NCAA
Louisville 102, Rutgers 54
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The beards grew longer Sunday.
A week after making a vow not to shave until they lose, the No. 13 Louisville Cardinals made short work of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, winning 102-54 Sunday night at the KFC Yum! Center.
Louisville jumped in front 10-2 en route to a 43-24 halftime lead, then opened the second half with a devastating 26-3 run to lead 69-27. The only question from there was whether the Cardinals (21-4, 10-2 American Athletic Conference) would continue to double Rutgers’ score. They came close, but playing their second game in three nights and with another game scheduled for Tuesday, coach Rick Pitino substituted liberally.
The Cardinals, who used 12 players, won their fourth game in a row.
Senior forward Luke Hancock led Louisville with 25 points, hitting six of eight 3-point shots. Freshman reserve guard Terry Rozier scored 16 points, and junior forward Wayne Blackshear added 10.
Louisville senior All-America guard Russ Smith posted a season-low seven points, but he played just 17 minutes and took only four shots. He contributed five assists and four rebounds.
Junior forward Kadeem Jack and junior guard Myles Mack had 10 points each to pace Rutgers (10-16, 4-9). The Scarlet Knights lost their second game in a row.
Louisville hit 16 of 30 three-point shots (53.3 percent) and 34 of 61 shots in all (55.7 percent). Rutgers shot 35.4 percent (17 of 48), including 25 percent on treys (five of 20).
The Cardinals had a commanding 39-24 rebounding edge and forced 18 turnovers while making just nine. Louisville finished with an 11-4 advantage in steals, a 23-10 edge in assists and a 5-1 advantage in blocks.
Louisville’s 3-point prowess came about because the Cardinals would drive, then kick the ball out to a wide-open shooter. Rutgers never stopped that strategy.
The Cardinals hit their first two 3-point shots, by Smith and Hancock, the team’s co-captains, and were on their way.
Louisville made six of its first nine 3-point shots and finished the half 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. The Cardinals shot 52 percent (14-for-27 ) overall before halftime. Rutgers shot just 32 percent (10-for-31) before the break, including 20 percent on 3-pointers (2-for-10).
Rozier led Louisville with 14 first-half points, while Hancock had nine. Cardinals sophomore forward Montrezl Harrell had one dunk before halftime, and he tied the school record for dunks in a season (56).
Louisville’s largest lead before intermission was 36-16.
NOTES: The Cardinals play host to South Florida on Tuesday. Louisville crushed the Bulls 86-47 in Tampa on Jan. 22. … The Scarlet Knights’ next game is Thursday at home against Memphis. The Tigers routed Rutgers 101-69 on Feb. 4 in Memphis. … Louisville improved its record against Rutgers to 13-1. The Scarlet Knights’ only victory came in 2006, 10 games ago.
