Louisville vs. Syracuse preview: Cardinals looks to snap 2-game losing streak on Big Monday

Louisville Cardinals (16-7, 6-4) vs. Syracuse Orange (15-8, 4-6)

Game Time: 7:01 p.m.

Location: KFC Yum Center: Louisville, Ky.

Television: ESPN

Announcers: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), LaPhonso Ellis (analyst), and Allison Williams (reporter)

Officials: Mike Eades, Michael Stephens, Keith Kimble

Favorite: Louisville by 5

Probable Starting Lineups:

Series: Louisville leads, 18-8

Last Meeting: Louisville won 88-68 on Feb. 26, 2017 in Louisville

Series History:

Statistics:

Relevant Videos:

About Syracuse:

Syracuse (15-8, 4-6 ACC), has won three of its last five games, but lost 59-44 to No. 2 Virginia at home on on Feb. 3 in its last outing. Tyus Battle scored 15 points to lead the Orange, which shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 4-of-21 from three point range.

Syracuse is fourth nationally in field goal percentage defense (.381), ninth in blocked shots (6.0), and seventh in scoring defense (62.7). The Orange are No. 48 in the Sagarin Ratings, No. 51 by Ken Pomeroy and No. 47 in the RPI through Feb. 3.

Notable:

—Louisville hasn’t lost back-to-back conference games at home since the 2011-12 season when it was beaten at home by Georgetown on Dec. 28, 2011 and then dropped a double overtime game against Notre Dame on Jan. 7, 2012.

—Louisville will be wearing throwback uniforms against Syracuse. The Cards have done this twice in games against the Orange and won both, including last season’s 88-68 win at the Yum Center.

—Louisville is second in the nation in blocked shots (7.0 bpg) and ranks 16th in field goal percentage defense (.397) and 36th in 3-point defense (.315).

—Anas Mahmoud is fifth in the nation in blocked shots (3.26) and Ray Spalding is 17th in offensive rebounds (3.43).

—Syracuse is 0-4 this season when it gets out-rebounded.

—Louisville has held six of its 10 ACC opponents to 40 percent or below shooting from the field.

—The Cardinals have collected nine or more steals in six conference games.

—Louisville is the only team with 10 more wins against Syracuse than the Orange have against them. In fact, the Cardinals are the only program that SU has a losing record against in 25 or more games.

—Syracuse ranks second to last in the ACC in both points per game and three-point field goal percentage.

—Louisville is one of four teams in the nation with at least eight different players that have made 10 or more three-pointers this season. UofL is 11-2 when it makes eight or more threes, which the Cardinals have done in six of their last eight games (9-of-21 vs. Florida St. in its last game).

—Louisville has a 41-9 record in its conference home games over the last six years (.820), including an 8-1 record last year. UofL has the third-most conference home wins in its four years in the ACC with 26.

—Louisville has a 57-19 record during the month of February over the last 10 years (.750), winning 23 of its last 32 in that month (5-2 last year).

Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Louisville 67, Syracuse 61