LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Jeff Walz has not hid it often: He very much enjoys coaching a retooled Louisville team that is thriving thanks to key transfer additions.
The 13th-ranked Cardinals showed why he is embracing a talented group in an 81-64 rout of Clemson. Four different UofL players scored in double figures, and the Cards forced 14 Tiger turnovers, scoring 22 points off of them, as Louisville moved to 5-0 in ACC play.
"It's fun to coach this group," Walz said. "It's one of the most enjoyable groups that I've had here in my 17 years. There's a lot of basketball left for what the end is going to look like. But I'll tell you one thing I know: They're not going to change who they are as people. And that's what excites me the most."
Jayda Curry led Louisville in scoring with 19 points, which ties a season high for the California transfer. She got going in the 2nd quarter, scoring 10 straight Cardinal points at one point as UofL began to pull away. This was the third double-digit scoring effort in the last five games for Curry.
Louisville sophomore Jayda Curry goes up for two of her six points in a win over Washington.
"I told her after the first quarter, if you're not going to look to shoot, then I'm going to put you on the bench," Walz said. "And she did. So, I was really proud of her. She was aggressive, she attacked. And then she also passed the ball, she had four assists as well. That's exactly what we have to have from her because she does have the ability to knock down open shots."
The Cardinals tallied 20 assists, which ties the third-most they have had in a game all season. Jefferson had eight of those 20 to round out another well-balanced effort for the James Madison transfer.
"She's fantastic," Walz said of Jefferson. "She is a joy to coach. She's really impressive on the floor. She's not blowing by you, but she's very smart at angles and takes advantage if you overplay her. She's an old school basketball player."
Sharing the ball has not been an issue for a group that has multiple players capable of scoring in double figures. The win over Clemson marked the third consecutive game with at least 17 assists for UofL and the fourth time this season Louisville has racked up at least 20 assists.
"Because they're good kids," Walz said in praising his team's passing. "They get excited for each other. It's not a, 'I have to score. I haven't scored.'
"I don't know if we've had anybody get 20 shots in one single game this entire year, which is remarkable because you have to guard everybody."
Olivia Cochran hugs Jayda Curry after a half-court shot banked in to end the third quarter of Louisville's 83-62 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 14, 2023 in the KFC Yum! Center.
Walz's team didn't waste much time jumping out to a sizable lead. Louisville outscored Clemson 26-13 in the 1st quarter, as Jefferson and Taylor started hot to combine for 17 of those 26 points. Curry caught fire to follow, beating the halftime buzzer with a layup off of a Merissah Russell steal to put Louisville ahead 47-32.
The third quarter saw Louisville essentially seal the win. Clemson scored just 9 points in the frame, marking the 13th time this season an UofL opponent has put up a single-digit scoring quarter.Â
Louisville gets a stiff ACC test on Sunday, traveling to take on No. 23 North Carolina at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.
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