I watched the Louisville vs Ole Miss game last night on the ACC Network. Louisville won by 6 points and beat Ole Miss as they did in the NCAA tournament. There were so many fouls! It wasn't a great game and neither team looked that good. Ole Miss was #19 and Louisville was #21. The game was part of the ACC/SEC challenge.

In the press, Jayda Curry said she transferred from Cal so she could go to the NCAA tournament. She is a starter, but plays in the low 20 minutes per game, and averages 8 to 9 points a game. She makes her foul shots as does the entire team. Jayda made 8 points last night. I know she made at least one 3-pointer. It appears she is used more on defense then shooting the ball.

My point is: Jayda was treated very well at Cal in many ways. She was the star of the team during her freshman and sophomore years. She was on the floor close to the entire game. She had the red light to shoot, and did score at least 20 points in many games. I don't have her stats. At the time she transferred, Haley Van Lith was the high scorer for Louisville. It was hoped Jayda would score many points after Haley transferred to LSU. It is difficult for me to believe she is treated better by Jeff Walz than Charmin Smith. I have seen him scream at Cal transfer Kianna Smith in her face on a televised game her last year at Louisville, and they were winning!!! What is the lure of Louisville, when there are so many terrific women's teams. I have a little chip on my shoulder about her transfer. Cal has had a very difficult four seasons under Charmin Smith. However, it isn't all her fault. I agree recruiting has to improve, especially moving to the ACC next season. I don't know Charmin is up to the task of competing in the ACC.

This team is better and stronger then last year with the new players. especially with Loanna Krimili's 3 point shooting. Her injury is a bummer for sure. I hope the best for her!

I can't imagine being a coach with so many players transferring and the lure of NIL Deals. I guess the grass will always look greener in this age of collegiate sports! GO BEARS.....I always enjoy the St. Mary's game...

I wouldn't want to play for Walz. But in sixteen years at Louisville, he has had fifteen winning seasons and fourteen NCAA appearances. In his last ten years, not including the Covid season, he has made two Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights and two Final Fours. That plus NIL makes Louisville an attractive place for any player who is tired of losing.

annarborbear said:

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I wouldn't want to play for Walz. But in sixteen years at Louisville, he has had fifteen winning seasons and fourteen NCAA appearances. In his last ten years, not including the Covid season, he has made two Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights and two Final Fours. That plus NIL makes Louisville an attractive place for any player who is tired of losing.

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I get your point. However, will Jayda be happy with not shooting and scoring with her playing time half of what she was used to at Cal. Who wants to play for an abusive coach just to go to the tournament..... Cal is a better team then last year, I don't feel Jayda's leaving has hurt the program. Walz has shown through the years, he has his pet players. UCLA and USC are recruiting top players, and going to The Big Ten will only enhance their statue. It's been a ten year slide for Cal as the other Pac-12 teams have improved significantly.

I am just kind of venting today!!! Thank-you for your comment......

Yeah, I checked her stats recently and noticed her diminished minutes and lower ppg average as well. I can appreciate wanting to go to tourney (doesn't every player) but it's always tough to go from being the big fish in a small pond to a crowded pond where there are some bigger fish. That said, if she was unhappy then it's better that she find a place where she wants to be. I'll cheer on our current great group of Bears.

The downside of playing for Walz is that he has no sentimentality at all. If he can recruit over you with a better player, he will do so. So you go to Louisville knowing that you are taking your chances.

better that Smith and Curry transferred there than to UCLA or USC, although I guess next year I'd be saying differently

What evidence is there that Walz is abusive? He's not sentimental, that's for sure, but he does his job.

For example, when he was recruiting Mariya Moore, he called me up several times to ask about her. No Cal coach has ever called me about any player, despite the fact I've done national rankings for 25 years, voted on the MCDAA panel and have a lot of knowledge about NorCal players.

That said, the value of my input is marginal at best, but Walz took the time to find out if I knew something that could help him, even if the odds were low.

And Charmin and staff aren't the only ones. I went to UCSB and have reached out to every coach there and said if you need any input on NorCal players, feel free to Cal. Not a word in 25 years.

But Jeff Walz called me from Louisville. And you wonder why he's successful.