Central Michigan an "early test" for Louisville
Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz calls the Cardinals’ third game of the season an early test. The Cardinals (2-0) host Central Michigan at the KFC Yum! Center at 6 p.m. Nov. 14. Central Michigan played Louisville close last season, losing to the Cardinals 72-68.
“Central Michigan is a really good basketball team,” Walz said. “They’re very well coached, they have a lot of returning players. Their new players have stepped into some big shoes and done a great job.”
Despite the retirement of Sue Guevara, who coached Central Michigan for the past 12 seasons, Walz doesn’t think Central Michigan’s playing style has changed much. Heather Oesterle succeeded Guevara as the program’s head coach after serving as an assistant for nine seasons.
“They can score the basketball, they’re a little undersized, but they play big,” Walz said. “Their forwards can stretch out and shoot the three.”
Kyra Bussell helps Central Michigan’s offense stretch the defense. The 6-foot-1 forward went 12 of 15 from the field and made three 3-pointers for a team-high 29 points against Green Bay.
Bussell’s perimeter shooting ability will pull Louisville’s four and five away from the low post, which can open driving lanes. Molly Davis is a 5-foot-8 point guard that finished with 15 points in Central Michigan’s season opener, can take advantage of those driving lanes.
Walz said the freshman can get to the rim at any time.
“She is able to score in many ways,” Walz said. “She runs the team well.”
Walz wants his team to score the ball in the post. Louisville’s starting front court of Bionca Dunham, 6-foot-2, and Elizabeth Dixon, 6-foot-5, are both bigger than any player on Central Michigan’s roster.
Kylee Shook, a 6-foot-4 forward, posted her seventh career double-double against Murray State last week.
“We are going to have to use our advantage and make sure we are converting, scoring, everything we can in the post,” Walz said.
