LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The University of Louisville women’s basketball team will not play an opponent ranked in the current Associated Press Top 25 in its next dozen games.
The streak will end on Feb. 2 when the Cardinals visit No. 10 Notre Dame.
And nobody should utter a discouraging word.
The Cards played their fourth ranked opponent in nine games Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn N.Y. And the result was more daunting than when they lost to No. 1 UCLA (by 5); No. 14 Kentucky (by 10 in overtime) or No. 11 Oklahoma (by 6).
UCLA might be the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 but No. 2 Connecticut played like the best team in the nation. It was 40 minutes of relentless domination as UConn punished Louisville, 85-52, during the second game of the inaugural women’s Champions Classic.
"It was an absolute embarrassment and I'll take complete responsibility for it," Walz said. "We're supposed to come up here (to this event) next year but I'm not sure they'll want us to. I'll find out. I think I signed a contract."
The Huskies scored the game’s first five points and never relaxed, racing for fast break baskets, forcing turnovers and overwhelming U of L on the glass.
UConn led by 18 points after the first quarter, by 25 at halftime, by 39 after three quarters and that’s enough of that.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma had most of his starters out with more than two minutes left in the third quarter. Three UConn players, led by freshman forward Sara Strong (21 points) scored in double figures.
Imari Berry had 10 to lead Louisville. The Cards missed 46 of 62 shots, including 21 of 27 three-pointers. They were also out-rebounded, 52-28.
"It was a first class event and unfortunately we looked like s*&$," Walz said. "We'll have plenty of opportunity to watch the film and players are going to have to change ...
"I told them (after the game) you're going to have to show me in practice that you really want to play. I can't keep playing this many players hoping that somebody is going to step up."
The Cards slipped to 5-4. All four defeats have come against opponents ranked No. 20 or higher. Their schedule ranks as the 12th most difficult in the nation according to the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) formula. Their opponents have a collective record of 46-18.
If I was Walz, I’d request evidence that 11 teams have faced a more demanding collection of teams. But Walz refused to dabble in excuses.
"We've played a difficult schedule, there's no question about it," Walz said. "But when you lose them all it doesn't matter."
Louisville will play its next two games at the KFC Yum! Center — Thursday at 7 p.m. against Grambling State and Sunday at 1 p.m. against North Carolina State.
Neither team is ranked in the top 25 but NC State is No. 26 and could be by the time they get to town.
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