Coach: Louisville women ready for challenges of being No. 1
LOUISVILLE, KY. » Louisville coach Jeff Walz and the Cardinals players are embracing the challenges that come with their lofty new status as the team to beat in women’s college basketball.
The Cardinals (12-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have been a team-to-beat for a while under Walz. They believe the cohesion that has carried them to an unbeaten start to the season through pandemic-related pauses and postponements has them prepared to be Nwo. 1.
“I really don’t expect much to change,” said the 14th-year coach, whose team began the season No. 5 and spent the past six weeks at No. 2 before moving up in Monday’s Associated Press Top 25.
“We have some very talented players, there’s no question about it. (But) we’re not just going to step on the floor and just overwhelm you and work its way back. So, I don’t think anything’s going to change. I’d be shocked if it did.”
Not surprisingly, Louisville’s catalyst is senior guard Dana Evans, a preseason AP All-American and ACC player of the year averaging 19.4 points and 4.4 assists per game. But many others have stepped up to not only fill voids left by the departures of three other starters, but provide depth on both ends of the floor.
Forwards Olivia Cochran and Hailey Van Lith, both freshmen, each average at least 12 points and are 1-2 on the team in rebounding with six-plus per game. Junior guard Kianna Smith, a perimeter threat who scored 600 points in two season at Cal, is averaging 13.3 points after sitting out last season per NCAA transfer rules.