Louisville women's basketball was put on the map by HC Jeff Walz. This is his 18th season at the helm. UL was upset in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament last season, but the Cardinals earn a spot annually. This season has been tough sledding because he is rebuilding his team with a freshmen class of nine. The team also has a sophomore post from Turkey, a junior, two senior transfers plus two 5th year grad students (Covid-19). Their 29-game regular season schedule has 12 ranked teams on it. Walz generally rotates 8-9 players which has to include 3-4 youngsters (frosh) in 2024-25.
2024-25 Women's Basketball Roster - University of Louisville Athletic
Fortunately, one of the freshmen, Tajianna Roberts, has turned out to be Louisville's leading scorer and best player. She was ranked #24 by ESPN HoopGurlz. Her five finalists were UL, Duke, VT, Cal & Kentucky. Roberts is #22 and is a 5-10 SG from San Diego. She plays unafraid and hit four three-pointers vs Notre Dame to bring her team back to w/in one at halftime. However, she cooled off thereafter and did not hit another. This sensational frosh leads the Cardinals in both scoring (13.2) and treys (37). On defense, she's quick and is tops in steals w/ 41.
I'm going to predict that Cal will squeak by Louisville, 74-70, in front of 9000 fans.
2024-25 WBB Season Stats - University of Louisville Athletic
The starting point guard is a senior transfer from Miami, Ja'Leah Williams. She stands 5-9 and averages 6.3 ppg. Williams can distribute the ball, averaging approximately 4 assists per game. She is very fast and is second on her team in steals with 36.
Jayda Curry, transfer from Cal, is a combo guard in Louisville's offensive system. She is a 5-6 senior who seems to play faster under Walz. Jayda now looks to pass off first and shoot second. She is second is assists with 3.11 per game. Although Curry is second in offensive production (11.9 points), she scores most of her points from the free throw line. She has registered 50 FTs (92.6%). Curry is second in three-pointers with 34 in 18 games. She is tied for 4th in steals with 22.
Louisville plays two post players in their offense. Olivia Cochran (#44) is a 6-3 "big" who is a 5th year grad student. She was a 2020 McDonald's All-American and was rated the #18 player by ESPN's HG. Cochran leads in rebounds with 6.4 and adds 10.3 points to the offense, too. She is 3rd in steals (23) but does turn the ball over the most on the team (50). The other PF is 6-2 junior, Nyla Harris. She contributes 10.0 points plus 5.7 boards per game. She was rated #34 in the nation by HoopGurlz coming out of high school.
The backup SG is a 6-0 5th year grad student, Merissa Russell. She adds 5.1 ppg and is tied for 4th in steals (22). Russell is tied for fourth in treys w/ 15.
The other freshmen that see meaningful minutes are two from Sierra Canyon HS near San Diego. Mackenly Randolph, a husky 6-0 forward, received 24 minutes vs ND because Louisville needed to rebound better. Her stats are not much but she's improving rapidly. Randolph was selected as a MCD AA and was rated #23 by HG. Her teammate from high school, Izela Arenas, is an extremely fast guard but plays out-of-control often. Both of their fathers were NBA stars. Finally, their three-point bomber, Imari Berry, averages 5.5 points in only 12 minutes per game. She is third in treys with 24 (39.3%). Berry was also chosen as a McDonald's AA.
If you read my comments for each game, this will sound familiar. If Louisville upsets Cal, it likely will be due to the number of TOs they force. The Cardinals pressure their opponents into 20.1 turnovers per contest. They seem to step it up for the good teams, too. They forced 22 in a near upset of UCLA to open the season and triggered 23 against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have the best backcourt in the country, yet they had major trouble.
Louisville makes 6.3 threes per game, so Cal has a chance to outperform the home team in this area. The Cardinals also can be outrebounded with an average of 35.8 per game. The Bears need to control the boards like Notre Dame did to win this basketball game.
One last key point, two seasons ago when Jayda Curry was Cal's high scorer, she was completely shut down by USC's defensive specialist, Kayla Williams. The Bears current PG is 5-7 and quick. She proved that she could stay with 5-6 Curry and stop her from getting shots off. I believe that Jayda only made one field goal down in LA and Cal was held to 44 points. Remember, just try not to foul the former Bear star. Curry had to transfer to a national powerhouse rather than stay with Cal. C'mon-let's make her "eat her words"! GO BEARS!
2024-25 Women's Basketball Roster - University of Louisville Athletic
Fortunately, one of the freshmen, Tajianna Roberts, has turned out to be Louisville's leading scorer and best player. She was ranked #24 by ESPN HoopGurlz. Her five finalists were UL, Duke, VT, Cal & Kentucky. Roberts is #22 and is a 5-10 SG from San Diego. She plays unafraid and hit four three-pointers vs Notre Dame to bring her team back to w/in one at halftime. However, she cooled off thereafter and did not hit another. This sensational frosh leads the Cardinals in both scoring (13.2) and treys (37). On defense, she's quick and is tops in steals w/ 41.
I'm going to predict that Cal will squeak by Louisville, 74-70, in front of 9000 fans.
2024-25 WBB Season Stats - University of Louisville Athletic
The starting point guard is a senior transfer from Miami, Ja'Leah Williams. She stands 5-9 and averages 6.3 ppg. Williams can distribute the ball, averaging approximately 4 assists per game. She is very fast and is second on her team in steals with 36.
Jayda Curry, transfer from Cal, is a combo guard in Louisville's offensive system. She is a 5-6 senior who seems to play faster under Walz. Jayda now looks to pass off first and shoot second. She is second is assists with 3.11 per game. Although Curry is second in offensive production (11.9 points), she scores most of her points from the free throw line. She has registered 50 FTs (92.6%). Curry is second in three-pointers with 34 in 18 games. She is tied for 4th in steals with 22.
Louisville plays two post players in their offense. Olivia Cochran (#44) is a 6-3 "big" who is a 5th year grad student. She was a 2020 McDonald's All-American and was rated the #18 player by ESPN's HG. Cochran leads in rebounds with 6.4 and adds 10.3 points to the offense, too. She is 3rd in steals (23) but does turn the ball over the most on the team (50). The other PF is 6-2 junior, Nyla Harris. She contributes 10.0 points plus 5.7 boards per game. She was rated #34 in the nation by HoopGurlz coming out of high school.
The backup SG is a 6-0 5th year grad student, Merissa Russell. She adds 5.1 ppg and is tied for 4th in steals (22). Russell is tied for fourth in treys w/ 15.
The other freshmen that see meaningful minutes are two from Sierra Canyon HS near San Diego. Mackenly Randolph, a husky 6-0 forward, received 24 minutes vs ND because Louisville needed to rebound better. Her stats are not much but she's improving rapidly. Randolph was selected as a MCD AA and was rated #23 by HG. Her teammate from high school, Izela Arenas, is an extremely fast guard but plays out-of-control often. Both of their fathers were NBA stars. Finally, their three-point bomber, Imari Berry, averages 5.5 points in only 12 minutes per game. She is third in treys with 24 (39.3%). Berry was also chosen as a McDonald's AA.
If you read my comments for each game, this will sound familiar. If Louisville upsets Cal, it likely will be due to the number of TOs they force. The Cardinals pressure their opponents into 20.1 turnovers per contest. They seem to step it up for the good teams, too. They forced 22 in a near upset of UCLA to open the season and triggered 23 against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have the best backcourt in the country, yet they had major trouble.
Louisville makes 6.3 threes per game, so Cal has a chance to outperform the home team in this area. The Cardinals also can be outrebounded with an average of 35.8 per game. The Bears need to control the boards like Notre Dame did to win this basketball game.
One last key point, two seasons ago when Jayda Curry was Cal's high scorer, she was completely shut down by USC's defensive specialist, Kayla Williams. The Bears current PG is 5-7 and quick. She proved that she could stay with 5-6 Curry and stop her from getting shots off. I believe that Jayda only made one field goal down in LA and Cal was held to 44 points. Remember, just try not to foul the former Bear star. Curry had to transfer to a national powerhouse rather than stay with Cal. C'mon-let's make her "eat her words"! GO BEARS!
