Fab Melo Will Miss NCAA Tournament with Eligibility Issue

The Syracuse Orangemen will be playing without one of their best players in the NCAA Tournament.

The official website for Syracuse sports has announced the team will be without 7’0’’ center Fab Melo:

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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. Given University policy and federal student privacy laws, no further details can be provided at this time.

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This is a big blow for the Orangemen. Melo averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as the catalyst for the defense in the paint. 

According to ESPN's Dana O'Neil, the NCAA's decision stems from the same academic issues that handed the Big East defensive player of the year a three game suspension earlier in the season:

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This is an academic issue related to the first suspension. He was initially cleared after the first suspension but the NCAA has since revisited the case and deemed him ineligible again.

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Syracuse went 2-1 in his absence, beating Cincinnati and West Virginia while losing to Notre Dame.

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