Friday, December 4
Uncasville, Conn.
5:30 p.m. CT
DePaul University
vs
Louisville
It's an Old-Fashioned Shootout Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena on ESPN
12/3/2020 1:46:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 20/19 DePaul and No. 5/5 Louisville collide at 5:30 p.m. in Women's Jimmy V Classic
CHICAGO – An opportunity was presented to Doug Bruno within the last week or so to DREAM BIG, and the audacious women's basketball coach jumped in with both feet.
As a result, No. 20/19 DePaul (1-1) will go head-to-head with one of the nation's finest in No. 5/5 Louisville (2-0) at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. before a nationwide television audience on ESPN.
The Blue Demons will be showcased in the Women's Jimmy V Classic honoring the memory of former North Carolina State men's basketball coach Jim Valvano, known the world over as Jimmy V.
His dynamic presence is forever emblazoned in the hearts and minds of basketball fans after watching Valvano's mad dash all over the court looking for someone to hug after Lorenzo Charles' last-second basket toppled heavily favored Houston (Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler) in the 1983 NCAA title game.
Juxtapose that with the quieter, more solemn memory of Valvano's inspirational, tear-jerking speech at the 1993 ESPY awards when terminally ill with cancer, the pride of Wolfpack Nation told his audience to laugh, think and cry every day and never, ever give up.
Less than two months later, Valvano passed away from metastatic cancer at the age of 47. His legacy has lived on with the V Foundation that supports cancer patients and survivors while helping to fund research for a cure.
Bruno knew Valvano personally and became especially close to the coach's brother Nick while working together on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow is the iconic former NC State women's basketball coach who shared her courageous battle against breast cancer with all the world before passing away in 2009.
For so many reasons, Bruno is hoping "DePaulball" is functioning at peak efficiency against a national powerhouse with a dangerously potent arsenal.
The action will be fast and furious featuring guard-oriented firepower from both sides. The Blue Demons are averaging 109.5 points a game behind their four-guard attack of Sonya Morris (21.5 points a game), Dee Bekelja (19.5), Lexi Held (19) and Deja Church (17).
That quintessential quartet has combined to score 77 of those 109.5 points per game. Add freshman guard Kendall Holmes' fast start (11.5 points per game) and that number rises to 88.5.
Another backcourt performer making early contributions is freshman Darrione Rogers averaging 7.5 points and a team-leading 4.5 rebounds.
The Cardinals counterattack is headed by 5-foot, 6-inch senior point guard Dana Evans (17.5 points, team-high 6.5 assists per game) and the next Louisville standard bearer, 5-7 freshman Hailey Van Lith whom national scouts ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect behind only Connecticut's transcendent freshman Paige Bueckers.
You're wondering if Van Lith has lived up to the advance notice? After her first two games, the lefty all-around threat is averaging 16.5 points and a team-high 9.5 rebounds. That last stat is not a typo. Despite her 5-7 stature, Van Lith led Louisville with 11 rebounds and tied Evans for game-high honors (20 points) in last Sunday's 101-58 victory over Eastern Kentucky.
Rounding out the Cards' backcourt is 5-9 junior Ahlana Smith while Van Lith's classmate, 6-3 Olivia Cochran (16 points, 6.5 rebounds a game), provides offensive balance down low along with 6-1 Elizabeth Balogun (eight points, six rebounds).
Standing by should the frontline sustain foul trouble is 6-5 Elizabeth Dixon. Louisville is averaging 87.5 points a game with a commanding 54-32.5 cushion in rebounds per game and has blocked 17 shots in two games.
There may be times on Friday night when it seems like the telecast has shifted into in fast-forward.
Look for shots galore as DePaul has launched 158 times in two games while Louisville has jacked up 147 attempts. The Blue Demons have been on-target 83 times and Louisville 64.
The two teams combined have let it fly 116 times from behind the arc. The ladies from Lincoln Park are converting at 44.4 percent clip from long distance---the Cardinals at a more modest 30.2 percent pace.
New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets play-by-play voice (YES Network) Ryan Ruocco will call the game on Friday flanked by former UConn and WNBA great Rebecca Lobo.
During her research, Lobo reached out to friend and fellow TV analyst LaChina Robinson who has broadcast a number of DePaul games. Robinson gave Lobo the lowdown and said how much fun she has working Blue Demon games. If winning games is Bruno's No. 1 priority, entertaining and growing the game is 1A.
If Morris, Bekelja, Held, Church and their teammates bring their "A" game to Mohegan Sun on Friday, a national TV audience is in for quite a treat.
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As a result, No. 20/19 DePaul (1-1) will go head-to-head with one of the nation's finest in No. 5/5 Louisville (2-0) at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. before a nationwide television audience on ESPN.
The Blue Demons will be showcased in the Women's Jimmy V Classic honoring the memory of former North Carolina State men's basketball coach Jim Valvano, known the world over as Jimmy V.
His dynamic presence is forever emblazoned in the hearts and minds of basketball fans after watching Valvano's mad dash all over the court looking for someone to hug after Lorenzo Charles' last-second basket toppled heavily favored Houston (Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler) in the 1983 NCAA title game.
Juxtapose that with the quieter, more solemn memory of Valvano's inspirational, tear-jerking speech at the 1993 ESPY awards when terminally ill with cancer, the pride of Wolfpack Nation told his audience to laugh, think and cry every day and never, ever give up.
Less than two months later, Valvano passed away from metastatic cancer at the age of 47. His legacy has lived on with the V Foundation that supports cancer patients and survivors while helping to fund research for a cure.
Bruno knew Valvano personally and became especially close to the coach's brother Nick while working together on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow is the iconic former NC State women's basketball coach who shared her courageous battle against breast cancer with all the world before passing away in 2009.
For so many reasons, Bruno is hoping "DePaulball" is functioning at peak efficiency against a national powerhouse with a dangerously potent arsenal.
The action will be fast and furious featuring guard-oriented firepower from both sides. The Blue Demons are averaging 109.5 points a game behind their four-guard attack of Sonya Morris (21.5 points a game), Dee Bekelja (19.5), Lexi Held (19) and Deja Church (17).
That quintessential quartet has combined to score 77 of those 109.5 points per game. Add freshman guard Kendall Holmes' fast start (11.5 points per game) and that number rises to 88.5.
Another backcourt performer making early contributions is freshman Darrione Rogers averaging 7.5 points and a team-leading 4.5 rebounds.
The Cardinals counterattack is headed by 5-foot, 6-inch senior point guard Dana Evans (17.5 points, team-high 6.5 assists per game) and the next Louisville standard bearer, 5-7 freshman Hailey Van Lith whom national scouts ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect behind only Connecticut's transcendent freshman Paige Bueckers.
You're wondering if Van Lith has lived up to the advance notice? After her first two games, the lefty all-around threat is averaging 16.5 points and a team-high 9.5 rebounds. That last stat is not a typo. Despite her 5-7 stature, Van Lith led Louisville with 11 rebounds and tied Evans for game-high honors (20 points) in last Sunday's 101-58 victory over Eastern Kentucky.
Rounding out the Cards' backcourt is 5-9 junior Ahlana Smith while Van Lith's classmate, 6-3 Olivia Cochran (16 points, 6.5 rebounds a game), provides offensive balance down low along with 6-1 Elizabeth Balogun (eight points, six rebounds).
Standing by should the frontline sustain foul trouble is 6-5 Elizabeth Dixon. Louisville is averaging 87.5 points a game with a commanding 54-32.5 cushion in rebounds per game and has blocked 17 shots in two games.
There may be times on Friday night when it seems like the telecast has shifted into in fast-forward.
Look for shots galore as DePaul has launched 158 times in two games while Louisville has jacked up 147 attempts. The Blue Demons have been on-target 83 times and Louisville 64.
The two teams combined have let it fly 116 times from behind the arc. The ladies from Lincoln Park are converting at 44.4 percent clip from long distance---the Cardinals at a more modest 30.2 percent pace.
New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets play-by-play voice (YES Network) Ryan Ruocco will call the game on Friday flanked by former UConn and WNBA great Rebecca Lobo.
During her research, Lobo reached out to friend and fellow TV analyst LaChina Robinson who has broadcast a number of DePaul games. Robinson gave Lobo the lowdown and said how much fun she has working Blue Demon games. If winning games is Bruno's No. 1 priority, entertaining and growing the game is 1A.
If Morris, Bekelja, Held, Church and their teammates bring their "A" game to Mohegan Sun on Friday, a national TV audience is in for quite a treat.
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Players Mentioned
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