PITTSBURGH - Syracuse players seemed somewhat saddened, yet also matter of fact when asked Wednesday about missing center Fab Melo, sidelined for the entire NCAA tournament because of academic eligibility issues.
Perhaps Melo’s teammates had been coached to react that way to questions about him. More likely, they simply are immune to the effects of crises by now.
Consider that early in the season, there were allegations of sexual abuse by longtime assistant coach Bernie Fine, who was fired shortly afterward. More recently, there was an investigation by Yahoo Sports that concluded 10 Syracuse players had tested positive for a banned substance or substances since 2001. No current players are involved.
Syracuse (31-2), which is the top seed in the East region, faces 16th-seeded North Carolina-Asheville (24-9) in a second-round game Thursday at the Consol Energy Center at about 3:10 p.m.
"I was upset a little bit," sophomore guard Dion Waiters said of the loss of Melo. "Everything we’ve been going through this year, we’ve been able to overcome it. ... I would like for everybody to be here as a team, but things happen for a reason, and whatever they may be, we just have to be ready to play."
Guard Scoop Jardine noted, "One of the things people have been saying about us all year is (we have) depth. This is our opportunity. We’ve got to believe in ourselves. ... I think we’ll be fine."
Melo, a sophomore from Brazil, had 88 blocked shots this season and was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. However, he missed three games because of academics in January, during which the Orange went 2-1.
The school hasn’t said why melo is ineligible this time, nor would tight-lipped coach Jim Boeheim, who was asked if melo had let down his teammates, and responded, "Next question," but quickly added, "I can’t talk about this. But I will say he didn’t let anybody down, in my opinion, all right? I know that’s out there. I don’t believe that to be true."
Waiters said melo apologized to his teammates.
"He said he was sorry for what was going on," Waiters said. "He loves us, and he’s got our back no matter what. That’s the biggest thing. He’s going to be with us in spirit."
Forward Kris Joseph said, "We played without him before. I don’t think we’re ill-prepared. We’ll be able to advance without him. It’s not something that hit us all of a sudden. ... We’ve done it before, so we’ll be ready."
And seniors Joseph and Jardine know what it’s like to lose a big man right before the NCAA tournament. Center Arinze Onuaku suffered a knee injury in the 2010 Big East tournament, and didn’t play in the NCAAs. The top-seeded Orange were knocked off in the Sweet 16 by eventual national finalist Butler.
Syracuse officials reportedly had assured the NCAA selection committee that year that Onuaku would be healthy enough to return by the second weekend of the tournament, and that helped them hold on to a No. 1 seed in the West. No wonder there has been plenty of speculation this week about what Boeheim knew and when he knew it, because the Orange likely would have dropped in the seedings had Melo’s impending absence been known.
When asked Wednesday when he "had an idea" melo wouldn’t be available, the usually loquacious Boeheim simply replied "Tuesday."
Boeheim is the only coach in the tournament who was not interviewed by ESPN Networks on Monday.
He said of Melo, "For him to not have the opportunity to play is very disappointing for me, for him personally and for the rest of our players."
"We know they’re a great team," UNC-Asheville guard Matt Dickey said. "They’re a great team with and without him. ... We want to make a name for UNC-Asheville. This is the opportunity to do it
Post a Comment