women’s basketball – UofL News Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:06:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 UofL Basketball preseason event will be held at historic Churchill Downs /post/uofltoday/uofl-basketball-preseason-event-will-be-held-at-historic-churchill-downs/ Fri, 13 Aug 2021 15:51:47 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=54232 A special event this fall will bring together two Louisville storied sports legacies: Louisville Basketball and Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.Ěý

“Louisville Live,” the University of Louisville’s annual preseason basketball event featuring the Cardinals’ men’s and women’s teams, will be staged at legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack on Saturday, Sept. 18 during an evening of thoroughbred horse racing.
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Gates open at 5 p.m. forĚýDowns After Dark: Horses and Hoops, a partnership between UofL and Churchill Downs presented by Budweiser.Ěý The first race starts at 6 p.m. with Louisville Live launching at 7:15 p.m.Ěý A portable court will be placed outdoor on the Plaza inside Gate 1 of Churchill Downs with multiple team activities planned.
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General admission and first floor seating tickets for the evening of racing and Louisville Live start at $12 and may be purchasedĚý.Ěý The event is free for UofL students, with additional information on claiming those tickets to be provided later.
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UofL’s 1986 NCAA Championship men’s basketball team will participate in Louisville Live, signing autographs at the event before the current Cardinals take the court. ĚýThe 1986 team will also be honored on the previous night at the Cardinals’ Sept. 17 football game against UCF in Cardinal Stadium.
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UofL’s 1985-86 team posted a 32-7 record, winning its last 17 games to earn the NCAA title.Ěý The ’86 Champs were guided by then future Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum and featured four starters that currently rank among the top 11 scorers all-time at UofL:Ěý Pervis Ellison (2,143 career points), Milt Wagner (1,836), Herbert Crook (1,723) and Billy Thompson (1,685); and starting guard Jeff Hall was also a career 1,000-point scorer (1,294).Ěý Louisville defeated Duke 72-69 in the 1986 title game (3-31-86) in Dallas, Texas, as Ellison became the second freshman in NCAA history to be named the Most Outstanding Player after producing 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Blue Devils.
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The 2020-21 season marked the 35th anniversary of UofL’s 1986 NCAA Championship, the Cardinals’ second NCAA title.Ěý The pandemic did not allow for gatherings or on-court presentations during the past basketball season, so the team planned to gather for a reunion at a later date.

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Five UofL athletics teams among the nation’s leaders for Academic Progress Rate /post/uofltoday/five-uofl-athletics-teams-among-the-nations-leaders-for-academic-progress-rate/ Wed, 13 May 2020 16:08:28 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=50393 Five University of Louisville athletics teams are among the nation’s leaders within their sports in the most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) data, the NCAA released on Tuesday.



UofL’s men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf and volleyball are among the top 10% in their respective sports in the latest multiyear APR, which measures academic eligibility, retention and graduation for student-athletes.



It is the seventh occasion in the last eight years the Cardinals’ men’s basketball team has received public recognition through the NCAA Academic Performance Program. A league-high matching five Cardinals were named to the 2020 All-ACC Academic Team and UofL has produced an ACC-best 36 selections over its six years in the league.ĚýĚýwas named to the 2019-20 CoSIDA Academic All-America second team.

Louisville and Stanford are the only two schools from Power Five conferences that have earned the APR recognition in at least seven of the last eight years. The men’s basketball team has attained a collective 3.0 grade point average for 22 of the last 24 semesters, including a 3.160 cumulative team mark for the Spring 2020 semester under head coachĚý.Ěý



It is the third-straight year that the Cardinals’ women’s basketball team has received public recognition through the NCAA Academic Performance Program. Four team members earned their degrees this semester, includingĚýĚý(M.S. in Sport Administration),ĚýĚý(B.S. in Criminal Justice),ĚýĚý(B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Communication), andĚýĚý(B.A. in Communication with a minor in Sociology). ĚýThe team achieved a 3.688 grade point average for the 2020 Spring semester GPA, highest in the CoachĚýĚýera over the last 13 years, and its 2019-20 academic year GPA of 3.415 was the second-highest.

The Cardinals have earned a GPA above 3.0 for the last 12 straight semesters and 11 of 16 team members made the Dean’s List for the Spring semester (3.5+ GPA). ĚýandĚýĚýwere both named to the All-ACC Academic Team.



This marks the fourth consecutive year that the women’s cross country team is earning the honor. Under head coachĚý, the team earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors this fall with a team GPA of 3.30. Three members of the team, Bailey Beery, Brittney Hansen and Lauren Radenhausen, earned their undergraduate degrees this semester. Two-time All-American Dorcas Wasike was named the ACC Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year while also being named to the 2018 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.



The women’s golf program is receiving the recognition for the 10th consecutive year. The team has produced 19 semesters in a row with a GPA of 3.4 and eight with a 3.5 or higher. Coached byĚý, the Cardinals achieved a 2020 Spring GPA of 3.58. ĚýLast summer, four golfers were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars, including Olivia Cason, Lauren Hartlage, Delaney Shah and Lauren Thibodeau.



UofL’s volleyball team, which reached its first-ever NCAA Elite Eight in 2019, posted an impressive 3.845 GPA for the 2020 Spring semester, with all 15 student-athletes achieving above a 3.0. In addition, 11 of coachĚý‘s student-athletes made Red and Black Scholars List with cumulative GPAs above 3.25. Six volleyball players made the Dean’s Scholar List with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a total of seven students made Dean’s List with a 3.5 GPA or better. Ěý,Ěý,Ěý,Ěý,ĚýĚýandĚýĚýwere named to the All-ACC Academic list with McHenry being awarded the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship for Volleyball.



A total of 83 teams from Atlantic Coast Conference member schools were honored with APR Public Recognition Awards, second-most among Power 5 conferences. The ACC is one of two Power 5 conferences to have at least two teams recognized from each of its member schools. ĚýThe ACC has led all Power 5 conferences in 14 of the 15 years since the NCAA began APR public recognition of Division I teams. ĚýA total of 525 ACC teams have earned APR Public Recognition Awards over the past six years, which leads all Power 5 conferences.

Louisville’s five teams are among nearly 1,400 teams from 326 Division I universities that were recognized for academic excellence for ranking among the top 10 percent of their sports in the most recent APR.ĚýĚýMultiyear APRs for the most-recent single-year figures from 2018-19 for all Division I sports teams will be released on May 19.ĚýĚýThe process for determining an Academic Progress Rate score is included atĚý.

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Coach Satterfield, Coach Walz recognized with Coach of the Year honors /post/uofltoday/coach-satterfield-coach-walz-recognized-with-coach-of-the-year-honors/ Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:15:57 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=49104 After leading the USA Basketball team to a perfect 7-0 record and a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, UofL Women’s Basketball Coach Jeff Walz has been named a recipientĚýof the 2019 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year award.

He shares the award with Kansas State’s Bruce Weber,Ěýwho also led his team to a 7-0 record and a gold medal.

“It definitely an honor,” . “And also, it shows what type of staff we had. I was very fortunate to be able to work with Cori (Close) and Natasha (Adair) the past two years. And then the players, obviously you don’t get such an award without having an outstanding staff and a good team.”

“Jeff Walz and Bruce Weber guided our 2019 USA men’s and women’s U19 national teams back atop the gold medal podium,” saidĚýJim Tooley, USA Basketball chief executive officer. “USA Basketball is grateful for their leadership and commitment, and we are proud to recognize them for their tremendous efforts.”

As head coach at the University of Louisville, Walz led his team in 2018-19 to a 32-4 record and the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

Additionally, UofL Head Football Coach Scott SatterfieldĚýhas been selected the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Coach of the Year.
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Satterfield, who becomes the first Louisville football coach to earn ACC Coach of the Year honors, led the way in balloting among a select panel of 46 media members and the league’s 14 head coaches. HeĚýreceived 23 votes, followed by Virginia’s Bronco Mendenhall with 17 and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney with 15.

“I’m certainly thankful and honored to be recognized as the coach of the year in the ACC, especially in the conference I grew up watching as a kid,” . “I’m proud of my coaching staff who worked so hard to change the culture of this program and put our players in a position to succeed. “
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“Lastly, I’m grateful to be able to coach a great group of players who worked so hard since we arrived here last year, and bought into what we are trying to do here at the University of Louisville.Ěý I’m so excited to lead this program into the postseason in a few weeks.”

After an impressive six-year run as the head coach at Appalachian State, which included three-straight Sun Belt Conference championships, Satterfield took over a UofL program that went 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the ACC in 2018.

Satterfield guided the Cardinals to one of the more impressive turnarounds in league history, becoming only the second school in the ACC to go 0-8 in league play the previous year to improve to 5-3 the following year. The five-game improvement also was the best among Power 5 programs this season.

Satterfield is one of six coaches in NCAA history to win coach of the year honors at one school the previous year and follow it up with a second consecutive award at a different school the following year. Jim McElwain of Florida was the last coach to do it in 2014 and 2015.

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Dunking Cardinal makes its midcourt debut at KFC Yum! Center /post/uofltoday/dunking-cardinal-makes-its-midcourt-debut-at-kfc-yum-center/ Fri, 06 Sep 2019 14:46:27 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=48117 A new “Dunking Cardinal” design for Denny Crum Court in the KFC Yum! Center was recently unveiled, paying homage to both Freedom Hall and the city of Louisville.

“No other Louisville logo elicits more affinity across all generations of our fan base than our Dunking Cardinal,” said Athletics Director Vince Tyra. “After a lot of thought and consideration, we determined that showcasing that was something that would really resonate with our fan base. We are excited about both the men’s and women’s upcoming seasons and can’t wait for our fans to see their new court.”

Louisville athletics worked in conjunction with adidas Basketball on the timely new court design, which required an update once the NCAA Rules Committee ruled to move the Division I men’s 3-point arc back to match the international distance of 22 feet, 1Âľ inches.

The updated floor design seeks to honor the storied legacy of Louisville Basketball in a modern way while setting the stage for the next chapter for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Great care was taken to slightly update the Dunking Cardinal mark for clear brand recognition on broadcast television, while retaining the vintage appeal. Fans may notice that the facial feathers, eyes and beak were refined to more closely align with Louisville’s primary brand mark, the Bird Head. Additionally, this version of the Dunking Cardinal features adidas basketball shoes.

The baseline “Louisville” font pays homage to the iconic scorer’s table signage at Freedom Hall, while the tone-on-tone fleur de lis that appear in the corners of each baseline pay tribute to Louisville’s city flag.

Work will begin on the new floor in mid-August and will be completed prior to the start of the men’s and women’s 2019-20 seasons.

Denny Crum Court in the KFC Yum! Center has served as the home for both Louisville men’s and women’s basketball since the 2010-11 season.Ěý

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Cardinal athletes take on the world this summer /post/uofltoday/cardinal-athletes-take-on-the-world-this-summer/ Wed, 31 Jul 2019 19:09:59 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=47713 It may seem as though summer is a slow period for UofL Athletics. However, that perception is wrong.

In fact, many Cardinals have been firing things up even more these past few months – going beyond the ACC and the NCAA to take on the world.

Some are even sitting on top of it.

Take Mallory Comerford, for example. Even if you don’t follow the sport of swimming, you probably know she’s one of the most decorated athletes in UofL history, with four NCAA titles under her belt. Now, she’s also a world record holder.

During the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, in July, Comerford swam the third leg of the mixed 400 freestyle relay, which won a gold and set a new world record. She was also part of the women’s 400 freestyle relay, which set an American record and earned a gold medal, and the women’s 400 medley relay, which also won the gold.

For measure, Comerford’s individual effort in the women’s 100 freestyle earned her a seventh-place finish in the world. Ěý

Her former teammate, UofL alum Kelsi Worrell Dahlia, also earned a world record during the meet as a member of the women’s 400 medley relay. The day prior, Dahlia achieved an American record in the 50 butterfly with a fourth-place finish.

Newly-graduated Zach Harting also competed in the World Championships, finishing sixth in the 200 men’s butterfly. The Cardinals’ head coach Arthur Albiero was one of Team USA’s coaches during the meet, marking the fifth time he has been tapped to coach a national team.

This meet is one of the last international competitions before the 2020 Olympic season starts and our Cards are in a good spot to potentially represent Team USA next summer in Tokyo.

Women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz is also a world champ, having coached Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, last week. Team USA beat Australia in the championship game 74-70 in overtime.

Meanwhile, Dani Busboom Kelly, head coach of the Cardinals’ volleyball team, spent much of July coaching USA Volleyball’s High Performance Teams in Florida. This experience builds on her 2018 resume, in which she coached the US Collegiate National Team to a gold medal in the European Global Challenge in Croatia.

One of Kelly’s players, Tori Dilfer, a sophomore setter from California, was part of the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team this summer, which placed ninth in an international tournament in Nocera, Italy, in July.

Incoming UofL freshman Jessica De Filippo was part of the Canadian U-20 soccer team during a Women’s U-20 international series played in England in early July. Speaking of soccer, former UofL standout Chinyelu Asher represented Jamaica during July’s World Cup.

UofL incoming lacrosse players Maddie McDonough and Nicole Perroni are currently representing their respective countries (Israel and Canada) in the 2019 FIL U19 World Championships in Canada.Ěý

UofL’s head coach Scott Teeter led the 2019 Canada Women’s Field Lacrosse U19 National Team Evaluation Camp in June, as well. Teeter has served as head coach of the Canadian U19 National Team since 2009.

Finally, (we think?) Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell spent much of his summer coaching the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, his first year as head coach.

“To put a uniform on, especially a USA uniform, one just to compete again is fun and healing when the season ends with a loss, but especially when you put the USA uniform on. It’s a real treat,” .Ěý

From the pool to the court to the pitch to the field, Cardinal Athletics have made quite an impact on the world stage this summer. This should provide plenty of momentum heading into the fall sports season, and plenty of pride while donning the red and black.

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Yacine Diop is aiming for one thing her senior season – an NCAA championship /post/uofltoday/yacine-diop-is-aiming-for-one-thing-her-senior-season-an-ncaa-final/ Thu, 18 Jul 2019 17:17:16 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=47585 Yacine Diop is no stranger to heartache, but her story is an inspirational tale of determination and grit.

After a cross-continent move, struggling to adapt to a new language and culture, attending a school that cut its basketball program, and myriad injuries during her playing career at two universities, Diop is primed to start her final year of eligibility on the court as a UofL Cardinal. And she has one goal in mind – to make an NCAA final.

Reporter Danielle Lerner chronicled Diop’s long and winding path to the Yum! Center court in the .

Raised in the heart of the Sengalese capital of Dakar, Diop had big dreams of going out into the world and becoming more. After falling in love with the NBA at the age of 9, she began playing basketball against the other children in her community. She possessed a strong tenacity for the game which got her recruited for club ball, where she continued gaining skills and notoriety. Her talents were noticed and she was encouraged to make the move to the U.S. Ěý

Diop’s mother initially was not thrilled with the idea and insisted Diop would have to find a way to not only get to the U.S., but also to go to college. So Diop boarded a plane alone as a young teen and traveled to Pennsylvania to attend high school.

In a foreign country and unable to speak the language, Diop turned to basketball as her constant. Until her first high school cut their girl’s program. After transferring, she struggled academically and lost eligibility until her senior year. However, a successful on-court performance senior year secured her a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. More trials and tribulations followed her at college, where she struggled with injuries and the team struggled to win.

Diop remained optimistic that she would one day find her way to an NCAA tournament and later, the WNBA. It was with this optimism that she transferred to the University of Louisville for graduate studies. Alas, early in the 2018-19 season, Diop was sidelined with yet another injury – an ACL tear. The injury was disheartening, but following rehabilitation, she is ready to compete in her final year of college eligibility with the goal to reach the NCAA finals.

Get the full story at .

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UofL’s Arica Carter: From free throws to Freud /post/uofltoday/uofls-arica-carter-from-free-throws-to-freud/ Wed, 27 Mar 2019 14:46:12 +0000 http://www.uoflnews.com/?p=46233 The UofL Women’s Basketball Team faces Oregon State Friday in the NCAA tournament, the Cardinals’ third Sweet 16 appearance in a row. One of the drivers behind the team’s success has been Arica Carter, a redshirt senior guard from Los Angeles who is prolific in both scoring and assists.Ěý

Carter’s floor general skills also help her academically as she pursues a psychology degree from the College of Arts & Sciences. She wants to be a coach or a sport psychologist when she graduates.

The about her life off the court, her role models and more. Check it out:

What is it that drew you to your major?
Carter: As a basketball player I had to get help from the sport psychologist with controlling my thoughts. Because she helped me the way she did, I want to help others. I understand how much the mind can affect one’s ability to play their sport.

If you were to recommend your major to someone, what would you say about it?
Carter: I would say that it is very interesting because the mind is so powerful and has so many different and surprising aspects to it. I think once a person learns how to control their thoughts their chances of success in any field increase.

What has been your favorite college course that you have taken thus far? Why?
Carter: My favorite college course I’ve taken so far is The History of Psychology because I got to learn about some very important and interesting cases.

What is something you get excited or passionate about?
Carter:ĚýI get excited and passionate about basketball and my loved ones.

When you’re not practicing/training or studying, what do you like to do?
Carter: I like to hang out with my friends and family members. We do things like play games, watch movies, go bowling, go out to eat and just talk

Who is your role model, and why?
Carter: My role models are both my mom and sister because they are two strong women who keep pushing through no matter what the circumstances are. They always try to find something positive in bad situations.

What’s your favorite thing about Louisville? Favorite thing about UofL? Why?
Carter: My favorite thing about Louisville is the support the fans show outside of basketball. My favorite thing about UofL is the feeling of family that I get when I’m around my teammates and faculty members. I am a very family-oriented person and with my family being so far away, it is important that I feel like I’m a part of a family here.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?
Carter: My favorite spot on campus is Cardinal Town, where all the food is!

What is one thing your classmates and teammates might not know about you?
Carter: One thing my classmates and teammates might not know about me is that I love poetry.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Carter: I’ve received a lot of good advice. Advice that I concentrate on the most is “Control what you can control” and “Expect the expected.”

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Journal chronicles UofL women’s basketball experience from a century ago /post/uofltoday/journal-chronicles-uofl-womens-basketball-experience-from-a-century-ago/ /post/uofltoday/journal-chronicles-uofl-womens-basketball-experience-from-a-century-ago/#respond Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:15:28 +0000 http://uoflnews.com/?p=40997 Editor’s note: This blog was originally created by Archives and Special Collections director Carrie Daniels in 2013, but has been revisited (and slightly revised) to coincide with both March Madness and International Women’s Day.

More than 100 years ago, in the fall of 1913, Florence Daisy McCallum began her career as a University of Louisville student and joined the “girls’ basket ball team.” She chronicled the team’s triumphs and defeats, as well as their exploits off the court, in her “Basket Ball Journal.” The journal is available inĚýas part of theĚýĚýdigital collection.

Highlights include documentation of the team’s handy defeat of University Kentucky – known then as State University – at Lexington in January 1914, with a repeat the next month on our home court. UofL’s women had lost to UK the previous year, but the January win was so complete (with a score of 23 to 12) that “it well wiped out all memory of past defeats.”

Our women’s and men’s teams also played each other that year — the men defeated the women 40-14. In addition to documenting the final (and disappointing) score in that game, this scrapbook tells the story of how these young people interacted. There are cartoons that hint at some interesting “guarding” of members of the opposite team, and others that underscore the height differences between the men and the women. It is apparent that these students knew each other well, and that they shared camaraderie as much as competition.

Given that there were only 203 students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, it is not surprising that they knew each other well. ĚýAt least one member of the team, Charlotte Wimp, met her husband, Donald Butler, through basketball.

While the scrapbook holds many wonderful photographs of the team (sometimes including someone’s dog – a mascot, perhaps?), the cartoons drawn of various events are especially sweet. In some cases their message is easy to read (for example, the cartoons from the game played between the men and women), and at other times they refer to what must have been inside jokes. But even though the specific meaning of these cartoons is lost, anyone who has been a teenager can relate to the image of “Shrimp” quaking before her “Ma” – while it’s not clear whether she is coming or going, she is definitely afraid she is in trouble.

Scrapbooks like this, which are not just collections of newspaper clippings or photographs, but also contain commentary and other personal touches, help give us a sense of what it was like to be a student in earlier days. They show us what is different, and what is still very much the same.

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Kentucky Cancer Program, UofL Women’s Basketball team up for pink out this Thursday /post/uofltoday/kentucky-cancer-program-uofl-womens-basketball-team-up-for-pink-out-this-thursday/ /post/uofltoday/kentucky-cancer-program-uofl-womens-basketball-team-up-for-pink-out-this-thursday/#respond Tue, 20 Feb 2018 16:05:05 +0000 http://uoflnews.com/?p=40792 The No. 4-ranked UofL Women’s basketball team will offer some health awareness during its match up with the University of Virginia Thursday at the KFC Yum! Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

The Play4Kay Pink Out honors the late Kay Yow, a former University of North Carolina coach who died from cancer in 2009. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is celebrating its 10th anniversary of providing funding and support for cancer research.

The at the will be on hand at the game with giveaways and educational materials on the importance of early screening and detection of breast cancer. Louisville Women’s Basketball also will recognize breast cancer survivors on the court during halftime.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink, and representatives of Tom Drexler Plumbing and Remodeling will accept $5 donations for a breast cancer awareness t-shirt in the main concourse of the KFC Yum! Center. Proceeds will benefit Gilda’s Club of Louisville.

Fans also will get to check out the Mustang and Mobile Screening Unit, vehicles that are projects of Horses and Hope, an organization that brings cancer screening, detection and treatment services to workers in the equine industry in Kentucky.

Breast cancer survivors are eligible to receive one free ticket and a discounted ticket for $3 for all guests. Call the Louisville Cardinals’ Ticket office for this offer at 502-852-5151. Other fans can receive discounted tickets for $3 by visitingĚýĚýand using promo codeĚýPLAY4KAY.

 

 

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Cardinal players pick classroom MVPs /post/uofltoday/cardinal-players-pick-classroom-mvps/ /post/uofltoday/cardinal-players-pick-classroom-mvps/#respond Thu, 30 Nov 2017 19:16:54 +0000 http://uoflnews.com/?p=39768 From sharing snacks to setting up volunteer opportunities, UofL faculty will do whatever it takes to help their students succeed in school and life. Just ask the members of the Cardinals women’s basketball team.

The team is celebrating UofL’s faculty and staff at its Dec. 5 game versus UT Martin. Before they take the court, we asked a few players on the team to choose a favorite faculty or staff member and interviewed the players and the professors about their experiences at UofL.

Myisha Hines-Allen, senior forward

Who is your favorite faculty member and why?
When thinking of a favorite professor three professors come to mind, Professor Hancock, Professor Presley, and Professor BJ Levis. Professor Hancock and Presley both work in the SPAD department and BJ works in the HSS department.

I have gotten to know BJ because I was in her class freshman year and ever since thenĚýour relationshipĚýhas grown outside the classroom. I help Ms. BJ with volunteer opportunities such as wheelchair basketball, kickball, dances and many others.ĚýWhen I committed to UofL I never would have known that a class could change my life for the better. Ms. BJ works with people with disabilities, which makes it even more special in my opinion because I have gotten to know a lot of them personally and have created relationships that will last a long time.

As for Professor Hancock and Presley, their classes were interesting and definitely gave me insight on more things than sports. I loved allĚýthe classes that I took with them and will never forget the things I learned in them.

Why did you choose UofL?
I chose the University of Louisville not only because of the basketball program and what it has to offer, but also because of the amazing college atmosphere, and the SPAD program was definitely a bonus.

What’s your major and why did you choose that major?
I major in Sport Administration and minor in Communication.Ěý I chose this pathĚýbecause not only is the program one of the top in America but alsoĚýI just love learning more aboutĚýsports and what it has to offer. The SPAD program at UofL is an awesome way toĚýenjoy learning more about sports, even the ones you wouldn’t think you would like. It is also cool that youĚýget to learn and explore different fields such as Sport Law, Facility Management, as well as the internship which they require you to work over 400 hours.

What’s your favorite thing about UofL?
I have a number of things that I enjoy about UofL such as all that basketball has to offer, the sense of community, professors, friends that I made here, as well as the city of Louisville itself.Ěý

BJ Levis, lecturer inĚýHealth and Sport Sciences, CEHD

How does it feel to be selected by Myisha as her favorite faculty member?
Oh my goodness, I am speechless.Ěý Myisha is a very special person.Ěý Myisha was in my class as a freshman and we instantly hit it off.ĚýHer love for people is amazing, butĚýthe love she has for people with disabilities is what I love best.ĚýI’m so blessed to have her in my life.ĚýMyisha just makes me smile.

Myisha Hines-Allen and BJ Levis

What is one thing you hope that Myisha – or any of your students – takes away from your classes?
The one thing I want my students to take away is that people with disabilities are PEOPLE. I always say to them that we need to focus on a person’s ability.Ěý I’m a firm believer that we all have some type of disability – some are just more apparent than others.Ěý We all have the same needs and wants and that’s to be accepted and loved. If you don’t take the time to interact and speak with a person with a disability, you could be missing out on an amazing friendship.

What is one piece of advice you offer to students?
Volunteer. I hire a lot of people with my full-time job with Louisville Parks and Recreation.ĚýI always look at people that have volunteered more closely. It shows that they have initiative and that they took their own free time to give to others.Ěý Serving and helping others is very important. Not to mention, it’s a great time to get in the field and make sure that the direction you are going in is what you want to do.Ěý I feel it’s important to love what you do so that each day you go to work, it is not work – it’s a passion and a lifestyle.

Sam Fuehring, junior forward

Who is your favorite faculty member and why?
My favorite faculty member would be Professor (Ralph) Merkel. The video communication class he teaches is fun. He interacts with the class and I feel like he gets to know everyone. He has a funny side to him.Ěý You can joke with him and he will joke back. He also is my snack buddy. When I bring snacks to class, I’ll share with him.

Why did you choose UofL?
I chose UofL for the basketball program and the chance to win a National Championship. The fan base and atmosphere that surrounds the program also caught my attention. UofL offered a lot of opportunities for me.

What’s your major and why did you choose that major?

My major is Sport Administration with a minor in Communication. I decided to choose that major because I wanted to still have a part of the sports world when I stop playing basketball. I am not quite sure what I want to do with the major yet, maybe become a coach or an athletic director.

What’s your favorite thing about UofL?

My favorite thing about UofL would be the sports programs. I feel like every sport is in good standing. Other than sports, my favorite thing would be campus. The size of the campus isn’t too big but it also isn’t too small. With that being said, I can walk campus within 10 to 15 minutes, which is very convenient.

Ralph Merkel, professor of communications, College of Arts and Sciences

How does it feel to be selected by Sam as her favorite faculty member?
I’m delighted Sam chose me as her favorite, she lets me steal her snacks. She’s the perfect example of a student athlete, excellent in the classroom and on the court.Ěý

What is one thing you hope that Sam – or any of your students – takes away from your classes?
I ask students to treat class like a job: be prepared and punctual. Sam demonstrates both traits flawlessly.

What is one piece of advice you offer to students?
College is challenging, but you can succeed if you properly balance class duties with your free time. Of course you’re going to have fun — just remember to do the necessary class work daily. Post-school life won’t allow you to ‘cram.’ The habits you develop during college will serve — or hinder— you for a lifetime.

Arica Carter, junior guard

Arica Carter

Who is your favorite faculty member and why?
My favorite teacher is Professor Jessica Gibb. She was the first professor I had in my major classes. She made sure that my fellow classmates and I understood the curriculum, and if we didn’t she found a way to help us. She was always willing to help me whenever I needed it. To be honest all of the teachers that I have had for my major classes are all great.

Why did you choose UofL?
I chose UofL because I am a very family-oriented person and when I came on my visit, it felt like a family. Also after being here for a few years, I feel that with my team but also with the other sports teams. Another reason I chose UofL was because of the fan support here. We have the best fans in the nation.

What’s your major and why did you choose that major?
My major is Exercise Science and I am minoring in Psychology. I originally chose that because I thought that I wanted to be a physical therapist, but I have realized that that isn’t what I want to do. Now, I would really like to be a sports psychologist or a coach.

What’s your favorite thing about UofL?
My favorite thing about UofL is the connection between the community and the university.Ěý

Jessica Gibb, program director/instructor, Health & Sport Sciences,ĚýCEHD

Jessica Gibb

How does it feel to be selected by Arica as her favorite faculty member?
I am honored to be selected by Arica as her favorite faculty member. It is wonderful to know she had a positive experience while enrolled within my courses.

What is one thing you hope that Arica – or any of your students – takes away from your classes?
An appreciation for the field of exercise physiology.

What is one piece of advice you offer to students?
Get involved. The more opportunities students take advantage of while in school, the more opportunities they will have available to them after graduation.

Tickets to the Dec. 5 UofL women’s basketball game at the KFC Yum! Center are available for $3 per person for faculty and staff. and use the promo code Martin.

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