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Red-hot Louisville goes for ninth straight win

Mar 2, 2008 - 2:13 PM Villanova (17-10) at No. 18 Louisville (23-6) 4:00 pm EST

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Ticker) - No. 18 Louisville looks to continue its winning ways on Sunday when it hosts Villanova in a Big East Conference matchup.

The Cardinals (23-6, 13-3 Big East) have won eight straight games, including a 90-85 victory over Notre Dame on Thursday.

David Padgett scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Cardinals, who won despite a career-high 40 points from Notre Dame's Luke Harangody. Padgett leads four players in double figures at 12.0 points per game.

Louisville is one-half game behind Georgetown (14-3) for first place in the Big East and will visit the Hoyas next Saturday. The Cardinals won the first meeting with Georgetown and will clinch the regular season title with another victory over the Hoyas, regardless of what happens against Villanova.

The game may have more meaning for the Wildcats (17-10, 7-8), who are looking for a big victory to help their NCAA Tournament chances.

Villanova had a three-game winning streak stopped on Monday with an 85-75 setback to Marquette.

Scottie Reynolds scored 14 points and Dante Cunningham added 13 and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats, who committed a season-high 23 turnovers. Reynolds leads the team in scoring at 16.3 points per contest.

Villanova has won all three meetings since Louisville joined the Big East at the start of the 2005-06 season.