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ACC notebook: Louisville team concept helps Durr, Evans earn ACC accolades

By Steve Bittenbender

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Asia Durr #25 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a missed shot to win the semifinal game of the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Mississippi St. defeated Louisville 73-63 to advance to the national championship. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Asia Durr #25 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a missed shot to win the semifinal game of the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Mississippi St. defeated Louisville 73-63 to advance to the national championship. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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GREENSBORO, NC – MARCH 02: Louisville Cardinals forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) celebrate with Louisville Cardinals guard Asia Durr (25) after getting fouled on a made basket during the ACC women’s tournament game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Louisville Cardinals on March 2, 2018, at Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NC – MARCH 02: Louisville Cardinals forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) celebrate with Louisville Cardinals guard Asia Durr (25) after getting fouled on a made basket during the ACC women’s tournament game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Louisville Cardinals on March 2, 2018, at Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Cards looking to repeat as tourney champions

Louisville opens up play in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., on Friday evening as the No. 2 seed. The Cardinals, who won their first ACC Tournament last season, will face the winner of Thursday night’s second-round contest between seventh-seeded Clemson and No. 10 Virginia Tech.

The ACC, which ranks as the top league based on conference RPI, features four of the top 10 teams in Division I and six of the top 25. Bracketologists expect at least eight of the 15 teams to have their names called on Selection Monday.

That depth allowed for a competitive season at the top of the conference. For example, fourth-seeded Miami holds wins over Louisville and top-seeded Notre Dame. Each team lost at least twice, and Syracuse, which is No. 10 in the country in RPI, missed out on a top-four seed and a double bye.

Getting a double bye is extremely helpful because when you head into a conference tournament, each team is going to know the others’ tendencies.

"“You got to be able to come in and show somebody something you haven’t run before,” said Walz, who added the top four teams will get a chance to see what the others squads have added before their teams even take the court."

While the Cardinals are focused on getting back to the Final Four for the second consecutive season, that doesn’t mean they’re looking past this weekend in North Carolina.

“I think this weekend will just determine how well we can handle adversity,” Evans said. “When we go on runs, can we keep that run going, expand it and put a team away? Or, are we going to let the other team get on a run and breakdown?”

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