Cardinals coach Rick Pitino planned a different approach against the Cavs, who have dominated the series -- most recently winning by eight in Louisville. But with the curfew-related suspensions of Deng Adel and Mangkok Mathiang, combined with the injuries to PGs Quentin Snider (hip) and Tony Hicks (hand), he is down to seven scholarship players to execute the revised game plan. The ‘Ville is coming off three wins by a total of 103 points and UVA is off a loss at Syracuse. It won’t matter. Baskets will be few and far between for the visitors.

The Cardinals are in much better current form, but the Cavaliers have owned this series lately. Look for UVA, which has lost two of three, to show urgency on its home court and frustrate Louisville yet again. Lay the points.

Virginia handled Louisville by eight on Dec. 28 at the KFC Yum! Center. In that game, the Cavs frustrated the Cardinals into 2-of-14 shooting from 3-point range. I think they can do something similar Monday night. In my simulations, UVA is covering 63 percent of the time. Lay the points.