Louisville handles Virginia Tech 67-56

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Louisville got out to a quick lead on the hot shooting of Asia Durr and her 16 first quarter points. Unfortunately they also continued the trend of cooling off some after getting a big lead. Asia went scoreless from early in the 2nd quarter until late in the 3rd. The team overall won the first quarter but were outscored the rest of the game.

This was in part because Coach Walz turned the 4th quarter over to the subs. The quarter started at 56-39, and as the lead dwindled it seemed very intentional that he left them out there to flourish or flounder by their own devices. After the game he said that it wasn’t scoring that needed to be improved but that they needed to be more “aggressive, physical, and [speak with] a commanding voice.”

Someone who everyone could look to in being more physical is Sam Fuehring. She only had 12 points, but I swear on every one of those shots she was being pushed, slapped, or having her jersey grabbed and she muscled through it all and never complained. In the first half Coach Walz slowed down the action to verbally diagram a play which was supported to end with Sam getting a layup. Everyone in the arena could hear him so presumably the Virginia Tech players knew what was coming too but still the play ran to perfection and Sam got her 2 points. After the game play-by-play announcer Nick Curran mentioned that sequence and pointed out, “you’re coaching AND doing color commentary!” Coach Walz responded, “I’m trying to help you guys.”

Thursday the Cards host #2 Notre Dame at 7pm. It’s a Red Out so don’t be that person who shows up in white. It is also Thirsty Thursday and Student Appreciation Night. The game can be seen on ESPN.