Walz Provides Media with Updates on the Cardinals

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville women's basketball head coach Jeff Walz met with the media from his home via teleconference on Wednesday afternoon.

"We're in some unprecedented times right now, but I think we're all figuring out a way to navigate through these," said Walz. "It's been great in some ways, because I've become a lot more knowledgeable with my computer skills."

"It's also been a little bit of a challenge, but our team has really responded well. We have our zoom group meetings and video conferences two or three times a week, just to check in. I've received great reports about how well they've been doing in the classroom, academically, with everything now online."

Walz, who led the Cardinals to a 28-4 record and an outright ACC regular season championship, remains optimistic through these challenges. "We told our kids, 'you can either be the team that uses this as an excuse to why we weren't able to get better, or we can be the team that goes out there and tries to be as creative as you can.'"

With the Covid-19 outbreak bringing all sports to a halt, the 2019-2020 season for NCAA women's basketball was cut short. The Cardinals had high hopes for the postseason, but with the tournament being canceled, it is now a question of what could have been.

"When we found out the NCAA tournament had been canceled, it was devastating. We had to laugh about it at times, because if you didn't laugh, you cried," added Walz. "We talked about how fortunate we were compared to spring sports because we had the opportunity to play 32 games."

"We finished with a 28-4 record, ranked sixth in the country, and we got cheated out of possibly six games. But at the end of the day, I told them to just make sure you look back at the moments that we shared. Don't have this be the year that all you talk about is 'we didn't get a chance to play in the NCAA tournament'. Talk about all the great moments that you experienced with each other and the excitement and the fun we had."

Dana Evans recently announced that she would be returning to UofL for her senior year. Walz said, "It's great news, we're really excited for her. We would have supported her either way. I told her when she first talked to me about it, 'we're going to support you in whatever decision you decide to make.' I'm not one of those that I'm twisting your arm to do something that's going to benefit me. I want her to do what is best for her."

During this time, Walz has been doing his best to practice social distancing. He hasn't gone to his office and he is staying at home.

"It's been fun. In the mornings, when my daughters are going 'Daddy you're not going to work today?' and I go 'no, I don't have to' and they get so excited. There are a lot of things that you have to slow down and appreciate. That even in times of uncertainty and such confusion, and such devastation with the loss of lives we're having, you just have to figure out a way to find something that's going to make you smile."

For the latest on Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, follow the team's Twitter account at @UofLWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UofLWBB.

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