TWO BITS: Cardinals getting excited for Strong

1 » Florida Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has yet to sign on the dotted line of a Louisville Cardinals head coaching contract, but the fan base is already getting riled up for his arrival by local papers touting his excellence. Monday night, the focus was on Strong’s personable relationship with the players he recruited and coached at Florida, including freshman linebacker Jon Bostic among others. “He coaches every player different out there because he knows how certain players will react,” Bostic said. “He does whatever it takes to get the job done.” Florida’s administration is still trying to keep Strong in Gainesville, FL.

2 » Using a 20-1 run to end the first half, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-4) took down the Florida women’s basketball team (3-5) 51-38 on Monday in the Women’s Jimmy V. Classic. Senior Steffi Sorensen scored 13 points to lead the Gators, though the team shot just 22 percent from the floor. Even though Florida outscored Rutgers by one in the second half, their 14-point halftime deficit was too much to overcome. The Gators next game is against the Old Dominion Monarchs (1-5) on the road Friday at 7 p.m.