Fab Melo, the sophomore starting center for the fourth-ranked Syracuse basketball team, is practicing with the team. But, don't let that get you too excited. According to a report on Syracuse.com, Melo probably won't be back on the court for the Orange in the near future.
Syracuse center Fab Melo is practicing with his team today in the Melo Center. He did not play in SU's last two games vs. Notre Dame and Cincinnati. Sources said today that it could be "a while" before Melo's academic issues are resolved.
Melo, a 7-foot sophomore, had started every game this season for Syracuse, which is 21-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big East. Melo is averaging 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds along with a team-leading 60 blocked shots.
Syracuse split its two road games that Melo sat out, losing at Notre Dame and then winning at Cincinnati. Melo's probably not the most important piece to the puzzle, but it was clear that the team was used to his big body in the middle and played differently without him. His absence also saps one of the biggest assets this Syracuse team has: depth. There has been no additional information given concerning the nature of Melo's academic issues, but due to individual privacy protections for students, it is probably not forthcoming.