USA U17 wins the gold!

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Columnist Jenny O'Bryan reviews the USA Women's U17 capturing of the Gold in Amsterdam...plus other women's basketball news and a huge early season match for volleyball tonight.)



USA Women’s U17 women’s squad won the gold in Amsterdam on Sunday with a 75-62 win over Spain.  The squad went 8-0 on the road to the gold.  The 12 member squad was made up of 11 seniors in high school and one junior. 

The starting 5 remained the same for each game.  Diamond DeShields (UNC verbal), Rebecca Greenwell (former Uof L target, Owensboro, KY native), Taya Reimer (Indiana native and Notre Dame verbal), Mercedes Russell (top Uof L recruit) and Lindsay Allen (also a ND verbal).  While the starting 5 is a stud of a line-up, the remaining players on the team are all elite players and all played in every game, excepting Jessica Washington who was nursing a tweaked muscle of some sort.    The remaining roster consisted of Kaela Davis, Brianna Turner (lone junior on the squad), Linnae Harper, Oderah Chidom, Erica McCall and Kai James.  The team was so good and so deep that any combination of a starting five, I believe, could have brought home the gold. 

The team defeated South Korea, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Mali, Australia, Canada and Spain en route to the gold.  The smallest margin of victory was in the championship against Spain when USA won by a mere 13 points. 

While I had been following on line and twitter the success of these young women, I actually got to watch most of the championship game (when my computer was not stuck in a loop showing the same thing over and over again) on line at fibatv.com. 

As a women’s basketball fan in general, the run to the gold was interesting in and of itself to me.  Of particular interest to Cardinal Couple readers, though, is the play of top U of L recruit Mercedes Russell and Rebecca Greenwell as a KY native  (and former highly sought after U of L recruit). 

Let’s start with Becca Greenwell.  Greenwell averaged 25 mpg, averaged .388 shooting percentage and .286 from beyond the arc.  She led the team in free throw percentage at .944 and also led the team in rebounds for the tournament at 58.  Greenwell's knee seemed to hold up well during this past summer season and her during her USA play.  That's great news for both her and which ever school she chooses to spend her collegiate career at.  Her final two consists of Duke and Notre Dame.  Greenwell tweeted something to the effect of she was heading home from Europe and completely healthy this time. (It was during overseas play last year that Greenwell tore her ACL which led to her junior season spent rehabbing while on the bench).  

Mercedes Russell led all players on the team with a shooting percentage of .640, was second behind Greenwell in rebounds with 55, and also led the team with total blocks with 13 for the tournament.   Russell also set a record in the first game vs. South Korea in a perfect shooting percentage of 8-8.  Finally, she led the entire tournament in the field goal percentage category with .640. 

In the championship game that I got to see most of, Russell did not get a whole lot of touches on the ball offensively, or so it seemed.  She was playing the high post and there was little to no offense running through her.  She did have a particularly good game defensively though, with 3 blocked shots and 2 steals in 24 minutes of play.   I was disappointed to see so little offense, but with an all-star team of the best in the class, there was plenty of offensive power on the team. 

A player that caught my eye was Linnae Harper.  Harper is a small guard that can play the 1,2 or 3 spot, and she does all the things that makes a team successful.  She is tough as nails, a fearless defender and is said to be a great rebounder for her size.  She led the team in steals with 34!  The next closest player to her in steals was Greenwell with 16.  She was also 4^thon the team in rebounding.  As the smallest player on the court, that is quite an accomplishment.  I have continued to hear Harper’s name as potentially interested in Louisville.  All of the internet chatter is that she is a KY lean with a former teammate already on the squad there, though her name does come up as interested in Louisville.    It would be pretty exciting if we landed an official visit from this young player.   I am not saying that it will happen, but I would not be surprised if it did.  Rest assured I would be very excited if it did.   Keep your ear to the ground on this one.  You will want to watch her play in college, wherever that may be. 

Diamond Deshields was named MVP of the tournament and she and Linnae Harper were both named to the all tournament team. 

The talent on the team was deep.  All of the kids deserve a big congratulations for representing USA.  My purpose today was to simply speak about the kids with some sort of local connection.  Lots of good information regarding all of the games and coverage on all of the players and stats are available at this website:   http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/u17/

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On another basketball note, Sydney Brackemyre was spotted at the UofL/Penn State Volleyball game on this past Saturday evening.  It was a great night to bring a recruit to YUM, as tweeted by Cortnee Walton, there were “more people at the volleyball game than attend some basketball games.”  Louisville loves its sports teams!   I am glad Ms. Brackemyre was able to witness the fans love of the VolleyCards. 

I also had the pleasure to meet Monny Niamke at the volleyball game this past weekend.  She was with teammates ‘Nita Slaughter and Sherronne Vails as we all found ourselves in the elevator after the game together.    I welcomed her to Louisville and told her I look forward to seeing her on the court next season. 

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Speaking of volleyball, Football is not the only team playing Kentucky this week!  Start the battle off right by finding your way down to the YUM center to watch our VolleyCards take on Kentucky this evening at 7:00 p.m.  

( Great work as usual today from our Jenny. CARDINAL FANS...We hope to see YOU down at the YUM! tonight cheering on the VolleyCards. Set, spike, celebrate!)

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Volleyball practice to be seen on CARDS TV

-USA Women's U17 team romps Australia by 45.

-Cardinal women's soccer beats Wright St. 3-1 

Another sign that Louisville Volleyball is climbing up the popularity ladder. And, another good reason to subscribe to CARDS TV.

On Tuesday, Aug 14th...the Cards volleyball practice will be broadcast on CARDS TV, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The monthly subscription is $9.99 per month and in addition to the practice, 10 games are slated for viewing as well during the volleyball season. 

Volleyball one of the many sports available for live viewing on the network. Anne Kordes will be wired for sound at the practice and Sean Moth doing commentary. 

We have to wonder...if it goes well, what's next? A practice with the women's basketball team? Batting practice with Sandy Pearsall? Offensive line drills with Charlie Strong's guys? Lots of options available. 

You can explore the world of CARDS TV at www.uoflsports.com and register there. We've used it in the past to watch away women's basketball games and soccer matches and the cost is worth the live action. 

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The USA Women's U17 team rolled past the Aussies 103-58 in world championship competition yesterday in Caorle, Italy. 

Diamond DeShields led the way with 27 points for USA.  Mercedes Russell added 15 and Rebecca Greenwell finished with 15 also. 

Mercedes now ranked #2 out of the top 150 in a recent poll. This from Next Level. Follow the link below

Top 150 phenoms

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The UofL women's soccer team concluded their exhibition games with a 3-1 win over Wright St. yesterday at Cardinal Park. 
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Weekend laundry odds and ends from Sandy

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Sandy does a weekend load of laundry


(Our thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE writer/columnist Sandy Walker for contributing today's article.)

RECRUITING

Owensboro Catholic Senior Guard Rebecca Greenwell is reported by ESPN Hoopgurlz to have narrowed her college choices to either Duke or Notre Dame.   The news is not unexpected and it has been believed that Notre Dame has been her top choice for awhile.  A more detailed report can be read in the link below.


  http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/news/_/id/88793/rebecca-greenwell.

This absolutely opens the way for another senior shooting guard, Saniya Chong, who I reported on last week having indicated Louisville as one of her final four college choices. 

Picture by ( Peter Carr / The    Journal News )

Below is a link that discusses Chong.


http://m.nypost.com/p/sports/high_school/basketball/final_four_ossining_pheonom_chong_j4Yr9zpT9W56g6FM3ckRcL?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Basketball.

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This morning I found a person posting to a blog who was indicating that with the loss of Greenwell as a recruit that the Vols new coach, Holly Warlick, now had 2 strikes and with the failure to sign another of the prominent recruits she is seeking would receive strike 3. 

I bleed red and definitely am not a Tennessee fan but that does not create a need for me agree with or to urge others to commit to similar thinking as I am comfortable that Louisville is going to do a great job recruiting no matter the outcome of Tennessee’s and Holly’s efforts. 

Fortunately this person’s mind-set does not represent all TN fans, or any of Louisville’s, but somebody needs to get real.   The lady has not even had the job title for a month and has just recently completed the hiring of her staff.  If this is the environment created by “fans” of the Lady Vols  ---  their opponents just have to sit back and wait as the “house” that Pat built continues to be dismantled.  The toxic atmosphere surrounding the job of head coach will soon just turn into a revolving door where no one can live up to the fans expectations.

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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Stars galore at Cardinal Elite Camp Clinic

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Action, competition and talent the order of the day in Cardinal Arena on Thursday.


It may have reached the 100 degree mark in Louisville Thursday afternoon, but it wasn't as nearly as hot as the all-star group of players on display at the Jeff Walz Cardinal Elite Camp Clinic in Cardinal Arena. 

Despite having hip surgery Wednesday, Asia Taylor was
on hand to run the score clock. 

Talented high school girls basketball players from all over the nation were on hand for the four hour event. One didn't have to look too far to see the best and the brightest in action. Whether it was Mercedes Russell banging under the paint, Makayla Epps lofting that sweet mid-range jumper, Rebecca Greenwell taking one to the hoop with skill and grace or Erica Moore making head-shaking play after brilliant play...the stars were out early Thursday afternoon before an appreciative crowd of around 150.

A brief hydration break before another drill

After a brief overview of NCAA rules, regulations and guidelines by assistant WBB coach Cam Newbauer for the campers, Teena Murray took over and took the players through a series of dynamic stretching exercises. Also there to lead and spur them on was the UofL WBB squad..the vocal encouragement from Mo, Sara, Sherrone and the rest of the Lady Cards filling the gym. 


The campers then separated into four smaller groups 

Working on the mid-range jumper

for skills practice on essentials such as jump shots, transition basketball, layups, 5 player weaves and trans-post passing. Almost two hours went by as the Cardinal coaches, players and camp staff worked with the groups on shooting, defense, rebounding and breakdown moves according to position. 


When 3:00 p.m. rolled around, it was time for the first of two thirty-minute scrimmages. The players were divided into two red and two white squads and competed for fifteen minutes against each squad of the opposite jersey color. 


This is where it got really fun and competitive. 

UofL WBB Freshman Megan Deines takes in the action

With so much talent and skill level competing, it's really hard to pick out who performed the best...but the four members of the CARDINAL COUPLE staff present were sold on the efforts of Makayla Epps (Marion County), Katie Collier (Webb School), Raven Merriweather (Sacred Heart), Maci Morris (Bell County) Jasmine Lumpkin (Joliet) and Lauren White (Edwardsville) as "ones to watch" when it came to guard play. Also keep an eye out down the road for 6th grader Casey Collins (Katie's younger sister) who went toe-to-toe with the bigger, older guards and never backed down. 


CARDINAL COUPLE's Jenny O'Bryan will have a future article about who she thought was impressive and her thoughts on the afternoon. Don't miss it! 

Front liners that impressed would have to include the names of #1 ranked 2013 recruit Mercedes Russell (Springfield), Erica Moore (Mount Vernon), Nora Kiesler (Assumption), Logan Powell (Marion County) and Taylor Robinson (Ladue Horton Watkins). 


Then...there was Becca Greenwell. The senior-to-be at Owensboro Catholic showed no ill effects from her knee surgery. A quick crossover move, silky-smooth jumper and all-over-the-court awareness made her my personal choice as MVP of the first round of scrimmages. Some players just "have it". She's one of them. 

CARDINAL COUPLE'S Sonja and Sandy react to the
aggressive post play.  

After the scrimmage, the groups broke up into guards and forward/centers. These drills were fun to watch...Coach "Sam" had her guards doing a lot of push ups whenever I looked at that end of the court...I was concentrating on the battles that the bigs were displaying underneath the basket.

One to watch in future years is 6'6" center Nancy Mulkey out of Texas. Still a bit thin and just a freshman, but goes to the hoop with aggression and has a nice outside shot. Keep an eye on Logan and Kendyl Powell out of Marion County, too. Definitely not afraid to mix it up underneath and both hit the boards well.

Stretching it out the Teena Murray way...

Free throws and 3-point drills followed before the second and final 30-minute scrimmage of the afternoon. I dedicated this one to Mercedes Russell watching, who Louisville really wants to land.


I can see why. 

A.J. flashes that beautiful smile before going out to
teach the campers. (Take it easy on Jude, A.J!)

She positions well on the offensive sets and her height and agility allows her easy access to close in shots and put-backs. Teamed with Epps and Morris, they played with the precision of a squad that had been together for years. One writers dream: To see these three in Cardinal Red and Black against Big East opponents. Epps has a "lights out" jumper and Morris runs the point with the skill of a college senior. 


It was fun to watch these three compete against Becca Greenwell's squad for 15 minutes. You could tell that neither squad wanted to lose this scrimmage. Add Greenwell to this writer's wish-list to see in a Cardinal jersey. Her skill set is light-years beyond her age.

Free throws: a very important factor in any game

It was also good to see the Lady Cards out there working with the campers and teaching. Sara Hammond is a natural coach and it was fun watching her work the sidelines during the scrimmages. All the Cards seemed to be enjoying themselves and after the scrimmage they engaged the campers in conversation and a lot of laughter and fun filled the court. Mo Reid is brimming with confidence and authority this summer...can't help but think she's on the cusp of a sensational season. All of the Lady Cards went out of their way to encourage, teach, demonstrate and reinforce the things that are essential and important on the court. You can tell this bunch really likes each other and brief, casual chats with Cortnee Walton and Megan Deines indicated that they are fitting in just fine with the group and enjoying being Lady Cards. Although freshmen aren't allowed to work camps, they both seemed to enjoy watching the action and are ready to join in next year. 

Nora Kiesler (middle left) is a rising star for Assumption.

The four hours seemed to fly by. 


As Sonja and I walked to the car in the blazing heat after the camp, we talked about the massive amounts of talent we had just witnessed. A short chat with Rebecca Greenwell after the camp confirmed that she had a great time and that Louisville is still among the top schools she is looking at. Mercedes Russell grinned broadly when asked about the camp and saw it as a "great afternoon of fun and learning." Makayla Epps thought she had an "OK" camp and assured us that the ice wrapped around her knee was nothing to worry about...just a standard post-practice procedure. 

We had a wonderful time with the CARDINAL COUPLE staff writers in attendance Thursday afternoon and enjoyed meeting the CARDINAL COUPLE readers who came up to us and introduced themselves as the afternoon went on. If anyone had a better time at the camp than us, it was probably the actual participants...who got in a great four-hour workout Thursday afternoon in Cardinal Arena. 


Our thanks and appreciation to the coaches, staff and players who were gracious, entertaining and so much fun to watch and be around. 


This is Cardinal basketball, ladies and gentlemen...and you will not find a better product, philosophy and way of doing things out there...in our book.   


--Paul Sykes






  

Lady Cards 2011 Schedule with commentary...Rebecca Greenwell adds schools.

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-2011-12 Women's basketball schedule and
commentary from Jenny O'Bryan

-Rebecca Greenwell adds schools.

The University of Louisville women's basketball schedule below and Jenny O' Bryan's take on it.

DATE                                OPPONENT

Sunday Oct. 30th.              Lindsey Wilson (exhibition)
Sunday Nov. 13th.              at Missouri State
Tuesday Nov. 15th.             at Texas A&M   ESPN
Thursday Nov. 17th.           at Eastern Kentucky University
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
Wednesday Dec. 14th.        *Cincinnati
Saturday Dec. 17th.           at Portland
Monday Dec. 19th.             at Washington State
Wednesday Dec. 28th.        UT-Martin
Tuesday Jan. 3rd.              * Marquette
Sunday Jan. 8th.               * at St. John  ESPN
Wednesday Jan. 11th.        * South Florida
Saturday Jan. 14th.              * at Rutgers
Wednesday Jan. 18th.        * Providence
Sunday Jan. 22nd.              * at Georgetown  ESPN
Saturday Jan. 28th.           * Villanova
Tuesday Jan. 31st.             * at DePaul  CBS COLLEGE SPORTS
Saturday Feb. 4th.             * at West Virginia
Tuesday Feb. 7th.              * Connecticut  CBS COLLEGE SPORTS
Saturday Feb. 11th.           * Syracuse
Tuesday Feb. 14th.            * at Pittsburgh
Monday Feb. 20th.            * Notre Dame ESPN
Saturday Feb. 25th.           * DePaul
Monday Feb. 27th.             * at Seton Hall

* BIG EAST GAMES

(CARDINAL COUPLE Staff Columnist Jenny O' Bryan weighs in on the schedule)

I am especially interested in the conference portion of the schedule. I have been so excited to get UConn and Notre Dame at the YUM! Center and show them what great fans the Lady Cards have. I envision at least one of those games being the annual PACK THE HOUSE game and the fan support at 22,000 strong.

You can understand my disappointment, though, to see that the UConn game is on a Tuesday night and the Notre Dame game on a Monday night. It makes me wonder if the YUM! CENTER and UofL will open the upper deck for these two games...since they're on a school/work night and they're being televised. I'm hopeful we can still pack the house on these nights and show the Huskies and Fighting Irish a good time in the YUM!. By good time, I mean a good game, but one in which we still come out on top. This the year that we can beat the Huskies. What better place to do it than on our home court in front of a packed house. I know we have the best fan base in women's college hoops. National TV only helps spread the word about Cardinal Nation.

Speaking of national TV, the Lady Cards have six games being televised this season. Two home games and four road contests. ESPN will show four...CBS College Sports the other two. I'm excited to be able to watch several of the away games on TV and to travel to a couple of close away games against EKU and UK, too.

MArkie MArk is bringing friends to
UofL women's hoops this year. You should, too.

The long-awaited season is nearing. Mark your calenders. It is almost time to don the red & black and settle into the YUM! and watch this talented group of ladies take the court. Bring a friend with you. You just might be responsible for creating a new fan of UofL women's basketball. And, your friend will thank you....

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Rebecca Greenwell has doubled the list of schools she's considering. The #5 ranked player in the 2013 class...according to Hoopsgurlz...has added Georgia, Florida, Notre Dame and LOUISVILLE to her list. Her other schools are Duke, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

The 6'1" guard at Owensboro (KY) Catholic will be participating for the USA in the FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championships in Rimini, Italy from Sept. 9-11.

Greenwell's expansion of schools can be viewed in many different ways. We're going with the assumption that she's a big fan of the SEC...since five of the eight schools she's listed are SEC...but the BIG EAST is growing on her. Gotta wonder if the hiring of Samantha Williams at UofL as an assistant coach put the Cards on her expanded list. Or maybe it's the potential of playing in front of the second largest women's college basketball fan base in the nation....in the state of the art KFC YUM! Center.
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