Akron @ Louisville preview

Second-ranked Louisville has a healthy roster now and the Cardinals look to continue building confidence Sunday when they host Akron, seeking a 55th straight victory against a non-conference opponent in the month of November. Louisville got junior forward Malik Williams and freshman guard David Johnson back from injuries Wednesday before pulling away for a 76-50 win over South Carolina Upstate.

Williams and Johnson played only bit roles Wednesday, but the Cardinals showed some resolve in the second half by turning a 43-40 deficit into a 26-point win over the final 14 minutes as junior forward Jordan Nwora scored 28 overall. “They are going to go up against an opponent that isn’t in awe and can play as well as they can for periods of 10 minutes at a stretch,” Louisville coach Chris Mack told reporters of his team. “We are going to be put in some tough moments. … (Wednesday) was not as tough a moment (as) we will find ourselves in the next month or two. But it is good for a team to have to figure it out.” The Cardinals have won their five games by an average of 24 points and are shooting 55.5 percent from the field, but won’t have it easy against an Akron team that has won four of five to open the season. The Zips lost by 10 at West Virginia on Nov. 8 in their only road contest and have won three in a row by double digits since, capped by Thursday’s 82-60 win over Youngstown State - a team Louisville beat by 23 earlier this month.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT AKRON (4-1): Senior guard Tyler Cheese came off the bench to score 19 against Youngstown State and leads a balanced offense with 15.2 points per game. Junior guard Loren Cristian Jackson, who matched Cheese with a season-high 19 points last time out, is second on the team in scoring (15.0) and leads the way in assists (4.0) while senior forward Xeyrius Williams (14.4) tops the Zips in both rebounding (9.6) and blocks (2.4). Senior guard Channel Banks is the fourth player averaging in double figures scoring (10.8) and owns a team-high 12 makes from 3-point range.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (5-0): Johnson recorded two dunks in three minutes of playing time after coming back from a shoulder injury and Williams, who averaged 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds last season, had three points and three boards in five minutes Wednesday. “I wasn’t really scared,” Williams told reporters after returning from a broken foot. “I just put my foot back in place and get right back to it. I’m good. I’m here to stay.” Nwora is off to a sizzling start, averaging 22 points, seven boards and making 12-of-23 from beyond the arc while 6-10 senior forward Steven Enoch has chipped in 10.6 points and a team-high 9.4 rebounds.

TIP-INS

1. Louisville senior F Dwayne Sutton (10.6 points) had a career-best 15 rebounds Wednesday and is shooting 76.9 percent from the field.

2. Akron junior F Camron Reece is shooting 62.1 percent from the field overall and has drained 10-of-15 shots from the field the last three games.

3. Cardinals junior G Darius Perry is averaging 6.6 points and entered Saturday tied for 15th in the nation with 7.0 assists per contest.

PREDICTION: Louisville 84, Akron 64