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GAME NOTES: A couple of teams headed in different directions collide at the Louis Brown Athletic Center today, as the streaking Louisville Cardinals tangle with the slumping Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Big East play. Winners of six of their last seven games, the Cardinals are starting to look like the team that landed them a Top 25 ranking to start the season. Most recently, the squad outlasted West Virginia, 63-54, on Thursday to pull to an even 1-1 in league play. It was the second win in a row for Louisville, which ran its overall mark to 11-4 on the season. As for Rutgers, it has dropped five of its past six outings, including three in a row versus Big East foes. The team was last in action on Wednesday, when it suffered a 76-50 beating at Providence. With the loss, the Knights dipped to an even 8-8 overall, as they are now in danger of falling below .500 for the first time this season. In terms of the all-time series, Louisville holds a 4-1 edge over Rutgers, but the Knights won the most recent meeting, 65-56, in Piscataway during the 2005-06 season.

The Cardinals have relied on tenacious defense to overcome some early season injuries and they are holding their opponents to a mere 59.6 ppg and only 37.7 percent shooting from the floor. Terrence Williams has been a factor at both ends of the court for Louisville and he is one of the most versatile players in the conference. Williams currently leads the team in scoring (11.9 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (25) and he is also pulling down a solid 7.6 rpg. Earl Clark has also enjoyed a solid campaign and he is one of just a few players in the conference averaging a double-double with 11.8 ppg and a team- high 10.1 rpg. Derrick Caracter gives Louisville another legitimate presence in the frontcourt, as he turns in 11.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Jerry Smith chips in with 11.0 ppg and he has a 22 steals to his credit. In the team's last game, Smith tallied 14 points and recorded two steals in leading the Cardinals past West Virginia. Clark notched a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for Louisville, which held West Virginia to a dismal 36.4 percent shooting effort from the floor.

The Knights have really struggled at the offensive end of the court this season, as they are scoring a mediocre 62.5 ppg and shooting a sub par 39.2 percent from the field and a poor 27.3 percent from long range. J.R. Inman has clearly been the squad's most productive player and he leads Rutgers in scoring (14.9 ppg) as well as rebounding (8.3 rpg). Corey Chandler is next in line with 12.5 ppg, and Anthony Farmer rounds out the double-digit scorers at 11.2 ppg. In the club's prior contest, the Knights turned the ball over 18 times and shot a horrific 31.8 percent from the floor in a lopsided loss at Providence. The team also struggled from long range, making good on just 4- of-16 attempts. Inman paced Rutgers in defeat with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Farmer had 10 points.

The Cardinals are starting to come together and that is bad news for the rest of the league. With another solid defensive performance, Louisville should be able to get past a Rutgers team that is on the decline.