By Pk Bartley
Last season was a disappointing year for the University ofLouisville women’s basketball team. Going into last year, the LadyCards were ranked in the Top 25 in some polls for the first time inschool history. U of L was also ranked as one of the top teams inConference USA. However, the Cards finished 19-13 overall and just8-6 in C-USA. Louisville did manage to make it to the Women’sNational Invitational Tournament, where they were knocked out inthe first round by Ball State. U of L’s trouble last year was notdue to a lack of talent, but to a lack of chemistry. “Some peoplewere for themselves,” says junior guard Sara Nord. “We would argueif something didn’t go right. It was all the little bickering; itwill get you every time.”
This year, the Lady Cards say that team chemistry will not be aproblem. U of L head coach Martin Clapp likes the makeup of histeam this year. He is especially excited about one of thenewcomers, “our new low post player, Lori Nero [a senior centertransfer from Auburn]. She is an outstanding player. I think shewill be a top 15 pick in the WNBA draft next year. She will be thebest post player we have ever had at U of L. It will surprise me ifshe’s not first-team all-conference at the end of the year.” Nerowill be eligible after the first five games of the season. WithNord at the point, and Nero in the middle, Louisville could have anunstoppable one-two punch.
Last season, the Lady Cards had a lot of high expectations, anda lot of the teams in the conference were gunning for them.
“We’re going to try to be a stealth team and sneak up onpeople,” says Clapp. One of the problems U of L had last year wastheir defense, where Louisville finished tenth in C-USA. If theLady Cards are to have a better season this year, everyone willhave to play better defense, none more so than Nord. “I think mydefense has improved,” says Nord. “I’m a little quicker. I actuallyhave it in my head that I can play a little defense, because I’vegot my coaches telling me I can’t use that excuse anymore, that Ican’t play defense. I think I need to pressure the ball a littlemore.”
The Lady Cards will get to see how much they have improved fromlast year when they play perennial powerhouse Vanderbilt at FreedomHall in early January. “Having Vandy here this year could be bigfor the program,” says Clapp. “It could be big for recruiting if webeat them. I think that last year’s game with Vandy was a biglearning experience. Admittedly, our players didn’t think theycould win when they went down to Vanderbilt last year. This year, Idon’t think there’s anyone on our schedule that they can’t competewith, and that’s half the battle there. It’ll be a little morecompetitive when they come to our place.” One of the best aspectsof this year’s team is all the talent out on the perimeter. Nord isone of the best three-point shooters in the conference. Talentedsophomore forward Nina Simotes is expected to see more time on theperimeter. Senior guard Sabrina Minter is expected to be on thecourt a lot with Nord. “I look forward to Sabrina and I being onthe court at the same time,” Nord says. “It’s going to be good,because I don’t have to handle the ball all the time. I could justspot up sometimes and do those little things that make thedifference.”
U of L should also get good play down low from senior centerTiana Ford, senior forward Carol Brown off the bench, and Nero whenshe becomes eligible. This year promises to be exciting andmemorable, and teams will think twice before they go into the paintagainst the Lady Cards.
