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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Commish Mark on the current state of women's basketball.


-Wolny, Collins get BIG EAST softball honors


-Cierra Warren resurfaces at San Diego State.




(WE are pleased and honored to feature our newest addition to the CARDINAL COUPLE writing staff Mark Schneider "The Commish" today. We know you'll enjoy
today's offering and look forward to his contributions!)




More than once on message boards  I have seen negative comments posted  about Women's basketball such as: "Women's basketball sucks", "Don't want to be a male chauvinist pig but Women's basketball is hard to watch".  Or how about these excerpts from two 2010 articles that I saw:
From Dan Bernstein's CBS Chicago's article 12/22/2010: "Bernstein: Women’s Basketball Sucks"

"The commish" may be the only writer out there that has
a dog as his literary agent and counsel. 

"Their sport is painful to watch......and that "telling the truth is considered mean, and it deviates from the gender-equity guilt narrative."
He claims he supports their "right to play" and his "right not to watch".  He feels it is "obvious" women's basketball is "awful" and that "Everybody knows it but can't bring themselves to say it." He does not consider Women's basketball "real basketball"


The reason the fundamentals look more prevalent is because "It’s easier to see passes and half-court sets in a women’s game because it’s happening slower".  He feels "We get all that from real basketball, just at much higher speed, with much more successful, explosive conclusions". (Assume he means a dunk compared to a lay up)

Then there is a September 2010 article titled: "The Hate Corner I hate Women's Basketball" from Pete D (no last name)--a blogger for a Chicago blog called Sports fix Chicago (What is it about Chicago writers hating on Women's basketball?)

"The game is WAY too boring.  It is too slow.  It is too sloppy."

His solution?---"take the average height of the players in the men’s leagues and then take the average height of the players in the women’s leagues.  Whatever the difference is, lower the hoop that much for the women."  Does this mean each level--Grade School, College, and Pro would have rims with different heights based on his formula? And since average heights may change from time to time, would the height of the rim have to change once in a while as well?  He feels that the result would be  "chicks dunking on each other, and possibly even talking serious "smack" (original word replaced with "smack" by me--this site is rated G so use your imagination) to each other". And to speed the game up "shorten the court".

Would lowering the basket lead to more dunks?  Using NBA/WNBA average heights: NBA players average height is 6'6"  minus a WNBA average of 6'0" then the goal would be lowered by 6 inches to 9'4".  Since we don't use goals 9'4" in height, let us use Brittney Griner as our example:  She is 6'8". Basket is "low enough" for her right now. She has no trouble dunking a basketball. In effect it is "lowered" for her now. So, how many dunks does Griner have for her career after 3 years?  Is she a dunking machine?  Does she have at least 75? 150? How about 200?  The answer is..........7. Yes------7 dunks.  She is tied with former Tennessee star Candace Parker--who by the way is only 6'4"!  She is 4 inches shorter than Griner. Candace did this on of all things a 10 foot goal as well.  Candace only played 3 years of college.  Brittney should break the record since she will return for her Senior year.

A Dunk is not always the most exciting play in basketball.  (Whether a play is judged exciting may depend on the point of the game in which it occurs).  However, there is something to be said about seeing a player threading the needle via a 45ft no look pass to a player under the basket for a lay-up.(Shoni Schimmel). Or seeing a player help her team  mount a comeback by pulling up for a shot and hitting it from around the hash-mark helping her team  gain momentum and take the lead in an NCAA tourney game. (Shoni Schimmel vs Xavier) Or  actually seeing  gifted athletes receive degrees and  develop their game for 4 years and not bolt for the pros after 1 year (Shoni Schimmel,Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins).

In regards to Pete D (no last name) saying the  game was slow, boring, and sloppy and thinking shortening the court to "speed the game up" is a solution to his perceived faults of the Women's game: Apparently he never really watched a WNBA game.  I tend to follow the WNBA because of Angel McCoughtry.  She peaked my interest in Women's basketball.  First time seeing her play in person was when her Atlanta Dream played in Indy a couple years ago. Here is what I noticed about the game:

a) The players were bigger, stronger,and faster.

b) The speed of game was dramatically faster than college-(Played on a regulation sized court too! No need for a shortened one)

c) Their passes were crisp and the players were fundamentally sound. 

d) It was a wide open run up and down the floor style of play.

e) The physicality of the game was evident. Would venture to say several players were probably sore the next day and needed to get in the whirlpool.

f) They played defense the whole game.

For those who have yet to attend a Women's game because of a lack of interest or preconceived ideas: Try it.  You just may like it: Obviously someone does--and it seems the sport is growing and becoming more popular.  Check the latest stats from the 2012 Women's NCAA Tournament;

All three games were sellouts, with 19,028 in attendance for the national semifinal games on April 1 and the national championship game on April 3.

Baylor vs Notre Dame had a 3.2 rating---3,137,00 households and 4,244,000 viewers.(It was the highest rated and most viewed since 2004 Championship UCONN vs Tennessee).

There were 570 members of the media credentialed for NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Radio broadcast reached 250 stations

UCONN vs Notre Dame semi final game
1.8 overnight rating (up 6% from last years first game)

Stanford vs. Baylor second semi final game
2.2 overnight rating (same as last years second game)

Some do not wish to give Women's Basketball a chance.  They snub their noses or write disparaging articles downgrading the sport. Some don't feel it is legitimate and even boring. Have these people ever been to a Women's basketball game? 

For the most part, not all of the women are playing to "make it to the pros." (The closest thing to a one and done was Candace Parker.  She left Tennessee after her Junior year for a successful career in the  WNBA).   Most are playing because they love the game.  Players playing with passion and heart. And it shows.  How refreshing to see players giving it their all every game. Not just when playoffs roll around.
 

You can e-mail Cardinal Couple and also guess how
many of the people in this picture ever read the site.

As far as  Women's basketball is concerned--some may love it and some may hate it but, one person had this to say about the subject: "The top women athletes play a more pure game than the men", "They play below the rim and fundamentally better," and "Women's basketball is a beautiful game".  Who said that? James Naismith? Geno Auriemma? No.....those words were spoken by none other than the late John Wooden.  As a matter of fact starting in 2004, the John R Wooden Award was extended to Women's Basketball.  John Wooden had no problem with Women's basketball. He enjoyed the game.  Now maybe others can leave their prejudices aside and start enjoying it too.

Thoughts on the subject?  Email Cardinal Couple with your thoughts about the subject and you just might see your words in print on this very blog!  What do you like about Women's basketball? What don't you like? What changes can be made to make the game better? Do you hate Women's basketball?  Why?  Just a few questions to kick around.

Commish Mark




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Congratulations to Cardinal Softball players Alicja Wolny and Tori Collins for receiving BIG EAST weekly honors! 

Wolny led the Cards in hitting last week, batting .692 with nine hits, eight RBI's and four runs scored. The junior is batting .395 on the season, second best on the Cardinal squad. She tied for the team lead in home runs also with five on the year. This edition of Louisville softball has a great combination of hitters who combine speed, power, hitting and pitching.

Collins was untouchable in 21 innings pitched last week. She threw two no-hitters, three complete games and earned a save. Tori is 18-1 on the year with a microscopic 1.11 ERA. Opponents bat a meager .160 against her. 


Louisville battles league-leading South Florida Wednesday at Ulmer Stadium in a double-header that begins at 4 p.m. 

WE strongly suggest you take off work early, grab the neighbors and relatives and head out for this epic BIG EAST Softball battle.


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Finally...ex-Louisville and North Carolina post player Cierra Warren has taken a westward swing and will play for San Diego State beginning in the 2013-14 season. 


Originally out of Rancho Cucamonga, California and Los Osos High School, Warren transferred to Louisville after a season at UNC. After a year of sitting out...she appeared in 22 games as a Cardinal, starting in 10 during the 2011-12 season.


WE wish her the best out there. Never really understood why she couldn't dedicate herself and develop into more of an impact player here at Louisville...maybe she'll find that drive on the left coast.
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Harvard risk taking pays off against St. Johns

I always take an interest in players, coaches or employers who operate outside of the box and who are willing to take a risk of doing something different such as continuing to allow a player to be on the floor with 2 fouls in the first 1/2 or the football coach who goes for it on 4th down.

This makes me curious if Coach Walz will run our normal defensive game against St. Johns today or follow the example of the gamble taken by Harvard women's coach Kathy Delaney-Smith whose team was 5-5 at the time of their December 22, 2011 meeting with St. Johns. She gambled that St. Johns's could not win while shooting only outside jump shots and in doing so instructed her players to sit back in a tight zone for the entire game which included not defending against the three while packing all of the gaps so the drive was not available.

From the field St. Johns hit only 27-77 for a total of 56 points for the game. Fortunately for Harvard, they were able to score 63 points which produced their first win over a BCS conference opponent this season.

Sandy W.

Notre Dame women retain # 2 ranking over UConn

How awesome was it that yesterday women's Basketball had 2 national games on prime time Saturday sports on CBS!?!?

I had predicted that both games should be VERY competitive as at 2 PM CBS featured Big Ten Conference Michigan Spartans (10-5) meeting at the home of and defeating the 19th / 22nd ranked Penn State Lady Lions (11-3) at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA by a score of 75-65

At 4 PM CBS featured Big East Teams where the 2nd ranked Connecticut Huskies now (12-2) and (2-1) were playing at the home of 3rd ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish now (15-1) and (3-0) which is the Edmund P Joyce Center in South Bend, IN.

It was Notre Dame's time to shine as it was their game to lose in the comfy confines of their home arena with a more than ready and very vocal crowd.

With the UConn - ND women's game shown opposite the University of Louisville men who were at home also against ND it made for an interesting situation, but one which could be handled. We taped both games and each time one had a time out... we switched and caught up play of the other game although I have to confess that we ultimately stayed on the UConn - ND game through the overtime as it better caught our attention as the games neared their end and went into overtimes. It was interesting to see and compare the styles of both the men and women's Notre Dame teams with both eventually pulling out the win as the women defeated UConn 74-67.

Sandy W.

"Coach" passes on

The legendary basketball coach John Wooden has gone to the big fieldhouse in the sky. "The Wizard of Westwood" was 99 and died Friday night.

John Wooden changed the game of basketball. He had three basic rules. Don't be late, don't use profanity and don't disrespect you teammates. He was a man who acheived his great success at UCLA while making $35,000 a year.

I was lucky enough to meet Coach many years ago. He seemed so small, so fragile up close when you spoke with him. He spoke with a gentle confidence...no bragging, just a matter of fact acknowlegement about his successes and his life.

It took Wooden 14 years at UCLA before he won the first of 10 NCAA Championships. In today's "what have you done for me lately" coaching circus...this seems incredible.

We cover University of Louisville women's sports here at CARDINAL COUPLE...but sports as we know them...male or female...were changed by Wooden. He created a dynasty in college basketball...one that will never be equalled again in the game. You can talk about the UConn Huskies and Geno's reign over women's hoops...but his great accomplishments pale against what Wooden did.

Wooden was an Indiana farmboy. He coached in Kentucky briefly at Dayton High School. A small northern Kentucky school..right outside Covington. I played basketball in the tiny gym at Dayton back in the early seventies. A small, nondescript gym...bleachers right up against the court and deadspots in the wood. A plaque in the gym honored Wooden, unfortunately the players at Dayton that year were far removed from the skills of Wooden's UCLA teams.

As we prepared to get back on the bus to return to Louisville after drubbing Dayton by 30+ points, our coach led us out to see the plaque one more time. I don't recall exactly what he said, but he talked about Wooden's ideals. Never giving up, pride and respect for the sport and those who participate in it. Hard work and dedication.

I don't know if that small school and that small gym still exist. I do know, though the the large legacy of the coach who once patrolled those floors will live forever.

Rest ye easy, Coach. Thank you.

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Don't freak out because of all the fire engines and sirens the rest of the weekend here in Louisville. It's Crusade for Children time. Carry a little extra change around with you today and tomorrow and donate to this very worthy cause. The Crusade was my late father's favorite charity and all the volunteers that work the intersections, ride the fire trucks and walk the streets collecting money get a big tip of the hat and sincere thank you from CARDINAL COUPLE.

Does women's college basketball need the 10 second rule?

(The "big guy" (pictured here) is in favor of it. Sonja is not. Today, we get the opinion on the lack of a ten second rule to get the ball over the timelime from a former high school and assistant college women's basketball coach. We have respectfully kept her comments anonymous per her request...as she is looking to be hired soon and doesn't want her comments to possibly go against any type of hiring decision.

The lack of a ten second rule to advance the basketball past center court makes no sense anymore and needs to be changed. Along with it, the NCAA women's rules committee needs to increase the shot clock to 35 seconds like the men's teams have.

There was a time when the women's college basketball game had a jump ball after each made basket. Imagine that today. There were also players who could not go past the half court line since they were designated either offense or defense roles. That rule was changed also. It is now time to get rid of another antiquated rule and this rule is the lack of a ten second clock to advance the ball past half court by the team in possession of the ball.

With the advent of the increased progressional skills of today's college women's basketball player, the ten second rule no longer makes any sense. For years now, women point guards have developed the necessary skills to dribble, cut, switch directions and pass the basketball. The days of frantically holding the ball and waiting for someone to pass it to are gone. The whole point of a full court press by by the defense is seriously undermined also, because the most you can hope for if you are pressing is a turnover. Good defense on the inbounds possession should be rewarded if you are able to prevent your opponent from advancing over the half court line in 10 seconds.

There are certain things that women basketball players don't do as well as their male counterparts. Dunking is one, obviously. Offensive or defensive goal tending isn't a call made very often in the women's game. Dribbling and handling the basketball, though is no longer a skill that women basketball players lack.

How many times have you seen a team dawdle getting the ball over the half court line late in a game and then find themselves faced with only 10 or less seconds to get ther offense in motion? If this team is winning, it does serve as a clock killer but it is also a penalty to the team trying to catch up.

Time to change this antiquated rule and allow good defensive pressure to reap another reward for a team. We teach our young players that guarding an opponent is just as important as being a scorer. An installment ofthe ten second rule would only enforce that philosophy and help teams improve on their transistion games.

There is a popular comic who uses the gag line 'Git 'er done'. It's time for the NCAA rules committee in women's college basketball to follow this comic's advice.