Virginia @ Syracuse preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 3, 2018 ) Virginia 59, Syracuse 44

Second-ranked Virginia shoots for its seventh consecutive win as it visits Syracuse in what will surely be a rocking Carrier Dome for a nationally-televised game on Monday evening. The Orange rebounded from tough losses to Duke and North Carolina with a big win at Wake Forest on Saturday.

Virginia is rolling and last-place Pittsburgh was no challenge on Saturday as the Cavaliers jumped out to a big lead early and led 39-19 at the half, allowing coach Tony Bennett to rest his starters with Syracuse on deck 48 hours later. "[The starters] did the job early and they did to start the second half, and it was a way to also reward the guys who work hard in practice," Bennett told the media after the 73-49 win. Syracuse took advantage of the struggling Demon Deacons as Tyus Battle scored 21 points in a 79-54 win on Saturday afternoon. "These games are always difficult, the game you're supposed to win," coach Jim Boeheim told reporters afterward. "It's not that easy. I thought today we played really solid, solid basketball."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT VIRGINIA (26-2, 14-2 ACC): Bennett was able to hold his three star guards - Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter - below 30 minutes played against Pitt as he got 13 players onto the court in the blowout. Guy, who was nursing sore knees, led the Cavaliers in scoring against the Panthers with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-7 from long range, while Jerome added 13 and Hunter 12. Pitt was the 10th team that the Cavaliers have held below 50 points this season as they continue to lead the nation in allowing 54.1 points per game.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (19-10, 10-6): Battle, the team’s leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, shot 9-of-13 from the field against Wake Forest while also chipping in defensively with five steals. No. 2 scorer Elijah Hughes (13.9) added 18 on 8-of-12 shooting as the Orange shot 54.4 percent from the floor while dominating inside, outscoring the Demon Deacons 44-10 in the paint. Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense was also at its best and at one point the Orange held Wake Forest without a basket for 13 1/2 minutes in the second half.

TIP-INS

1. Virginia leads the all-time series 6-5, including two wins last season.

2. Cavaliers freshman PG Kihei Clark has 14 assists and no turnovers in his last last three games.

3. The Orange made just 4-of-19 from 3-point range on Saturday, its lowest total in conference action this season.

PREDICTION: Virginia 66, Syracuse 60