Lady Cards Get (Slightly) Stiffed

The UofL Lady Cards finished 2nd in the Big East, with their only conference losses being to undefeated UConn. They are ranked 5th, are #4 in the RPI ... and are just a few hours from Bowling Green, where Western Kentucky hosts some first-round games in the Women's NCAA Tournament. Everyone -- and I do mean EVERYONE -- figured Louisville for a #2 seed and being sent to Bowling Green.

Instead, the Lady Cards got stiffed. Only slightly, granted -- they're a #3 -- but stiffed, nonetheless.

The chair of the selection committee mumbled something about an early-season loss to Nevada. Are you kidding me? The team beats everyone in the Big East except UConn, and you're worried about an early non-conference loss? What about "body of work"? What about strength of schedule? U of L's SoS is higher than three of the #2 seeds.

Didn't matter. Advancing to the finals of the Big East tourney -- didn't matter. Beating 21 teams in the NCAA tourney -- didn't matter. All that mattered was that loss to poor little Nevada.

Well, I'm not buying it. I think either the selection committee is trying to teach Jeff Walz a lesson ("shut up, kid, or we'll give you another technical") or they couldn't get past the waxing by UConn in the Big East final.

If the rest of the team is thinking like Angel McCoughtry, though, the Ladies should be okay:

"I think we felt like a two, but who cares about the seeds," McCoughtry said. "We just have to go out there and play. None of that matters when you step on the court."

We're just going to try and get to St. Louis."

A little disrespect can go a long way in the motivation department. (See U of L men, ca. 2005) I hope the Ladies put some giant chips on their shoulders and ride them all the way to St. Louis.