By Whitney Spencer
After some early season losses and a major drop in their tournament seed, the University of Louisville women’s basketball team’s run through the postseason was surprising to many. And although people don’t often remember the team that finishes second, U of L’s history-making performance in the NCAA tournament is still remembered. Despite a loss in the national championship game, to what became the undefeated national champion University of Connecticut Huskies, the Cardinals left their mark on U of L sports history.
As they prepare for a new season, with new players, they must face the very real fact that their two leading scorers are no longer suiting up. Angel McCoughtry, who was the first overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft, and Candyce Bingham were integral parts of last year’s postseason action. Still, U of L has a team that people are taking seriously again this season. Head coach Jeff Walz has five newcomers, including four freshmen from a Top 20 recruiting class. The return of fifth-year senior, center Chauntise Wright, from a knee injury last year gives the Cards an even bigger force inside.
The team finished last season ranked second in the coaches’ poll. The Cards are now ranked 23rd in the Associated Press preseason poll, and 19th in the USA Today poll. They are picked to finish third in the Big East, tied with DePaul University. Before the season can begin, the Cards must face a good amount of adversity, in the form of injuries. Junior point guard Deseree’ Byrd has been sidelined with a knee injury, but is expected to bounce back soon. Junior forward Laura Terry may not return until later this month, following an off-season knee surgery. Junior college transfer, guard LaToya Johnson, is recovering from a concussion. Freshman forward Asia Taylor recently returned to action, after suffering a broken tibia and dislocated ankle in high school.
Injuries aren’t the only thing that has sidelined and thinned out the Cardinal lineup. Sophomore center Gwen Rucker is redshirting this season, while she plays volleyball. Former Kentucky Miss Basketball, sophomore guard Tia Gibbs, is sitting out this season, per NCAA rules, after transferring from Vanderbilt University after her freshman season. Would-be sophomore Janae Howard transferred to Western Kentucky University for undisclosed reasons, after playing in 33 games during her freshman season.
The Cardinals have several returnees who played key roles in the run to the national championship game last season. With that said, this looks to be an exciting season for the women’s basketball team, as they look to compete in their sixth consecutive NCAA tournament. There will be several key match-ups for the Cards during this season.
Louisville will face a challenge early in the season, when they play Middle Tennessee State in Freedom Hall on Dec. 9. The Blue Raiders return all six players who averaged double-digit minutes last season. Middle Tennessee finished 28-6 overall. Eliminated by Michigan State University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Blue Raiders return their leading scorer, in Alysha Clark, who averaged 27.5 points and 9.8 rebounds last season.
Though the 2008-2009 season was a disappointment for the program’s standards, the University of Tennessee Volunteers will look to bounce back this season. After losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament, to Ball State University, the Volunteers are picked to win the Southeastern Conference, and are ranked eighth in the AP preseason polls. The Cardinals will visit the Volunteers on Dec. 16. Returning nearly the same team from last season, Tennessee worked all off season to be ready to live up to fan expectations. With two fairly young teams, the match-up between the Cards and the Vols should be a good one.
Health may be the biggest area to watch for the Cards, as well as their Big East counterparts at the University of Notre Dame. For Notre Dame, the return of junior forward Devereaux Peters and junior guard Brittany Mallory is key. Notre Dame is a potential Final Four contender, returning the entire squad from last season. The Fighting Irish are expected to be one of the few teams to challenge the reigning national champions in Connecticut, so a match-up with the Cards will be a test of just how strong this team will be in the Big East. Louisville hosts Notre Dame on Jan. 19.
The biggest game of the season is sure to be with the University of Connecticut Huskies in Freedom Hall on Feb. 7. After three blow-out losses to the Huskies last year, with the last one coming in the national championship game, the Cards are looking for some revenge. Returning every player except for point guard Renee Montgomery, the Huskies will be a tough team to defeat. But the Cards now have an inside force, with the return of Wright, to match up with center Tina Charles.
Another intriguing match-up will be one that most fans wouldn’t expect. After finishing with a meager 4-12 record in the Big East last season, St. John’s University returns four starters and two reserves from last season’s team. Sophomore forward Da’Shena Stevens, the reigning Big East freshman of the year, led her team in rebounds and blocks, and was third in assists and steals. With top-ranked freshman guard Shenneika Smith at the helm this season, the Red Storm will look to climb the ranks into the top half of the conference.
With another shot to reach the same heights as last year, this team is eager for the challenge. The Cards have a target on their backs, and will all season, from teams inside and outside of the conference. From tipoff to the final buzzer, the women’s basketball season is one that many are eagerly awaiting. It could be another season that fans in Louisville will never forget.
