Volleyball eliminated from NCAA Tournament...WBB: Cards vs. Cats today

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:


LIVE FROM MEMORIAL

3:05 p.m. It is done. Cats 74 - Louisville 54. Much more later tonight...included quotes and perspectives. An old-fashioned, take you back to the barn whipping. Whew... 

3:01 p.m. Schimmel makes it 70-50 with a twisting, driving layup. 2:27 left.

2:53 p.m. Reid down after bumping her head on the floor. Up own her own. It's 64-46. Mercifully, only 4:01 to go.

2:42 p.m.  Media timeout. 7:58 left. Maybe premature...but...stick a fork in the Cards...they're done.  

2:40 p.m. Back to back Cat threes harmful here... it's 62-42 UK. 

2:33 p.m. 56-40 UK. Cards had it down to thirteen before another A'dia Mathies three. 11:20 to go..and if Louiville is going to get hot, now is the time. Sonja says...."Hustle, Cards!".


2:22 p.m. 50-32 UK. Cards briefly rallied to cut it to 14 but UK rallied right
back. First Schimmel/Schimmel court apperance at the 16:00 mark.


HALFTIME. 40-23 UK.

Louisville with 15 first half turnovers...Cards scored first and led 6-2 but it went south (or east, I guess...) after that. UK is...well..just whipping Louisville with quickness, accuracy and outside shooting.

Becky Burke with seven to lead Louisville. After her three that made it 10-9 UK, the Cats went on a 15-1 run to lead 25-10 with 7:25 left in the first half. Cards need to focus, rebound. Louisville getting out-rebounded 17-15.

Cards shooting 33.3% from the field and UK 51.7%. Cats six of nine from three-point range...Louisville 2-10. Adia Mathies 10 points for UK.

Ugh. Let's hope for better in the final twenty. The last 15 minutes of the first half were rough to watch.

1:48 p.m. It's now 35-23 after a Becky Burke 3. Cards still getting outrun and hustled by UK. A'dia Mathies on fire for UK.

1:37 p.m. Cats on a 12-1 run and lead 22-10. Cards shooting poorly and in a hurry. Walz not handing out any roses or cookies during the media timeout.


1:25 p.m. 17-9 Cats 11:36 to go. UK running and gunning better than Louisville.

1:14 p.m. 6-5 Cards. Amber Smith at the line after a particularly hard Hammond foul. Cards controlling the boards. Media timeout, Mo in the game for the first time with 15:56 left.

12:54 p.m. Pep band for UK blaring, no Cardinal pep band, LadyBirds or cheerleaders. Cats in locker room, Cards still on court...as is Walz's custom. Six minutes to go. We're guessing 700 UofL fans here...



12:42 p.m. At courtside under the basket near UofL bench. Place is about 3/4th full already....18 minutes to tip. Cats warming up in front of us. Cards bench right next to us.

Good contingent up in the rafters from UofL and loud when the Cards entered the court. UK pep band to our right. Howie Lindsey sitting next to me...Sonja to my right. As we predicted, Gary Gupton doing TV play-by-play. Bring it!



12:07 p.m.  We're in the media room at Memorial Coliseum. Pretty "blue" in here. Did talk briefly with Matt Andrews, UofL play-by-announcer. Sonja is at the food table, Howie Lindsey just walked in and it's 52 minues until tip-off. Like I said, a lot of Blue up in here.





-Volleyball falls 3-1 to Boilermakers

-Cards vs. Cats today in Lexington

-Men's soccer loses in double-overtime to UCLA

For awhile, it looked like the University of Louisville Volleyball team was going to give Purdue a run for their money in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Championships.
After getting handled convincingly 25-14 in the first set, the Cards rallied and behind Brooke Mattingly and Tanya Lukyanenko and were up 23-20 in the second game. They had the Boliermakers at set point several times, then saw Purdue at set point before finally getting
two kills from Lola Arslanbekova and one from Lukyanenko to tie the match at 1-1...winning 28-26.

Then, the air went out of the ball for Anne Kordes' team.

The Boilermakers had Lola
bottled up Saturday

Purdue looked strong in smashing the Cards after the break...pulling away 12-3 in the third game and winning 25-11. More of the same in the fourth game...the Boilermakers scooting out to a 12-4 advantage and taking the set 25-16.

Shutting down Arslanbekova was the key and Purdue did it well, limiting her to 10 kills for the match. When they weren't stopping her, Lola was her own worst enemy...with numerous attempted kills that were too strong and too long.

Credit Caitlin Welch and Taylor Brauneis for some spectacular saves and digs...but you eventually reach a level of competition that is better than you...unless you win the title...and the Cards ran into that yesterday.

A capacity crowd, mostly Purdue students, made a racket of noise throughout the entire match. We're not big fans of game attendees being able to practically stand on the court and yell directly into the server's ear...but that is the configuration in Purdue's gymnasium. Not that it was the game-changer. The Cards missed enough kills and had enough unforced errors to do themselves in quite easily.

Anne Kordes (right) will do great things, we predict,
in the future as UofL Volleyball coach. Even if
she won't grant us an interview. CARDINAL COUPLE
mojo was there for her...maybe down the road.

Still,  a very good season for Anne Kordes' shorthanded roster. The Volley Cards lose just two seniors from the roster...Maci Wacthel and Gosa Lech...and neither played very much. We're unsure on Gwen Rucker's status for next season...she missed most of the year with a hamstring injury and it's not clear to us whether she'll get an additional season or not.
Anne Kordes has been recruiting well and is bring in at least three top players in the nation as freshmen next season.

So, at 24-9...the volleyball season ends at UofL. A lot to look forward to next year, though and a very good rookie season for Coach Kordes, who battled at times because of a short roster, and did great things. WE could harp upon the fact that she never did return e-mails about doing an interview with CARDINAL COUPLE, even after Paul gave her a card and contact information...but WE'RE sure she had a lot more important things to do than to talk to the fan voice for UofL women's sports. We'll give you a mulligan, Anne. Never underestimate the powerful mojo that you receive when you talk to CARDINAL COUPLE...though.  OK, let's move on...

Props to Al Greener, members of the UofL Pep Band and Cardinal Cheerleaders for making the trip to West Lafayette. You got air time on the BIG TEN Network. Greener plays a mean trombone.  

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As we write this, it is six hours away from the UofL vs. UK women's basketball game.  It's a sold out contest, around 9000 will pack into cozy Memorial Coliseum...and thousands more watching on Fox Sports South...or listening via http://www.uoflsports.com/  or 790 WKRD.  At stake - bragging rights in the state for a year.

We wonder if Matt still hates
everything about Louisville...

Louisville is 7-1. Kentucky is 7-0. The Cards are ranked 10th. and UK is at 12th. Both teams come into the game after lopsided wins from last week.

Will Jeff Walz be walking
on air after today's game?

For Louisville, Monique Reid leads the scoring efforts with 17 points and game. She's joined in double figures by Shoni Schimmel (13.2 ppg), Becky Burke (12.5) and Bria Smith (11.0). Cierra Warren is the leading rebounder at 6.3 grabs a game.

The Cards have faced two top 25 opponents this year, defeating Florida State in Tallahassee and losing to Texas A&M in College Station. 

UK is led by A'dia Mathies' 15.4 points a contest. Other double figure scorers for the Cats are Bria Goss (10.9), Keyla Snowden (10.7) and Kastine Evans (10.7). Sam Drake is the top missed shot grabber with 8.6 an event.

COACHES COMPARISON

Better dancer...Mitchell does a mean "Dougie". We've never seen Walz dance. UK

Better vertical....See Walz picture above. Mitchell looks like he could shed a few lbs. UofL

Head coaching experience...Mitchell seven years...Walz five. UK

Better haircut...Walz keeps his "high and tight". We're not sure what's going on with Mitchell's hair style. UofL

NCAA Tournament Success...Walz has a title game history and two other appearances. Mitchell with two visits to the BIG DANCE.  UofL 

Perspiration...Mitchell is usually soaked after a game. Walz doesn't appear to sweat. UofL

Coaching tree...Mitchell worked for Pat Summitt and Mickie DeMoss. Walz for Paul Sanderford and Brenda Frese. UK

Guy we'd rather hear sing...Mitchell doesn't stutter, Walz does...but he can joke about it. Maybe he'd do a good version of 'My Sharona' .UK

Offspring...Both coaches have two kids. Walz's are cuter.  UofL

Coach most likely to get a technical...Walz can go ballistic at times. Mitchell mostly whines. UofL

CARDINAL COUPLE will try to provide pre-game and live reports from Memorial Coliseum today. Not sure how the UK wireless network is...and we've had trouble before trying to update in the past at Eastern and Xavier...but we'll give it a shot. WE will provide a full report and summation tonight. Check in for updates and WE'LL try to be there for you...

May the best team win.

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Tough loss last night in Cardinal Park, with the UofL men's soccer team going down in double-overtime to UCLA 1-0 in front of a large and rowdy crowd of almost 5,000. WE were able to watch a lot of it on CARDS TV...bouncing back and forth from Volleyball on the BIG TEN network to the soccer match. Cards gave it their best shot...and we like listening to Sean Moth call the game. More like a documentary than a play by play description...which we like. We're guessing we saw 20 Fed Ex semis roll down I-65 because of the camera angle.

Charlie Springer, over at UofL Card Game http://www.uoflcardgame.com/ has a couple of nice action pics of the fans and players and a recap.

Person who might enjoy a few days off: Louisville assistant S.I.D Kim Pemberton. After last night's soccer match, which is one of the sports she handles...she's got basketball today in Lexington. Wouldn't blame her at all for sleeping in on Monday. She gets a break...Lady Cards don't play again after today until Saturday.

Can't say enough about the job she does, especially at UofL women's basketball games...where we see her the most. Any question we have, she'll get the answer. Any request we bring, she does her best to fufill it. Salute!


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More on the upcoming UK vs. Lady Cards WBB game...

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

_Louisville advances in Round 1 of NCAA Volleyball

-Jenny tells us her "take" on the UL v. UK WBB basketball game.

-Sandra on the ticket status for the game

-David Watson discusses the game

The University of Louisville Volleyball team has defeated Ball State in first round NCAA Volleyball action...sweeping Ball State 25-22, 25-15, 25-20. We'll have a full recap and details in Saturday's Cardinal Couple. Way to go, Anne Kordes and the Lady Cards spikers! 

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GOOD NEWS!
We're back up and running. Thanks to our superb I.T. guy Chris...and thanks for the e-mails expressing concern. Sometimes, you wonder (after the fact)..."Why did I click on that?"

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(Jenny O'Bryan is a writer for CARDINAL COUPLE. Here is her "take" on Sunday's game.)

I believe we can win against the Lady Cats. If both teams show up to play, and play to their capabilities, I believe this is going to go down as one of the best games in the history (or at least the recent history) of this rivalry. I give the edge to Louisville, though. I do believe it is going to be a close game. Of course, I want our Lady Cards to come out on top. But even more so, I want a good game from both teams. 

So...what needs to happen to bring home the win? Here are my thoughts on the matter: 

First, UofL needs to get off to a strong start. Let's hope they start the game like they did against Murray State and hit shots in the first minutes. UK is too good a team to  start slowly against...like the Cards have several times this year. GET OFF TO A STRONG START. 

Take care of the ball is next. The Lady Cards need to take care of every possession. They need to do this better than they have in games past. UK is a strong defensive team and they are going to force turnovers! We need not helping them beat us by committing unforced errors. The Lady Cares will need to value each possession, make good, solid passes on in-bounds plays and in transition. We must control this stat. TAKE CARE OF THE BALL.

The Lady Cards are also strong defenders. They will need to keep up the good work in this area. They can improve in this area by cleaning up the defense. The high octane, furious defensive effort loses its maximum effect when whistles are blown and play is stopped. When players get a chance to rest their legs and catch their breath you lose the advantages you have been stock-piling. PLAY SOLID, CLEAN DEFENSE AND...IN THE PROCESS...STAY OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE.

Dominate in the paint and on the boards. I believe this is the area where Louisville has the greatest advantage. Our "true bigs" include Cierra Warren and Sherrone Vails....with a supporting cast of Monique Reid, Asia Taylor, Sara Hammond, and Shawnta Dyer. Six players who can provide strong and valuable minutes inside. Louisville will need to find a way to exploit this vulnerability  of the Cats. The opportunity is there to rotate, stay  rested and dominate. UK has one true center in Samantha Drake and a forward/center in Azia Bishop. A strong effort from our "bigs" is the difference in this game. UofL must get solid minutes in the paint, stay out of foul trouble and rebound.

A'dia Mathies is still a huge impact player, even when her offense is off. She brings so much more to the game than just points scored. Containing her will be a huge task for the Cardinal guards...especially with Tia Gibbs done for the year.

The Lady Card assists seem to have increased with Shoni and Mo back in the lineup. This needs to continue to be a upward trend.

Finally, the Lady Cards need to just play like they know how to play. Hopefully, Shoni and Becky will be on fire from outside. Bria Smith will have her dribble drive going on and will be counted on to cash in on free throws. Mo will need to be the point producing paint specialist and look for her to see increased minutes. The Lady Cards will need to control the boards.

Lady Cards, go out on the hardwood at Memorial and play your game. Play hard, play strong and leave it all on the court. Bring home the win! 

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(CARDINAL COUPLE correspondent Sandra Walker comments on the ticket situation.) 

Tickets for Sunday's UK vs. UofL women's basketball game are officially gone. Kentuckysports.com announced no more tickets are are left for the Memorial Coliseum game...but they are still heavily promoting tickets to the UK vs. Duke WBB matchup in Rupp Arena. Official routes for tickets have not been available for awhile. Research at TicketMaster and contact with the normally resourceful ticket finder "Rob" at StubHub, Inc. also produced no results. Yesterday he responded "Just got your message and checked the listing for the game. Unfortunately, we have no more tickets left." 

One route may still be available as we have heard that a few tickets might be twisted out of UK's hands - to compliment those already held by over 250 fans who have committed to ride one of the fan buses to the game (which also includes a game ticket). You can confirm additional availability by contacting William Hancock at wth6445@insightbb.com or the Fastbreak Club at UofL. 

I personally grew frustrated with the UK ticket office non-answers when trying to acquire a ticket as far back as October when it was announced that Rupp Arena was being reserved for the upcoming WBB contest between UK and Duke but not for the more heavily fan-followed Louisville game. It looks like that either UK was too tight to spring for the additional Rupp Arena usage funds or that Louisville's almost triple home attendance so concerned the UK faithful that it was determined that using Memorial would guarantee a large home town crowd majority with which to help break the Louisville over Kentucky win streak--as UK will need every advantage they can acquire. This, of course, is my opinion.

One other possibly successful tactic to acquire game tickets is what I did. I presented myself as having so much newly acquired interest in the UK women that I was interested in purchasing season tickets. For the $40 investment, I not only have admission to the UofL vs. UK game...but also tickets to Tennessee, Duke and all the other teams on UK's home schedule. Not a bad investment...as the incoming team will make it worth it.

Notice to potential UK recruits...At least Memorial is an improvement from the early years of UK women's practice facilities where unless shots were perfect swishes, the backboard moved.

Enjoy the game. See you there.
EDITOR NOTE: A couple of hours after this article, regualr reader Elvis Redbird sent us an e-mail and has (2) tickets for face value ($7 each)...his e-mail address is qvoigt@hotmail.com CARDINAL FANS ONLY

His e-mail:

Dear Cardinal Couple,

I have two extra tickets for Sunday's game available to Cardinal fans only who wish to attend. The seat are behind the visitors bench up high. I'm willing to part with them for face value of $7 each. If you know of someone wishing to see what's shaping up as a heck a contest. #10 vs. #12. Personally I'm looking forward to chanting 'O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D' as I believe the Cardinals are a much better team & will win by + 15 POINTS. Please give them my contact information.

(Thanks Elvis!)*****************************************************************

(DAVID WATSON is a Special Correspondent for CARDINAL COUPLE. He talks about the game below.)

I'll be watching the upcoming UofL vs. UK women's basketball game with a great deal of interest. I've heard it might be on ESPN3-which would be good for those who don't receive FOX SPORTS SOUTH. 

My neighbor Hank is UK crazy.  Blue flag flies 365 days a year. We were talking the other day out in his driveway. He was boasting about the successes of the UK men's team. I countered that the UofL women's basketball team was playing the Lady Kats and that it would be a good game. His answer: 

"I don't follow those women's sports too much but the Cats will win that one. UK is just plain better than Louisville in everything but football." 

We agreed to a friendly wager. Two sidewalk shovellings of the other's property after the first two sizable snows. No points exchanged, just a neighborly wager. Then, he went back into his cave, club over shoulder - and drug his wife out to the mini-van by her hair. Hank is definitely a male chauvinist pig, self admitted- and if there isn't a helmet, home run or slam dunk involved, he usually doesn't watch or care for it. Everytime I hear the Beatles sing "Here comes old flat-top." on the song "Come Together" - I get a mental picture of him.

Louisville will travel to Memorial Coliseum and beat the Kentucky women. How do I know this? I go by a basic and old and proven adage in basketball. The team that can rebound better usually wins. The Lady Cards have a wealth of tall, long-armed, muscular girls who can rebound. UK has one or two.

Rebounds equal possessions or second chance putbacks. When the ball is in your hands, it's better than having it in the opponents' hands. More possessions equal more chances to score.

And, I dig Monique Reid.

Cards win on Sunday. I'll say 69-59. And, let it snow, let in snow, let it snow.

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It's started. Rumors about Louisville football coach Charlie Strong being pursued by other programs. Penn State and Texas A&M are currently on top of the speculation. (Putting hands over ears...going "La,La,La,La,La,La...")

Strong could be taking the Cardinals to Miami for the Orange bowl if Connecticut can beat Cincinnati Saturday. At least, the Cards are headed to Charlotte, Memphis or maybe St. Pete for post-season action.

Ask John L.Smith or Howard Schnellenberger, Charlie. Leaving would be a bad idea. Stay and make the mark on UofL football you've talked about doing.

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(Thanks to our three writers today for their contributions. Tomorrow, Sonja and I will discuss our opinions and we welcome yours. E-mail us or leave a message in the comments section and let us know. Adios.)
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Knowing the foe...UK coach Matthew Mitchell and his team

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:


-Jenny previews the Lady Kats

-What we know...so far...on game viewing via Television

-Mitchell leads undefeated Wildcats with his "winning tools" philosophy

Dunlap was a star at UK

The Lady Cards (7-1) head into Sunday's competition against the Lady Cats (7-0) to face a team that lost its best player to graduation and the WNBA last season. Victoria Dunlap was the 11th. pick in the WNBA Draft in 2011.

Rest assured, though, the Cats have plenty of weapons to bring to the court.

The Cats play in Memorial Coliseum, which seats around 9000. So far, Kentucky has played one road game, and six in Memorial. Average attendance thus far is 4568. Sunday's game is a sell out. With twice the usual turnout for the UofL game...how many in the crowd will be rooting for Louisville? The Lady Cards are no stranger to playing in front of 9000+ fans, the question is how will Kentucky react to the sudden influx of people?

Samarie Walker will have an impact at UK.

The Cats have picked up two transfers. De Nesha Stallworth transferred from California and will sit out the 2011-12 season. Samarie Walker came in from UConn last year and will be eligible to play at the end of the semester. Both girl play in the post and UK will likely benefit greatly when Walker eventually gets onto the court.

Jennifer O'Neill is a sophomore guard who is currently recovering from a toe/foot injury. She's a sharp-shooting, All-American...whose presence on the court improves the Cats long range bombing threat. Currently practicing with the team, from what I've heard, she's a hopeful return for them in mid-December. Like Louisville, UK has had to deal with injuries and ineligibility's this year..

The Wildcats are very similar to the Lady Cards - they are a high pressure, defensive oriented squad. Lots of high energy and they like to apply the full court press. Capable of creating a high amount of opponent turnovers. They create an average of 35.7 turnovers a game...17.8 of those coming from steals. This is a high-pressure defense. Repeat...35.7 turnovers created a game...this is NOT a typo.

One would think with a turnover number so high...there would be a lot of fouls. Not so. Once once this year has a UK player fouled out. UK also finds their way to the line. They are averaging 26.7 free throws a contest and making 16.8..which is a less than spectacular 63%.

Offensively, the Lady Cats are distributing the ball very, very well. Amber Smith and A'dia Mathies are the leaders here. UK averages 17 assists per game. With a heavy guard lineup - sometimes starting four guards a game- they can move and shoot the ball rapidly. They've been scoring a lot of points and their smallest margin of victory has been 18. Their shooting can take a night off, though...failures to convert on layups and around the rim. 

Adia Mathies played her high school
ball at Iroquois High School.

To prepare for this game, Louisville head coach Jeff Walz will take Louisville, KY native and Iroquois High School guard A'dia Mathies heavily into account. The junior entered the season as the leading returning scorer with 16.3 ppg.  The Lady Cards will have to take A'dia out of the game offensively to take home a win.

Keyla Snowden is another talented UK guard. The senior comes off the bench and can put up big-time numbers when she's hot. Sophomore center Samantha Drake is also putting up some respectable numbers. Meagan Conwright, Kastine Evans and Bria Goss are also serious scoring threats. The firepower is there. Containing UK's guards will be Louisville's biggest challenge. Like Louisville, they're deep in that department, so stopping them will be no small feat.

Of the UK freshmen, Bria Goss is the most touted. From Indianapolis, she was Indiana's Miss Basketball in 2011 and was the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. Azia Bishop has tremendous ability and unbelievable potential. Bra'Shey Ali rounds out the freshman class and is a combo guard that head coach Matthew Mitchell states is the most aggressive ball defender on the team.

Samantha Drake played at Nelson County

What appears to be the greatest weakness for the Lady Cats, presently, is the inside game. They are young in this area and currently do not have a great deal of depth. Drake usually gets the nod at center...but admittedly needs to work on her strength and finishing around the rim. Drake is 6'3" and averages 8.6 grabs per game. She is the only true center currently on the roster. Mitchell speaks very highly of freshman Azia Bishop and the potential there. She could be a very good paint player as she adjusts to the college game and logs more minutes. The Cats will greatly benefit when Walker joins the team for the SEC schedule. Exploiting the current lack of depth in the paint will be a key to victories over the Cats by Louisville and other opponents. 

Jenny put a lot of time and research
into her breakdown of UK. Good job!

Kentucky has had decisive victories every game this season. They have been putting up big offensive numbers and the margin of victory large. They force an incredible amount of turnovers. Their effort this year, so far, has been very good and deserves respect. That being said, they haven't played a top ranked team yet. Louisville will be the first top-10 opponent UK has faced this year. Additionally, they have not faced the rigors or stress of playing back-to-back away games. Their only away game was at Morehead, about an hour from the UK Campus. A soft schedule, good results and they'll face numerous challenges from the road-tested, multi-talented Lady Cards.

I will share my thoughts on how Louisville wins this top-ten matchup and Battle for the Bluegrass tomorrow. Stay tuned!

-Jenny O' Bryan, CARDINAL COUPLE correspondent.

(Thanks for the informative and detailed information of "our next non-conference opponent", Jenny!  After reading Jenny's comprehensive report, I feel like I could go suit up and shut down the UK offensive attack. Okay, maybe a bad idea...)

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In case you are unable to attend Sunday, here's the TV info we have. FOX SPORTS SOUTH will have the broadcast. Here's the channel information we have here in the Louisville area.

Insight: Channel 70 or 35-8 for those without a box

DirecTV: Channel 646

Dish: Channel 420

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The year was 2007. Mickie DeMoss had resigned as UK head women's basketball coach and Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart needed to move quickly to quiet the buzz surrounding UK women's basketball and speculation about the successor. Turns out his answer and hire were about an hour away on I-64 East...Morehead State head coach Matthew Mitchell.

The UK WBB squad now plays their home games
(for the most part) in 9,000 seat Memorial Coliseum.
Unless it's Duke...who UK may even hate more
than the Cards. Christian Laettner, anyone?

Mitchell was no stranger to the program. He had been an assistant under DeMoss at UK before accepting the Eagles' job. The job was his if he wanted it, and he did.

In his first year as Lady Wildcats skipper, he coached the team to a 17-16 record. They finished fourth in the SEC with a 8-6 performance. He drew 10,000 into Rupp Arena to watch his team play Angel McCoughtry and the Lady Cards...Louisville winning their fourth straight in the series...a Cardinal team coached by a young, first year coach named Jeff Walz. Later in the season, he got the Lady Kats to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament and won two games in the WNIT before bowing out to eventual champ Marquette.

2008-09 was about the same. A 16-16 mark, another loss to Louisville, this time in Freedom Hall...another trip to the WNIT and a second round loss. He was building the program his way, though...utilizing his "winning tools" philosophy - honesty, hard work and discipline. 

Mitchell is in his 5th year
as UK WBB head coach.

In 2009-10, the philosophy and the rebuilding paid off. Mitchell was named SEC Coach of the Year and his Lady Kats posted a 28-8 record and 2nd place finish in the SEC. A powerful but undersized center named Victoria Dunlap and lightning-quick guard out of Louisville named A'dia Mathies had the Kats rolling and they made it to the NCAA Tournament. They blew out a hobbled Jeff Walz Lady Cards team in Memorial Coliseum by 34 points.

Last year, the Lady Kats returned to the "Big Dance" and complied a 25-9 mark and second place finish in the SEC. They were the #4 seed in their NCAA Region and advanced to the second round. They were handled by a fired up Louisville team in a sold-out, 22,152 attending KFC YUM! Arena crowd by 26 points during the regular season...an all-time high attendance figure for Lady Cards basketball.  

Mitchell is 7-0 this year and he's fourth on the all-time list of winning-ist UK women's basketball head coaches with a record of 92-49. His team is fast and talented, they score early and often and the game Sunday will be a fun chess match to watch between two brilliant strategists. Even though the Lady Kats have been "filling up on creme puffs" so far this year...they'll be pumped up to sit down for a full-course meal with the Cards.
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mickidemosswastheheadcoachatukforfouryearsandtookthecatstothencaatournamentonceduringhertimetheresheisnowanassistantattennesseresumingthejobshelefttocometouk

UofL to face DePaul twice in 2011-12 Women's Basketball...we look back at: UofL v. UK

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Big East releases 2011-12 matchups in WBB

Doug Bruno, DePaul's WBB head coach
has a rowdy home games fan base for the team.

-We look back at UofL vs. UK in WBB

The format for Big East women's basketball has changed a little bit for the University of Louisville women's basketball season.Instead of playing Cincinnati twice next year...as the Cards have for the past couple of seasons...Louisville will now face DePaul on a home and away basis next season.

Louisville is one of ten teams who will face changes in their repeat opponent. Only three repeat matchups remain the same for 2011-12:

-UConn vs. Notre Dame
-Pittsburgh vs. WVU
-Providence vs. Villanova

According to information released from the BIG EAST conference, the determining factors involved in deciding just who repeat opponents are comes from minimizing travel costs, geographical rivalries, television inventory, RPI implications and competitive issues.

We understand the RPI implications part. Both DePaul and Louisville will most likely be ranked in the NCAA Preseason top 20. Cincinnati won't. This would also cover the competitive issues and possible television interest. As far as travel costs...I'm  guessing it is less expensive to get to Cincinnati than Chicago. Call me crazy. The geographical rivalry part is another question mark. Cardinal fans have always travelled well to watch the Lady Cards play in Cincy. It seemed like Louisville had more people in the seats in Cincy last year than the Bearcats did for the game up there in the 2010-11 season. Will the travel to Chicago draw the same amount of Cardinal fans? 

Cincinnati ended up with Marquette as their doubles partner. Elliott vs. Mitchell in the coaches box. Once again, the geographical and travel costs items don't make sense here...but the good news for fourteen BIG EAST team is that they didn't end up with either UConn or Notre Dame twice.

Louisville's home games in the BIG EAST will be against:
Connecticut
DePaul
Marquette
Notre Dame
Providence
USF
Syracuse
Villanova

Away games:
Cincinnati
DePaul
Georgetown
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
St.John's
Seton Hall
West Virginia

No times, dates or television coverage has officially been released yet.

WE think that the Cards could have beaten Cincinnati twice in the upcoming season and every potential win in the BIG EAST is huge...when you look at the night in - night out level of competition in the NCAA's strongest women's conference. Cincinnati will improve this year over last year's marks...Janelle Elliott is a good coach and has recruiting well...but the talent level in the Queen City still isn't what Louisville has. Against DePaul, the Cards face a team that has some questions marks now that Felicia Chester, Sam Quigley, Deidre Naughton and China Threatt have graduated...but Keisha Hampton, Anna Martin and Katherine Harry return for Bruno's team...who made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2011 before bowing out to Duke.

Bruno has signed four players for the 2011-12 season, point guards Chanise Jenkins and Brittany Hrynko...both ESPN Top 100 ranked. Wing Alexa Gallagher and shooting guard Negan Rogowski complete the signing class.
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WE LOOK BACK AT:

Sunday, December 5th. Kentucky vs. Louisville in the KFC YUM! Center



Becky Burke and Shoni Schimmel combined for twelve
3-pointers in the 26- point win over Kentucky last season.

 A sold out arena saw the Louisville Cardinals gain a measure of revenge against in-state rival Kentucky with a 78-52 win. Louisville was led by Shoni Schimmel's 26 points and Becky Burke added 21. Both girls hit six three-pointers each in the contest. Louisville held Kentucky to 28% shooting. Louisville came out on fire in the first half and a 11-0 run over a three minute stretch in the first half saw the Cards stretch a 17-12 lead to 28-12 with seven minutes remaining in the first twenty minutes. The Cards led by as many as 19 in that first half and looked in control over the 5-0 Wildcats. UK never led in the contest.

UK would manage to get within 10 points of the lead midway thru the final half...closing the gap to 55-45 with nine minutes remaining but the Cards went on another run...13-3...and closed the door on UK, leading 68-48 with six minutes to go.

Becky Burke commented on the win:

"It feels really good. They didn't let up on us last year and we didn't let up today."

Freshman Schimmel knew that her upperclassmen teammates were still smarting from last season's 101-67 loss to UK in Memorial and reflected on the mindset going into Sunday's game.

"Everybody kind of made it a big deal, so I'm thinking maybe it is a big deal. I understood what happened last year. We weren't going to let it happen again."

Defensive pressure was a key element in the 26 point Cardinal win. Intensity on the Cardinal side and lack of defensive hustle from the Cats.The Cats turned the ball over a season high 22 times and time-after-time failed to check the long range efforts of Schimmel and Burke.

"It's the worst day we've had trapping and rotating since we've implemented this defensive style. If you don't hustle...you can look silly out there. Today was a bad day to look silly, but we did." UK head coach Matthew Mitchell commented after the game. "We just did not get pressure on the basketball. Things we normally do, we didn't do."

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Volleyball advances in NCAA Tournament over MTSU

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Volleyball defeats MTSU in straight sets.

-Know the foe: Scouting the Ky. Wildcats

-Soccer tonight!

-High School roundup for UofL WBB recruits

The University of Louisville Volleyball team swept Middle Tennessee State in three games Friday in West Lafayette, IN. to win their first game of the NCAA Tournament and advance to play Purdue on Saturday.

The Cards roll on with a 25-22, 25-21 25-17 defeat of the Blue Raiders. Lola Arslanbekova had 17 kills to lead Louisville. The Cards held MTSU's hitters to a .158 hitting percentage, much lower than their season average.

Arslanbeckova fired the Cardinal offensive attack in the first game, getting seven of her kills. The Cards jumped out to a 6-1 lead but had to weather a Blue Raider rally that tied the contest at 20-20. Louisville took five of the next seven points to end the match.

In game two, Louisville secured an early 9-3 lead but watched MTSU fight back and grab a 15-13 advantage. Louisville then ran off 10 of the next 12 points to lead 23-17. Gwen Rucker finished the Blue Raiders with a kill to give the Cards a four point win.

The third game was back and forth with Louisville clawing to a 15-14 advantage. After a timeout, the Cards blasted ten of the next twelve over the net successfully for the win...Rucker blocking a MTSU attempt for the final Cardinal point and game and match win.

Purdue at 7 p.m. Saturday night. The Boilermakers beat Kentucky yesterday to advance and holds a regular season win over Yelin's Cardinals early in the season. This Louisville team has improved leaps and bounds (sorry about the pun) since then and will give Purdue all they want in second round action tonight.

The Cards are due against Purdue. With Rucker and Simmons dominating net action and Arslanbeckova on a hitting streak of late, Louisville looks ready for the challenge and hopefully will down the Boilermakers.

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The University of Kentucky women's basketball team will travel to the KFC YUM Center Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. game against Jeff Walz's Lady Cards. UK comes into the game 5-0, ranked 8th nationally and is fresh off two wins in the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While there, they knocked off Murray State 91-59 and handled Southern Miss 79-60. The Cats, who have played three out of their first five on the road, also defeated BIG EAST school Notre Dame 81-76 in Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.

The Cats are led by senior front line star Victoria Dunlap and guard A'dia Mathies. Dunlap, a 6'1" senior is averaging 15 points and 9.8 rebounds so far this year. Mathies, a sophomore guard out of Louisville Iroquois, carried a 16 point average for the Cats. Guard Keyla Snowden, a deadly outside shooter, chips in at 11 points and game and freshman point guard Maegan Conwright has started four contests and is one of six new players for Matthew Mitchell.

Like UofL, the UK frosh have had an impact on the court this year. Besides Conwright...the diaper dandies are true freshmen Kastine Evans, Samantha Drake (Nelson County, KY.), Sarah Beth Barnette (Lexington Christian), Jennifer O'Neill and redshirt freshman Bernisha Pinkett.

The frosh are contributing 33 of the Cats 84 points per game and Conwright looks like the real deal at point guard.

Last year, UK obliterated UofL 101-67 in Lexington...a game where the Cats overwhelmed Louisville's guards with pressure defense and transition basketball. Mathies, Dunlap and senior guard Carly Morrow all had big games against the depleted Cardinals that afternoon.

SONJA SEES IT:

For Louisville to have a chance against the Wildcats...they must accomplish five things:

1) Get the ball up the court after UK scores. Last year, the Cats withering defense and several unforced Lady Card turnovers put this one out of reach early. Louisville adds Shoni Schimmel, Tia Gibbs and Charmaine Tay this year as back court specialists and they should help improve the Lady Cards' attempts to cross the time line.

2) Hit the boards. UK dominated the Cards on the glass last year and most of it came from the hard working, blue collar Dunlap. Louisville must find a way to keep her bottled up and capitalizing on second chance baskets and defensive rebounds. Blocking out would be a good start. The Cards match up zone on defense should help, but preventing 'VD" from spreading is a must.

3) Outside effectiveness. Louisville will need to be "spot on" from behind the three point arc early to loosen up the paint. The Cards have proven long range bombers in Becky Burke (shooting 50% this year from three point range), Schimmel, Antonita Slaughter, Charmaine Tay and Gibbs...they'll need to display it against a UK defense that probably won't give them anything easy.

4) Create the transition, stop the transition. This may should a bit contradictory...but Louisville will need to rebound well when on the defensive glass to get the transition game rolling. The Cards are at their best when they can motor, create and let Schimmel perform her magic at the point. They must also get back when UK rebounds and prevent the free-wheeling Mathies and company from making it a layup fest.

5) Hit the free ones. This one has the possibility of seeing both teams proliferate at the free throw line. Louisville has had a mixed bag of success there this year...encouraging 14-16 against Mississippi Valley State...but off nights as well. Gotta get the points when no one is guarding you and if the Cards don't cripple themselves with errant charity stripe opportunities...they could benefit here.

Gates open at noon for the game. CARDINAL COUPLE will be there to watch the rivalry and give our readers a full report and post game comments after the contest. GO CARDS!

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Saturday 7 p.m is a chance for the #1 nationally ranked UofL men's soccer team to advance to the NCAA Final Four in Santa Barbara. All they need to do is defeat the visiting UCLA Bruins in Cardinal Park. Weather conditions will be nasty for this one, about 2 inches of snow has already fallen here as WE write this column this morning and snow is forecast until later this afternoon. Not exactly the conditions you hope for in a soccer match. Think about it, though...how many times has the UCLA, located in southern California, played in a mess like this? WE think...advantage Cardinals. (For the fans sake...would they move this one inside to the Trager...? LOL)

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Sara Hammond popped in 20 of Rockcastle County's 54 points last night in a nine point win over Lincoln County. The UofL women's basketball signee has led "the Rockers" to a 2-0 start so far this year.

Louisville verbal Quaneisha McCurty led Dalton, GA. with 21 points in their win over Cartersville 71-61. Dalton is 4-0 on the season and 6'5" McCurty is proving to be very hard for opponents to stop.

Playful Cats

(We take this brief departure from Louisville womens' sports to share a story about the antics going on in Lexington. Do not adjust your viewing screen or fire off any irate e-mails to us...we'll return to normal CARDINAL programming tomorrow. We know where our readership comes from...)

Rumors out of Lexington that reserve guard Carly Morrow has left school. Morrow's playing time dropped significantly during her junior year at UK. She looks pretty serious about hoops in this picture....


We have stumbled upon a great article by Jennifer Smith of the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER about some of the frivolity involved amongst the UK womens' basketball team. The Cats travel to Louisville to play Jeff Walz and the Lady Cards in the new downtown arena this year. Here's Smith's report:

UK women's chemistry is a joking matter
Playing pranks on coaches brought team closer
by Jennifer Smith

Last summer, Kyra Elzy couldn't wait to get home from a long, difficult day at the office.

The assistant UK women's basketball coach can't remember what had made this day so bad, she just remembered wanting to get home to relax.

As she pulled into her driveway, she found several neighbors standing in front of her house staring at it.

Then she saw them: more than 300 white forks stuck tine-side up all over her yard.

"I was like, "What are you all doing here and why are these forks in my yard?" Elzy asked her neighbors. "I just lost it. I went over the edge. The more forks I saw, the madder I got."

All coaches work hard to develop team chemistry.

But in the last few months, Kentucky's coaches have probably wished for a little less chemistry.

Harmless pranks have struck Elzy twice and head coach Matthew Mitchell once.

The players involved refer to themselves as the "Women In Black".

The "Tour de Forks" started with boredom and four Cats at a Wal-Mart sometime after 11 p.m.

"We were going to toilet paper and fork Coach Mitchell's yard." junior guard Carly Morrow said.

"We were staking out his house. We could see him watching TV. We waited more than an hour and he didn't move. We couldn't get him that night." explained Amani Franklin.

So Franklin, Morrow, forward Victoria Dunlap and guard Amber Smith got Elzy instead.

Some other fun has included sticking over 600 Post-It notes on Elzy's car while it was at the Lexington airport and filling Mitchell's car (with assistance from his wife) with balloons and Hannah Montana streamers.

The coaches haven't done anything to get the players back but Elzy says the players should be on the lookout.

"We're still waiting." comments Franklin. "If I were them, I'd watch their back instead."

Sometimes, it isn't all about the rivalry that you see on the internet boards. A good story is a good story whether it involves red, blue...or in this case...women in black.

(No reports of such mischief around Belknap Campus these days...but it is rumored that the LADY CARDS might be concentrating on getting to .500 this year instead of plotting against the skipper. Word has it, though...that Coach Walz recently took in "TOY STORY 3". Could Buzz Lightyear be making an unscheduled apperance at Jeff's home?)

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Please take time to view this short and wonderful inspirational piece that our buddy Al Parrish sent to us.

www.dashpoemmovie.com

Use it to make your world a little better place and have a good day out there...friends.