Louisville WBB vs. Pitt preview

[Sonja]

#3 Louisville WBB returns to action tonight with a trip to Pittsburgh to face the 5-9, 3-8 Panthers at 8 p.m. tonight in the Peterson Event Center on the Pittsburgh campusl

Tonight's game will be shown on the ACC Network, with Jenn Hildreth and Deb Antonelli on the call.

Pitt comes into the contest on a one-game winning streak . The Panthers travelled to Boston College for that win Tuesday night -- overcoming a 15-point first half deficit to down the Eagles 83-80. Pitt was led by Jayla Everett's 22 points and seven assists. The 15-point comeback for the Panthers marked their biggest in program history in an ACC victory and their biggest comeback win of the season. Pitt has scored 80+ points in two ACC wins this season, marking the first time in program history they have netted at least 80 points in two ACC games.

Beside the win over Boston College, Pitt has conference wins over Clemson twice. The Panthers are ranked 12th out of the 13 squads still playing in the ACC.

Everett leads the Panthers in scoring this season. The 5'10" guard averages 15.4 points per game and has started all 14 Panthers contests. She's also the main three-point threat, with a 41-112 (36%) success rate. Second in scoring is 5'7" guard Dayshanette Harris at 13/1 points per game. The Panthers average 69.1 points per contest while allowing 72.6 points a night. Pitt is 4-5 at home this season.

6'4" post Rita Igbokwe leads Pitt in rebounding with 6.6 grabs a game. Amber Brown is second with 6.5.

• With this latest win, Pitt improves to 19-30 all-time and 11-13 in games in Boston against the Eagles.
• The Panthers now have three ACC wins, the most in a season since the 2016-17 campaign.
• Pitt has scored 80+ points in two ACC games this season for the first time in program history. Pitt improves to 6-0 when they score at least 80 points in an ACC game.
• The Panthers grabbed 45 rebounds in the win, their 11th time grabbing at least 40 boards in a game this season.
• Pitt had 19 offensive rebounds, their fourth game this season with at least 19

For Louisville, one of the keys to victory could be how well the Cards play after the brief COVID break. It'll be interesting to see how Coach Walz attacks the worst defense (in points allowed) in the ACC. The Panthers can rebound -- they are 2nd in ACC offensive rebounds with 16.3 a contest, that drops to 10th in defensive rebounding with 26.1 a game. The Cards are seventh in the ACC in offensive rebounding (12.3 a contest) and fifth in defensive rebounding (28.0).

Dana Evans is the ACC's leading scorer with 20.8 points a contest, She's third in the league in three-pointers made with 50 and has a 38% success rate from beyond the arc. Evans also leads the ACC in free throw percentage -- hitting 64 of her 68 attempts for 94%. Who will show up with big games tonight besdes the potential for Dana to explode on the Pitt defense? Kianna Smith had a great effort against Georgia Tech last time out, and the post play of Liz Dixon and Olivia Cochran has created numerous problems for ACC foes this season. Cochran is 12th in the ACC in rebounds a game with 6.8 a contest.

I'll also look to see how deep Walz goes into the roster tonight against the Panthers. One would normally expect a pretty decisive win against one of the ACC's lower echelon squads tonight and plenty of playing time for the Cards reserves, but how will the COVID delay affect the Cards performance and how long will Walz need to keep "the magnificent seven" of Evans, Van Lith, K. Smith, Dixon, Cochran, Balogun and Robinson on the court?

Here's hoping the Cards are dealing "aces" with their shooting tonight and "the bakery" is closed in Pittsburgh.

--sonja--

 

[cards_rock]

Hey Sonja do you know if any players will be out tonight?

 

[Sonja]

Hey Sonja do you know if any players will be out tonight?

No word yet on any absentees for WBB

 

[KozmasAgain]

1st quarter over Cards up by 8 it is a very chaotic game neither team is in rhythm.

 

[Bardman]

PU
Poor defense
Poor rebounding
Ball movement is only ok
I think the layoff did not do them any favors.

 

[KozmasAgain]

The lay-off really hurt, coach is really trying a lot of different players. I think he is looking for some energy and production. Still too many weak passes the team has to learn they are playing against good competition every time out. You can’t look at somebodies record and think it will be an easy game. All these ACC teams have talent the better teams just have more talent.

 

[KozmasAgain]

How come no Cochran tonight?

 

[Bardman]

I think Liz was just playing too well and she needed to be on the floor. Ladies have settled down. Still not overly sharp but their talent is just that much better. Kasa having her best game of the year.

 

[KozmasAgain]

We looked a whole lot better the 2nd half it is hard to complain when you win by 24. Hailey did some scoring along with rebounding. K Smith didn’t have the long range shot falling but her midrange shot looked good. M. Robinson is so tuff out there that play in the 4th period when she got the rebound but got knocked down on the floor but kept her dribble got up led the fast break and threw a pinpoint pass to Van Lith for the layup “ AWESOME “.

 

[cards_rock]

If there is anyone who plays harder than Robinson, I would like to see that! She is an Energizer Bunny!

 

[WahooCard]

Kasa - 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 6 points. Tremendous night for the young lady from Ashland.

 

[KozmasAgain]

We still have a problem that frustrates CJW and that is the guards are getting most of the rebounds. M. Robinson was the leading rebounder and HVL was the 2nd leading rebounder. What are the bigs doing on the boards, they are going to have to step up in the bigger games.

 

[Bardman]

There has been a serious failure in the ‘blocking out’ technique. We used to see really great blocking out by our bigs, which, allowed the 1-3 to pop in and gran the rebound. I have seen very little to no blocking out lately. Just everyone scrambling and trying to outjump the person next to them.

 

[nccardfan]

There has been a serious failure in the ‘blocking out’ technique. We used to see really great blocking out by our bigs, which, allowed the 1-3 to pop in and gran the rebound. I have seen very little to no blocking out lately. Just everyone scrambling and trying to outjump the person next to them.

I notice the same thing. Our bigs don’t block out, they become stationary and don’t jump to the ball. They look like they’re trying to grab something on the top shelf on their tippy toes...
On another note, I love how Kaz pushes the ball up the court unlike the men. It helps keep the other team from being able to set up on offense.

 

[KozmasAgain]

Overall in women’s basketball the women don’t jump. When they rebound or go to block a shot they stand flat footed or on their tip toes. HVL and M Robinson jump for the rebounds and that is why they are so successful. As part of my practice I would do jumping drills until they get used to the idea of doing it. Just think how dominant or talked about if you had a big that was jumping to grab rebounds and block shots.

 

[nccardfan]

Overall in women’s basketball the women don’t jump. When they rebound or go to block a shot they stand flat footed or on their tip toes. HVL and M Robinson jump for the rebounds and that is why they are so successful. As part of my practice I would do jumping drills until they get used to the idea of doing it. Just think how dominant or talked about if you had a big that was jumping to grab rebounds and block shots.

I used to line my players up and throw a ball up against the wall and they had to time their jump to grab the ball at its highest point WITH 2 hands. When they return to the floor, the ball had to stay above their head until using a two hand chest pass to the next guy.

 

[KozmasAgain]

The NBA test future potential players on all physical levels and one of those levels is jumping skills. I saw a video where Payton Verhulst one of our incoming freshmen recruits next year was doing jumping skills to improve her vertical leap. Good for her I wish more players would work on their jumping skills it would really improve their stock.