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ACC team-by-team previews: Notre Dame, Duke battle for the top

By Arielle Chambers

TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Louisville

Projected finish: 2nd  

Last year’s record: 29-8, 12-4 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

F-Myisha Hines-Allen, 6’2, (Montclair, NJ), SR-  13.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 26.2 MPG; shooting .493 (214-434) from the floor.

G- Asia Durr, 5’10, (Douglasville, GA), JR- 19.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG,  30.7 MPG; WBCA All-American Honorable Mention.

G-Arica Carter, 5’8, (Los Angeles, CA), R-JR-  returning from redshirt due to groin; (’15-’16 season) 4.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 41.0 percent 3-point shooting (16-of-39).

F- Sam Fuehring, 6’3, (Wanaque, NJ), JR- 3.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 11.3 MPG.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

F- Mariya Moore, 6’0, (Hercules, CA)- transferred to USC; 12.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 31.9 MPG

F-Cortnee Walton, 6’3, (Surprise, AZ)- 2.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 21.1 MPG

LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 02: Louisville Cardinals guard Asia Durr (25)
LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 02: Louisville Cardinals guard Asia Durr (25) /

Newcomers

G- Dana Evans, 5’6, (Gary, IN), FR- five-star espnW HoopGurlz ninth ranked recruit, ranked third by ProspectsNation and seventh by All-Star Girls Report.

G- Lindsey Duvall, 5’9, (Mount Washington, KY), FR- five-star espnW HoopGurlz 24th ranked recruit 24.

C-Loretta Kakala, 6’2, (Manteca, CA), FR- five-star espnW HoopGurlz 25th ranked recruit.

Head Coach

Jeff Walz, 11th season

“We’re  looking now at a season where we’re going to have a deeper backcourt,” Walz said at Media Day. “We’re excited about that and a lot of our players have worked really hard on the off season so they’ve gotten better as individuals which should lead to us being a better team.”

LOUISVILLE, KY – DECEMBER 1: Head coach Jeff Walz of the Louisville Cardinals
LOUISVILLE, KY – DECEMBER 1: Head coach Jeff Walz of the Louisville Cardinals /

Key non-conference games

Nov. 12-@ Ohio Sate

Dec. 17- @ Kentucky

Feb. 12- @ Connecticut

Outlook

Louisville brings in the fourth-ranked recruiting class and Coach Walz has plans for them to quickly assimilate to the Louisville program.

Walz spoke about incoming freshman Dana Evans, mentioning that she has “quickness and strength like none other,” “changes the tempo of game,” and “causes defensive problems,” with a notable “ability to score.”

Junior Asia Durr, meanwhile, is on the national radar.  A standout sophomore year, averaging just over 19 PPG and 30 MPG, she sets the bar for her teammates.  Junior Arica Carter will also return with a newfound three-point shot.  Junior Sam Fuehring has worked in the offseason and Walz expects more from her as a result.

Best case scenario:

New, raw talent, and up-tempo play creates matchup problems for opponents. Louisville has multiple shooting options and stretches defenses with their range. They finish at the top of the ACC and end Notre Dame’s reign.

Worst case scenario:

Louisville struggles with tempo fluctuations and use the year to build an identity. They aren’t quite prepared to beat a Notre Dame.

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