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

On Saturday night, a huge Big East battle will commence between the No. 2-ranked Syracuse Orange and the Connecticut Huskies. The Huskies started the season ranked in most preseason Top 10s, but they have since fallen out of the rankings, period.

Their low point was a four-game losing streak from January 18th to February 1st. They are still a struggling bunch, as they have gone 3-3 since the streak ended. 

They were once thought to be a lock for an NCAA tournament berth, but now they sit on the bubble. A win over the second-ranked Orange could punch their ticket to the dance.

They won a 73-70 thriller over Villanova in their last game on the strength of this sick buzzer-beater by Shabazz Napier.

They are hoping that win will create some momentum.

The Orange are attempting to regain the No. 1 ranking they held for six weeks before losing their only game of the season to the red-hot Notre Dame Fighting Irish on January 21st.

The Orange have won eight straight since the loss and hope to conquer the Huskies as they set up for their regular-season finale against the Louisville Cardinals on March 3rd.

In the teams’ previous matchup, the Orange demolished the Huskies in the Carrier Dome, 85-67.

Let's dig deeper into this matchup.

Where: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Conn.

When: Saturday, Feb. 25 at 9:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN

Listen: WACK 1420AM Syracuse, WTIC 1080AM UConn

Spread: Syracuse -5

Stream: ESPN3  

Key Injuries

Syracuse: No injuries to report

UConn: Michael Bradley (ankle), questionable

What's at Stake?

For the Huskies, it’s simple: This is their last opportunity against a ranked opponent during the regular season. A win here could take a lot of pressure off Jim Calhoun’s bunch to make a long run in the Big East tournament.

If they lose here, they will probably need two or three wins in the Big East tournament to make the NCAA field.

For the Orange, it’s about enforcing their dominance in the Big East. They won’t get an opportunity to avenge their only loss of the season unless they play the Irish in the postseason, so they would like to finish the regular season on a roll, and that starts with a victory over the Huskies in Storrs.

What They're Saying

The UConn Huskies have been playing without their legendary head coach Jim Calhoun on the sidelines. Calhoun is suffering from spinal stenosis, and now back surgery is scheduled for him.

The surgery will have Calhoun miss at least two more games. Calhoun, suffering from spinal stenosis, said this of the new back procedure to Don Amore of the Hartford Courant:

"

I'm glad we have finally determined the best course of treatment to deal with the problem. ... I'm looking forward to having the procedure done, hopefully recovering as quickly as possible and putting it all in the past.

"

I believe the absence of Calhoun's sideline leadership has drastically affected the Huskies' performance. They are such a young team that they miss the coach's experience and calming effect.

Looks like they will have to make due without it for a few more games.

Brent Axe of Syracuse.com said this of the Orange's tough battle with South Florida in their last game:

"

When does a 26-0 run not matter? When you let USF go on 11-0 and 9-0 runs in the second half that cancel out the big one. As they would say on Mortal Kombat, "finish him."

"

It's true: The Orange had several chances to blow USF away, and they didn't. It could be a case of looking past a lesser team in anticipation of UConn and Louisville—but all that matters is that they won the game.

Still, that tendency can get you upset in the NCAA tournament. 

UConn Player To Watch: Shabazz Napier

The Huskies need a leader, a floor general, someone who can soften the blow of not having Calhoun on the sidelines. The best bet for that role is Napier. He showed tremendous confidence as he calmly nailed a 30-foot three-pointer to vanquish Villanova.

Napier must exude the same confidence and lead his team at home against one of the best teams in the country.

Syracuse Player To Watch: Fab Melo 

When Melo plays well, the Orange are nearly unbeatable. The seven-foot shot-blocker controls the middle and gives an ultra-athletic team a formidable inside presence.

He is averaging 7.7 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. He will need a stronger performance to beat UConn in Storrs. The Huskies youngsters will be at their bests, and that includes man-child Andre Drummond.

Melo must match Drummond's energy to keep from being dominated.

Key Matchup: Jeremy Lamb vs. Kris Joseph and matchup zone

Lamb’s stock has fallen dramatically this season. He was a clear top-five pick in the NBA draft early, but now his status is questionable. He did not play well in the teams’ first meeting, going 6-of-15 from the field and 2-of-10 from three-point range.

Kris Joseph helped to limit Lamb to such a poor shooting performance. Joseph’s 6’7” frame was most often challenging Lamb’s shot on that side of the Orange’s matchup zone.

Joseph scored 15 points himself and helped key the Orange’s romp.

In this matchup, Lamb must play better for the Huskies to have a shot at winning.

Prediction

UConn 72, Syracuse 70

In a close battle, I believe the Huskies will punch their ticket to the Big Dance with a win over Syracuse at home.

Andre Drummond will have his most notable performance—not so much as it relates to stats, but more so about playing big against an elite opponent.