Breaking News: Louisville women's basketball -- Tuesday is Durr Day -- TUESDAY CARDINALCOUPLE - News Paper

DURR ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK, NAMED TO WOODEN LATE SEASON TOP 20. 

The awards keep stacking up for Louisville junior guard Asia Durr.

On Monday, she was named the ACC Player of the Week and also named to the John R.Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 list. 

I know, there are a ton of college basketball awards out there. These are two of the bigger ones, though, and the prestige and honor that goes with them is note-worthy and quite the accomplishment. 

ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK. 

It's the fourth time that Durr has been selected for the Player of the Week. She averaged 24 points per game in Louisville's road wins at Virginia and Syracuse. 

In Charlottesville, she shot a blistering 54.5 % from the floor and gathered 21 points for the Cards in the 77-41 road win over the Cavs. That was followed with 27 points on 9-15 shooting plus seven assists in the 84-77 "W" at Syracuse. She also made the 1,500 point club at the Carrier Dome. 

It's been a remarkable season for "Nite-Nite".

She ranks second in the ACC in scoring with 20 points per game. Her 46.6 shooting percentage is tops in the ACC and fifth in the nation in three-pointers. 

I firmly believe she is the best player in the country. The Cards can help push that agenda by progressing forward and winning the ACC and advancing to the Final Four. 

I also think our illustrious mayor of Louisville should proclaim an Asia Durr Day here in our fair city and encourage everyone to display the number "25" in some form or fashion.  


JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD

Durr joins nineteen women's college basketball players on the award list for the top basketball player in DI. The award is chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on the players' performances during the year. It is narrowed to 20 after the first half of the season. 

She has some stellar company on the list of twenty. 

Joining Durr from the ACC are Lexie Brown (Duke), Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame) and Shakayla Thomas (FSU). The AAC has four on the list, all from UConn, in Napheesa Collier, Kia Nurse, Katie Lou Samuelson and Gabby Williams. The SEC is well-represented with four contestants in Sophie Cunningham (Missouri), Teaira McCowan (Mississippi St.) Victoria Vivians (Mississippi St.) and A'ja Wilson (South Carolina). 

The PAC-12 has three student-athletes in the top 20 with Kristine Anigwe (Cal), Jordin Canada (UCLA) and Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon). So does the Big Ten with Megan Gustafson (Iowa), Katelynn Flaherty (Michigan) and Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio St.) The Big 12 roundds out the list with two players in Ariel Atkins (Texas) and Kalani Brown (Baylor). 

Overall, 16 schools are represented in the top 20 list and six conferences . Ten of the players are seniors, nine juniors and one is a sophomore. 

Here's a couple of questions for you, our readers.

So, can one make an argument for senior Myisha Hines-Allen being on the list? I think you can. She averages a double-double with 14.4 ppg and 10.3 rebounds. She was on the pres-season All-ACC teams and has been named ACC player of the Week once. Four UConn players is maybe overkill and the only other team with two players on the list in Mississippi State. I'll take charge here and put her 21st.

Is Asia Durr the best player in women's college basketball? I say "Yes". Her accomplishments this season are out of this world. 

- Over 1500 points in her career
- Has over 70 made three-pointers
- Naismith Trophy Watch List
- 47 points against Ohio State, a school record
- Preseason All conference and all-american 

And, that's just a few of the accolades for #25.

Durr, predictably, would point to her teammates for her achievements. And, that's the beautiful thing about this team. They're in it together. Individual awards are great but team success is goal #1. She has become that "first name only needed" player at UofL, along with Shoni and Angel. There are troubles and controversy galore on campus, with the men's basketball team and blah, blah, blah but there is a sense of pride, acknowledgement and love for the dozen student-athletes that gather in the Little YUM! to do work for Coach Walz and his staff. 

Coach Walz is holding a press conference this afternoon, presumably to talk about Durr, the wins and Clemson.

Do you have a question for Coach Walz ? Leave it in the comments section or e-mail it to me at cardinalcouple@twc.com by noon today and I'll toss it out. That goes for Durr as well if she's present. 

A heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Durr for these spectacular accomplishments and keep 'em coming! 

(Speaking of Asia's...congratulations to Asia Taylor, who has been re-signed by the Washington Mystics. We see ya, #31.)


Paulie
xxxxx  

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Breaking News: Louisville women's basketball -- Tuesday is Durr Day -- TUESDAY CARDINALCOUPLE - News Paper