and Sonja with a antique tractor. Rumors that they
are giving up CARDINAL COUPLE and becoming farmers
are NOT true.

a few games she had as a freshman at North Carolina. She follows missed shots well and works hard to get in a position to score. The question here is how well has the knee recovered from minor surgery this spring and will she be in shape to handle 20-25 minutes of post play? If so, she could dominate the BIG EAST.

Sara Hammond draws mention here also even though we discussed her a few days ago. She played in the paint exclusively in high school and has the quick inside game to be effectively if that is where Walz decides to use her. She has a great shooting range and goes to the boards well, in addition to her shot-blocking skills. Her game is all-over-the-court and we can see her being a strength inside if needed.

August is just a few days away and we'll get reports on the majority of the girls we've discussed over the last week and how they do in Canada soon.

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According to schedules released by the respective schools, Louisville women's basketball will play Lindsey Wilson and Xavier in the 2011-12 season. They'll face Lindsey Wilson on Sunday, October 30th. No location has been listed for the one yet but you'd have to assume it'll be in the KFC YUM! Center for this exhibition game.

They'll also host Xavier in the YUM on Sunday, November 20th.

Great sidebars on both games. Louisville defeated Xavier to reach the Sweet Sixteen in March and former Cardinal Ashley Rainey and future Card Monny Niamke play for Lindsey Wilson.

Thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE reader Kenny S. for the find!!

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1951 Mercury on the Johnson Farm. Still runs great. Even
after Paul drove it.



Speaking of reports, I talked with THE CARDINAL COUPLE (Paul and Sonja) and they are enjoying their time in Fargo, ND and Minnesota. They'll be back with you in a few days. They'll probably be glad to be home I would guess. They've covered eight states so far in their summer road trip, logged over 1500 driving miles, seen friends and relatives in four different cities and (according to Paul) been great Cardinal ambassadors everywhere they've gone.

They sent me the pictures last night that I have included on today's entry.



 

Sharo looks to shine at UofL

Cornwell, NY soccer star Kim Sharo has chosen the
University of Louisville as her soccer home for the 2011
season. The senior striker has scored 40 goals and
recorded 44 assists over the last two seasons for
Cornwell (NY).

Thanks to Justin Rodriguez (Times Herald-Record) for
the great article below and Chet Gordon (Times Herald-
Record) for the action shot of Sharo. Also, muchas gracias
to Charlie Springer (UofL Card Game) for the heads up
on the piece.

You can read the entire article at the following link:
www/recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20100711/SPORTS31/7110343

Below are some excerpts from Rodriguez's piece.

CORNWALL SOCCER STAR SHARO HEADED FOR LOUISVILLE.

by Justin Rodriguez

Kim Sharo clicked on the University of Louisville's
women's soccer website every day. She scanned the roster, researching all the players, keeping track of team news, checking out statistics. Almost obsessed, this is where Sharo, a star striker at Cornwall, had to play.

And, she will in the fall of 2011.

Sharo, entering her senior year, has verbally committed to the BIG EAST school. She said she will receive an academic/athletic scholarship which will pay about 1/2 her expenses as a freshman. Louisville costs approximately $40,000 per year to attend.

"I've always wanted to play at a school at this level," said Sharo, who has 40 goals and 44 assists over the last two years at Cornwall. "I'm very happy to be playing in the BIG EAST. I checked out everything about Louisville and really liked it. I'm really excited I don't have to worry about picking a college anymore."

Sharo, who was helped Cornwall to three straight Section 9 Class A titles, was also interested in Seton Hall, UNC-Charlotte and Rider University. However, Louisville became a player when assistant coach Kyle Singer was impressed with Sharo's performance with her club team, Quickstrike FC, at a college showcase at Players Development Academy in Zarephath, N.J. over the Memorial Day weekend.

Singer and Sharo's club coach, Jesse Kolmel, kept in touch after the PDA event. She visited Louisville last week and committed to the Cards on Friday.

"Kim worked hard for this and she deserves it." Cornwall coach Rick Miller said. "She plays year round with her club team, and it has all paid off. It's hard to believe she's a senior. It seems just like yesterday we brought her up. I'm proud of her and, hopefully, she scores some more goals for us this fall before she leaves."

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After minimal deliberation and considering his sorely lacking finances, CARDINAL COUPLE chief writer and co-owner Paul Sykes has decided not to follow LeBron James to the Miami Heat.

"I thought about it for a few minutes...the beach, nice weather and a few hours away from Key West and all...but I am going to remain in Louisville." Sykes commented after cutting the grass Sunday afternoon. " The temptation of being close to Rachel, my brother-in-law Gary and his family...plus Coach Schnellenberger in Boca Raton was pretty tempting but the fans of CARDINAL COUPLE have spoken and I'll be here for the foreseeable future. Besides, I hated Dwayne Wade when he played for Marquette...except when they beat Kentucky. Truth be told, I didn't care much for Steve Novak, Tom Crean..all those guys that were associated with that Marquette team.

I have no idea who Chris Bosh is.

I'm scheduled to be in some fairly interesting cornhole games later this summer...and I definitely don't want to miss the UK vs. UofL football game, or the Lady Cards opening against Tennessee, so I'm passing on this non-existent offer to head to South Beach.

I dig what Pat Riley did with Rupp's Runts and all..and I really like his hairstyle..but they don't have a Mulligan's in Miami and I doubt my van would handle the trip down there to begin with.

If ESPN had offered to do an hour long special about my decision...wow, wouldn't that have been cool!...but they hung up on me when I pitched it. "

Sykes, whose reputed ties with the Louisville Irish Mafia and known village idiot Tommy Boy have never been fully explained or investigated, looks forward to a fall of raking leaves, trimming the hedges and sipping Bud Select at various events.

"I'm a Lakers fan anyway...and there's a few people that still owe me money up here after they spanked the Celtics...plus I know of a couple of really promising two year olds that are on track to debut at Churchill Downs this fall...so, the 'Ville is still where I want to be...unless Sonja sends me packing like she threatened to do after that whole messy 'Pineapple Captain' incident a couple of weeks ago."

John Asher was not contacted concerning this story. But, he did attend Western Kentucky University and is probably closely following the stuff mentioned in the article below.

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According to Eric Crawford, over at the Courier-Journal...Western Kentucky University no longer wants to be referred to as "Western" when it comes to sports athletics. They are now WKU.

We, at CARDINAL COUPLE, can see their argument. Sonja attended Western...oops, WKU... and when she tells people where she attended, sometimes they will ask "Western where?" Usually, it's someone from out-of-state, a foreigner or her forgetful uncle Teddy.

Not that the requested moniker "WKU" is going to clear any of that up. It sounds like a low wattage AM radio station or a governmental agency.

I like a good Western every once in awhile, especially if John Wayne is in it..but that has nothing to do with the university in Bowling Green.

I see a trend surfacing here. What if both Murray State and Morehead State want to be known as "MSU"? Not to mention Michigan State and Mississippi State. Is there a Western Kansas University? Another WKU conflict here? But, since Wood Selig left Bowling Green to pursue other employment opportunities, I like WKU better these days and I'm OK with WKU. Does it count as a word if I play Scrabble?

WKU it is, then. Next, Eastern Kentucky University will clamor for EKU reference status and I can't wait to see what Lindsey Wilson is going to ask for. (The college, not the Iowa State womens' basketball player.)

Probably another Ashley Rainey...