Syracuse vs. Cincinnati: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

Fresh off their first loss of the season, the Syracuse Orange will try to get back on track Monday night when they travel to Fifth Third Arena to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats. 

The Orange could be in trouble because of the loss of sophomore center Fab Melo. He has been a dominant presence in the paint and was the glue that held the defense together. They struggled in all facets of the game against Notre Dame without him, so this game will tell us if it was an aberration or a sign of things to come. 

The Bearcats were on a roll with victories over Georgetown, Villanova and Connecticut before a loss to West Virginia on Saturday. They don't excel in any area, but they do a lot of the little things well to remain competitive against Big East competition. 

Where: Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio

When: Monday, Jan. 23 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN

Live Streaming: ESPN3.com

Betting Line: Syracuse (-5), according to Vegas Insider

Key Injuries

The Orange don't have any injuries, but Fab Melo is not expected to play in this game for academic reasons, according to Sportsbooks. 

According to The Spread, Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick is probable for the game with a groin injury. He leads the Bearcats in scoring, so his presence on the floor is going to be critical for them to pull off the upset. 

What's At Stake?

The Orange need to build their confidence back up after that ugly loss to Notre Dame. For a team that is 20-1 and spent most of the season up to this point ranked No. 1, there are a lot of questions they have to answer. Not all of them will be solved in this game, but they can alleviate some fears that fans and analysts have. 

The Bearcats are still trying to build their tournament resume. They are going to get in on the strength of their wins over Pittsburgh, Georgetown and Connecticut, but a win over Syracuse would greatly enhance their seeding. 

What They Are Saying

Matt Park, who is the voice of Syracuse basketball, spoke to Jim Boeheim after the team's loss on Saturday about what needs to change and be improved upon for this game. 

Considering how deep and talented the Orange are this season, it should not be a difficult adjustment for the team to make. 

Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin had high praise for this Syracuse team before they lost to Notre Dame, and even after that loss, it is hard to believe that his feelings have changed that much. 

From Cincinnati.com:

"

They’re the best team in the country and they may be the best team since North Carolina won it all (in 2005), Cronin said before the Orange lost to the Irish. They bring arguably the best pro prospect in the league off the bench in Dion Waiters. That probably sums it up.

"

Syracuse Player To Watch: G Dion Waiters

Waiters is the glue that holds the Orange offense together. He has been the best shooter on the team and is second with 13 points per game.

He struggled against Notre Dame, scoring just 11 points and shooting 4-for-14 from the field. That tied his second-worst output of the season. He has to get back on track for this offense to play up to its potential. 

Another bad game from him, and the Orange will be looking at their second straight loss.

Cincinnati Player To Watch: F Yancy Gates

Gates has been a solid contributor on the inside for the Bearcats this season. He is averaging 12.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He is also shooting 47 percent from the field. 

With Melo out for the Orange, Gates will have plenty of chances to exceed his season numbers. If he can exploit the paint against this defense, it will open everything else up for the Bearcats, and they will be able to pull off the upset. 

Key Matchup: Yancy Gates vs. C.J. Fair

The Orange are going to figure out just how much they miss Melo in this game. Gates has been solid for Cincinnati all season long, and Fair had some problems defending in the paint against Notre Dame. 

Fair needs to be a disruptive force in the middle and be able to block shots as well as grab rebounds for the Orange to look like the team they were before the Notre Dame game. 

Prediction

The Bearcats will keep the game close early, but the Orange are stronger and will pull away in the second half. 

Syracuse 71, Cincinnati 63

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