What channel is the Syracuse basketball game on? (vs. Virginia)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse basketball (19-10, 10-6 ACC) faces another big challenge when the Orange host the No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers (26-2, 14-2 ACC) on Senior Night on Monday.

The game tips off just after 7 p.m. at the Carrier Dome and will be televised on ESPN in the last Big Monday telecast of the season. Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, and Allison Williams are the announcing crew. You can also stream the game on the WatchESPN app.

Syracuse is coming off a 79-54 win at Wake Forest Saturday afternoon that secured its 10th league win and solidified its NCAA Tournament chances. Tyus Battle led the Orange with 21 points and the Cuse held the Demon Deacons without a field goal for more than 13 minutes.

Virginia enters the Syracuse game fresh off a 72-49 win over Pittsburgh, the ACC cellar-dweller, on Saturday. The Cavaliers have won six straight games. UVA ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (54.1 ppg allowed), fewest turnovers (257), and 3-point field goal percentage defense (26.7 percent). The Cavs are also highly ranked in several other statistical categories. The UVA program has won more than 26 games in five of the last six seasons.

What’s at stake for Syracuse?

After the win over Wake Forest, Syracuse (No. 39 in NET) is now pretty much a lock to make the 2019 NCAA Tournament even if it doesn’t get another win. The Orange have the luxury of preparing for the tournament and trying to improve their seed as much as possible. Syracuse has the opportunity to do just that if it can somehow topple second-ranked Virginia.

Monday night’s contest is the 12th all-time meeting between Syracuse and Virginia, with the Cavaliers leading the series 6-5, including a 5-1 mark in ACC games. Virginia won both of last season’s matchups — 68-61 at home and 59-44 at the Carrier Dome. In the latter game, the Orange scored the fewest points they ever have at the Dome. Cavs head coach, Tony Bennett, who has been named national and ACC coach of the year three times, is 5-2 all-time versus Syracuse.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com

Photos by Adam Rombel/BJNN