Syracuse’s chances of winning its second NCAA Tournament since 2003 took a major hit Tuesday when the school announced that 7-foot sophomore center Fab Melo is ineligible for the remainder of the season.
The 7-foot Melo may well have played his last game for the Orange, with the New York Times reporting multiple sources at Syracuse and in the NBA saying Melo will declare for the NBA Draft.
“He has to be coming out for sure with the latest news,” one veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv. “He’s no doubt a first-rounder due to his size and the lack of big men in the draft and currently in the NBA.”
Melo’s removal from the team is believed to be related to academic issues.
“Syracuse University sophomore men’s basketball center Fab Melo did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh, and will not take part in the NCAA Tournament due to an eligibility issue,” a school statement read. “Given University policy and federal student privacy laws, no further details can be provided at this time.”
The Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Melo averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks this season.
Melo missed three games during the regular season because of academic issues and the Orange lost their only regular season game during that stretch at Notre Dame.
He it not been for that game, Syracuse might have completed the regular season 32-0.
After losing in the Big East Tournament semifinals to Cincinnati, the Orange are now 31-2 heading into Thursday’s East Region second-round game against UNC-Asheville in Pittsburgh.
Without Melo, Syracuse’s other bigs, Rakeem Christmas and Baye Keita, will have to step up.
Syracuse has already had to deal with the Bernie Fine sex scandal, the Yahoo! Sports detailing failed drug tests by players over the past 10 years and now this.
Through it all, head coach Jim Boeheim has insisted the team isn’t bothered by distractions.
“If things were bothering us we wouldn’t be 31-1,” he said before the semis. “Nothing bothers us.”
As for Melo’s pro future, the veteran NBA scout said, “He has improved this year because he is in much better shape. He has a nice upside ahead of him. The downside is he does not take care of his weight and gains the weight back.”
Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com added: “He is a late first/early second round pick depending on who else declares. There are 10-15 guys that could move him up or down dramatically depending on whether they’re in or out.”
BostonCat / March 13, 2012
where is pete thamel on this? or is he too busy trying to write up non stories regarding teams he doesnt like?
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gman / March 13, 2012
Of course they waited until after they got their seeding to announce this. Teams get knocked down a few notches on player injuries. This likely would have impacted their seeding.
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JonHuskyMS / March 13, 2012
kind of like Mich St got knocked down after the Dawson injury right? Oh wait… stupid comment #2 of the day for you.
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gman / March 13, 2012
You mean MSU that went on to win the Big Ten tournament without him? Slightly different situation. They proved they could win w/o him. Go back to the boneyard.
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mikemiller13 / March 13, 2012
arizona and josiah turner will win the nit. the ncaa tournament and everything else doesn’t matter. bear down!
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wrong / March 13, 2012
It seems The Cuse is unloading baggage that has become burdensome. The timing being the beginning of the NCAA Tournament is puzzling. Unless Syracuse is on the quarter system I find the assumption of academic woes to be unlikely.
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JonHuskyMS / March 13, 2012
it didnt affect their seed a few years ago when Onuaku was injured in the BET. Not only that, but they went 31 – 2… they’re a 1 seed. Go back to whatever rock you crawled out from.
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fearthephog25 / March 14, 2012
Bucknell (24-9, 12-2 Patriot) vs. arizona (23-11, 12-6 Pac-12) should be a good game tomorrow night. Where does one buy a NIT Shirt anyway? =P
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mikemiller13 / March 14, 2012
fear, ordered my arizona nit shirt online. so excited, i even paid for next day air!
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Donttasemebro / March 14, 2012
Mike,
Honest question? Would you rather be in the tournament as say a 12 seed and get beat in the first round, or 1 seed nit and make it to the championship and lose?
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mikemiller13 / March 14, 2012
dont, rather be in the real tourney and lose in the 1st round. not sure if you recognized my sarcasm pouring through when i was saying i ordered a ua nit tee. i’m a jayhawk
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fearthephog25 / March 18, 2012
Where are the zona fans after getting whooped by Bucknell in NIT 1ST Round? LOL Karma….crickets…..
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