Louisville basketball: Jeff Walz on adjusting starting lineup vs Miami
Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz talks adjusting the starting lineup over the last two games after Merrissah Russell had a death in her family.
Nyla Harris won’t let the freshmen on the Louisville women’s basketball team outwork her.
Even through the aches and back pains, if they’re in the gym, she is too.
“I walk in the morning, come to the gym, and I’m trying to get some ice, and I see Taj (Roberts) and Mac (Randolph) and Imari (Berry) and all of them getting shots up,” Harris said. “And “I’m like, dang. It would be bad if I saw them, and then just go home. So, they just push us to be an all-around great team.”
Getting more shots up has made Harris one of the best shooters in the ACC during conference play. She’s shooting 66.7% from the field during league games, which ties with North Carolina’s Maria Gakdeng for best in the ACC. Harris didn’t miss any of her five shots and notched 11 points during Louisville’s 69-60 win over Georgia Tech on Sunday. During the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak, the Orlando, Florida, native has been even better, averaging 11.2 points per game on 76.9% shooting.
She’s worked to improve her midrange shot and has had success using her size in the paint. Louisville coach Jeff Walz believes the catalyst for her scoring success is an increased level of confidence.
“She’s put the time in the gym. And the more time you put in the gym, the more confident you get in your skill, the better you perform,” he said of Harris, who’s averaging 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds on the year. “Nyla really put a lot of work in this offseason, this summer. You can just see when she shoots it, she believes it’s going in each time because of the work she put in this summer and fall.”
Harris’ work has paid off and can continue to help her during a key upcoming stretch. The Cardinals are on the road for three of their next four games before hosting third-ranked Notre Dame on Feb. 2. Prior to the three-game road trip, U of L will play Syracuse at home today at 7 p.m.
Harris performed well against the Orange, who are now without star guard Dyaisha Fair, last year. She scored a season-high 22 points at Syracuse — in a controversial 73-72 loss — then notched 18 points against the Orange in an 81-69 victory.
This year, Louisville can use a potential victory to stay among the top teams in the league. The squad is currently second in the ACC standings behind the Fighting Irish, who are unbeaten in conference play via a nine-game winning streak.
Stay tuned here for updates throughout Louisville’s ACC matchup against Syracuse.
The game will not be broadcast nationally but qualified subscribers can stream the game on ACCNx.
Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).
You can also listen online via GoCards.com.
*ACC game
Click here to view the Orange’s 2024-25 schedule.
Click here to view the Orange’s 2024-25 roster.
Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
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