Syracuse Will Hurt In Fab Melo's Absence

For what we know -- officially, openly, indisputably, is that he can only sit and watch and miss out on all the madness. There's not much Fab Melo, the shot-blocking sophomore, can do actively to facilitate and help No. 1 Syracuse in the NCAA tournament.

And so, suddenly, upon hearing the latest news, Melo will not play in the tournament due to eligibility issues, a non-factor at the worst possible time. It's been a season of adversity and ignominy for the Syracuse men's basketball team -- longtime assistant coach Bernie Fine was fired after former two ball boys accused him of sexually abuse. And just recently, Yahoo Sports! learned that at least 10 players failed a banned substance test.

With that in mind, Melo's absence will be felt and, because he won't be taking part in activity of the most unpredictable tournament, bracketologist and casual fans should be skeptical about penciling Syracuse in the Final Four on brackets. Besides, the real fun of Syracuse was watching Melo, who not only had a flashy name but the intangibles of size and incredible wingspan. It would be an upset, not to mention an absolute failure, if Syracuse can't make it to New Orleans. But without the 7-foot Brazilian, logic is, the Orange can't survive, can't easily thrash their opposition and can't perform at best.

Projected to at least qualify for the national title to some, now it appears Syracuse is in serious trouble, as the status remains unknown on whether they can play effectively minus the services of Melo. The spate of distractions from a star player's ineligibility looks painfully bad for a basketball program striving in bringing home the gold trophy and cutting down the nets in New Orleans, but the Orange has depth and tremendous talent with sustainably the best sixth-man in the nation, Dion Waiters. He is a legitimate guard, an athletic sophomore coming off the bench after he was almost released from the team, blooming into a star in his role as a reserve. There are plenty of weapons, from senior point guard Scoop Jardine to Kris Joseph, who leads Syracuse in scoring, piling on 13.8 points and collecting merely five rebounds and has abundantly stolen the ball with his quick hands, tied for the team's second most steals with Jardine.

If Syracuse wants a chance to compete, by all means, it will take contributions from all of them, specifically without Melo having an impact at a time when his presence will deeply be missed. In what will probably be the toughest, stiffest run for Syracuse in the upcoming weeks, beginning with North Carolina-Asheville on Thursday afternoon, it's now conceivably to envision a No. 16 seed having the better chance of becoming the first to defeat a No. 1 seed. It wouldn't be so surprising -- trust me -- if UNC Asheville startled our consciousness and extremely annihilated our brackets as giant killers in the tourney after the greatest upset in NCAA history.

Now, imagine if this were to happen?

If this game becomes an instant classic, replays of the biggest upset will forever reappear on ESPN Classic to remember a fantastic contest of thrills and shocking outcomes. It's not the first time Melo was declared ineligible by the school. The last time he was disqualified by the school was for academic issues, and now comes Melo's second suspension. Worse of all, after penalizing its best player for an unspecific purpose, the NCAA could impose a sanction against the program if the seven-footer was mistakenly cleared to return after the first punishment. His earlier suspension proved costly, he was the missing domino effect and Syracuse -- believe it or not -- diminished in areas of offense, and although you are optimistic the Orange can definitely win without Melo, there is a possibility they might be an early ouster.

It essentially, whether a person buys into it or not, ends Syracuse's national title hopes, putting a scare on the hearts of Syracuse faithful -- starving for a championship and much happiness with all the adversity giving the university a bad name. Through it all, Syracuse has come together as a unified team and immensely overcame adversity, enough to amass a 31-2 record and claim a No. 1 seed, but will have to play without Melo after the announcement that one of the tallest starting centers is ineligible. All season, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has dealt with off-court distractions on numerous occasions, but it has not caused the Orange to teeter and break down fundamentally.

Melo's absence would be enough, even though he had a disappointing freshman season, to demolish the basketball season, wastefully ending a run of achievements and dreams by missing a key component. It's necessarily a problem without Melo, who was named Big East defensive player of the year, especially if he averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game in which he dominated perfectly in Boeheim's acclaimed 2-3-zone defense.

Upset, anyone?

The school is deprived of their superstar in essence of a severe punishment, but in likelihood they could be upset bait. Then again, perhaps this traditionally may be the year we see 'Cuse basketball. It's not believable at this very moment, though.

March Figures to Have Much Parity, Thrills -- Let Madness Begin

The madness is essentially part of our sports culture, which could start an interesting conversation at the water cooler where co-workers all week will discuss their tournament brackets and devote much time away from the workplace to secretly engage in a gambling pool. Each year, we have fun penciling in schools in a field of 68 teams -- watching the unthinkable unfold in arguably the most enthralling tournament in sports. This has been the most exciting season for college hoops. It's always fun to witness the tourney because of underdogs, upsets, breathtaking finishes and thrills.

March Madness is, after all, the time of year when fans fill out brackets, which are busted by the second round to only define a crazy month of March Sadness as no one's bracket is never perfect and usually is obliterated before the Sweet 16. There is nothing new about the majority being at work all week, focusing on brackets, checking the scores and rooting for the underdog -- a tradition we have culturally braced for years. It's a moment in time for a field of 68 teams to ultimately advance to the Final Four in a tourney of single elimination by having the drive, willpower, character, determination and ammunition at the right possible time.

With all due respect Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina all earned No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament Sunday despite stunning conference losses. A team that solely ruled the Big Ten was Michigan State after beating Ohio State, now the only school to earn No. 1 seed after winning its conference tournament. But in truth, all season, the schools worthy of top seeding dominated and were well deserving of largely earning the top spot. The road to the 2012 Final Four -- which is played in New Orleans two weeks from now -- is elusive in which anything is possible.

Like the rest us, President Obama, who has shown enthusiasm for sports, will likely fill out a bracket even if there are more important issues on his to-do list such as restoring a nation financially battered by a long-suffering recession. He is, without a doubt, enamored with college hoops, perhaps maybe even too much. But what sports fan isn't in love with March? The most interesting, fun three weeks on the calendar looms ever so closer, a tournament of dreams, miracles, ecstasy and agony. Even though Kansas are favorites to win all to some, that is, the Jayhawks were given a No. 2 seed.

It's almost as if the deepest teams in the nation exist in the Big 12 with the likes of Missouri and Baylor, two teams that may actually be stronger and more efficient than Kansas. Truth is, every region is competitive and the least expected team, as the NCAA tournament begins -- would wear the class slipper -- like George Mason and Villanova as giant killers in the past. So let the Madness begin.

Where exactly does Kansas stand? You can't ever tell with the Jayhawks.

For whatever reason, as people are so fascinated by Kansas because its considered one of the most talented and deepest teams in the country, the Jayhawks are marked to advance to the Final Four -- but tends to stunningly fall against sleepers in a game of chillers and thrillers. It's hard to believe that Kansas will survive the madness, with far too many people sold on a program that is the most vulnerable team in March. Bill Self, head coach for Kansas, doesn't get much sleep these days, incapable of winning the big ones when it counts. Remember when Ali Farokhhmanesh hit a big three-point shot to help Northern Iowa stun Kansas for one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history? Remember when eleven-seeded VCU beat Kansas that ended in a stunning collapse last season?

Once again, Self, who has won one national championship in eight seasons, is one of the nation's best offensive set coaches and has recruited brilliantly throughout his tenure, but Kansas hasn't had the Big 12's top recruiting class in four years. This is the man who made Kansas relevant after the Roy Williams regime, bringing in Brandon Rush, Julian Wright, and Mario Chalmers -- in the same class. This class has Thomas Robinson -- college basketball's MVP, if not national player of the year, averaging 11.8 boards per game and scoring 17.9 points on 53 percent shooting.

It can't be denied that Kansas is talented and loaded with offensive weapons, but relatively speaking it's always unknown how far they'll go in the tourney, a basketball program that can never, ever be trusted -- even with third-year starter Tyshawn Taylor, who is indispensable if the Jayhawks are playing to get through the first two rounds of their hardest challenge. And the big man, Jeff Withey, a seven-foot center, couldn't disrupt more in the middle as a solid defender.

This team is so equipped with talent of all sizes and athleticism, for which a loss is considered a failure. There's a reason this team is bigger and advertised more than any other team in contention, why Kansas' expectations are immense following a dominant, remarkable 27-6 season and why it's quite a shock when the Jayhawks have tourney misfortune. And if Kansas doesn't watch it and let its guard down, it's feasible that Belmont or Saint Mary's could painfully strike them by surprise. Is this the nation's best offensive team? That remains to be seen.

The nation's second-best teams, such as Duke, Missouri and Ohio State, all earned two seeds and may have felt they should have been ranked higher. One can argue that they all deserved No. 1 seeds, just as much as a person can argue that Drexel and Washington, winner of the Pac-12 title, should have been given at-large bids. It amazes me to see that, of all teams, Iona secured a bid for the tourney, and as it turns out, it seems like an absolute joke come to think of all the craziness. Iona over Oral Roberts and Drexel? Iona over Washington? Are you kidding me?

Sixty-eight teams qualified and, as always, there is much controversy over snubs and seeding for which you can't please everyone, even if you tried. The outcry of snubbed teams is nothing more but bickering on whether a school was legitimately good enough to compete in the NCAA tournament and, from the scheme of things, the committee apparently thought those schools were undeserving.

It's my inclination that the real jockeying for the big dance comes this week in a tourney of much parity, mystic and excitement. Now that we've established the brackets, rightfully so, we can predict a winner and digest the beauty of the big dance, comprised of sixty-eight teams, four regions, three weeks of intense drama.

1. Potential Cinderella


Not many college basketball games have been played lately without George Masons or even an unexpected Cinderella in existence, coming alive to stun the world. And this year alone, Belmont, Detroit and Memphis are a trilogy of dark horses on the road to the Final Four. It wouldn't be smart to ignore Belmont. This is the week Harvard, yes, an Ivy League school, can possibly survive early on with a win over No. 5 Vanderbilt, who convincingly beat unbeatable Kentucky in the SEC championship game. If any upsets happen, Belmont, a well-coached, experienced and powerful team, should be the favorites to pull off the stunner over third-ranked Georgetown, particularly after thrashing North Florida in the Atlantic Sun championship Saturday.

Just so you know, the Bruins finished 19-1-conference play and 30-4 overall. Watch out for Belmont. The annual notion of all the madness is that we should witness another George Mason, as we have each year, becoming obsessed with a suspenseful, compelling contest, which has grown into a popular sports event every spring -- from March Madness gatherings to brackets to online streaming at the workplaces. If you like upsets, then you may fall in love with No. 9 Southern Miss over No. 8 Kansas State or No. 12 Long Beach State over No. 5 New Mexico. This is all seemingly possible.

2. Kentucky Wildcats


The feeling of cutting down the nets in New Orleans is very possible for the Wildcats. And in the big dance, at least for what it is, Kentucky is the most dominant team in the nation and might be crowned champs in three more weeks. The feeling is, once the winner is decided, folks might be partying in Lexington. When he was hired as Kentucky's basketball coach, John Calipari described the University of Kentucky coaching position as his "dream job." It's more than just an illusion and, in reality, he's finally coaching a group of players projected to hold the gold trophy and travel back to the Blue Nation with a sense of joy.

The development of Kentucky is partly from the rise of freshman Marquis Teague and Anthony Davis, the diaper dandy as Dickie V calls them -- a surefire Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and top pick in the NBA draft, scoring 15 points a game, dominating in the middle and blocking shots. And with the likes of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, the Wildcats are the clear favorites. Among the things for which he has developed the toughest program in the nation, Calipari has influenced his driven players to contend for a national title, chasing the ultimate goal. The best team loses sometimes, and Calipari is advising his considerably talented young players to not beat themselves.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels


The toughest region is the Midwest in which the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, such as North Carolina and Kansas -- seem probable to meet in the Elite Eight. The Tar Heels are obviously one of the best teams in the nation, after their opposition beat them in the ACC tournament -- which was No. 3 Florida State -- to win its first conference title in school history. Aside from the Tar Heels' loss over the weekend, the team is led by Tyler Zeller, who became the 13th Tar Heel and third in the last five seasons to be named the ACC Player of the Year. Most of North Carolina's flaws are from the inability to shoot the ball -- they don't shoot the ball consistently and depend greatly on Zeller to lead the way. For a team who potentially has enough depth to win a national title, Kendall Marshall, Harrison Barnes and junior forward John Henson are brutal in a transition offense.

3. Syracuse Orange


Jim Boeheim is one of America's premier college basketball coaches, and generally is considered to be an expert of the zone defense. What is a major concern is the way the Orange let their guard down in the Big East tournament, to stumble shockingly in a defeat to Cincinnati. They can't afford to duplicate a shortage of success in a win-or-go-home situation, and if Syracuse struggles, the odds is that they can unravel in the Elite Eight if they meet third-seeded Florida State, a team with enough talent to carry out the upset. By all means, the Orange must get contributions from a disappearing Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine, two players who will have to recover from woes if Syracuse is angling to overrule.

It's the time of year we die for.

Let the madness begin.

With Shocking Allegations, Jim Boeheim In Dilemma at Syracuse

As shocking as it is to find a shred of truth, end the traces of hypocrisy and purge destruction that initiated public outrage, there’s really no telling on what to believe after Jim Boeheim defended his ex-associate head basketball coach. Risking his job status, pointing his finger at former Syracuse ball boys Bobby Davis and his stepbrother Michael Lang — a couple of accusers who alleged that Bernie Fine had abused them when they were children – Boeheim deemed them as liars and money seekers.

It’s so convenient but unfair of him to defend Fine, who was fired as Syracuse associate head basketball for the disturbing allegations. It’s a shame, a real shame that he is, like Joe Paterno, caught in a pickle for someone else’s accusations of sexual abuse. By all accounts, when he tried to erase the allegations and finally had desired to protect the basketball culture for one of the nation’s best programs, he might have caused more pain. He tried to find peace and apologized for comments that may have been insensitive to victims of abuse, but it only created more furor as a national sex-abuse survivors group is begging for Syracuse University to discipline the well-respected Boeheim for wrongly referring to Fine’s accusers as extortionists and falsifiers.


He is, without much debate, an expert at winning, but surely put his reputation out on a limb for an alleged molester. In what happened at Penn State – where the board of trustees felt Paterno had knowledge of alleged crimes – is equivalent to the allegations in upstate New York. The parallels are linked to the Jerry-Sandusky situation, whereas Boeheim claimed he never knew anything about Fine sexually molesting two former ball boys, until ESPN recently reported and broadcasted the allegations. Boeheim can, for now, keep his job – everybody knows that – and he said on Sunday that the university acted appropriately in firing Fine in the wake of the 2002 tape, and lastly, apologized for his statements toward Davis and Lang.

The madness unleashed from a taped phone conversation between Davis and Fine’s wife, Laurie, when the university conducted its enclosed investigation in 2005. In a statement, however, Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor said in a memo to students, faculty and administrators Sunday night that it never had access to the tape. But on the tape, where bits and pieces of information were disclosed, Fine’s wife apparently admits to Davis that she had concerns her husband had sexually abused him in their home.

It was also made clear that Laurie admitted on the tape to having a sexual relationship with Davis. The extremely bad thing about it is that she said she wasn’t surprised, but was incapable of ending the abuse when all she could have done was call the authorities on her husband. Instead, she chose to cover the truth and reportedly suffocated the process of the 2005 investigation by saying the allegations weren’t true. It happened during the phone conversation as she spoke to one of the alleged victims as well, enabling her husband to get away with wrongdoing without offering any details in a recorded call.

Not only is the criticism swirling around Boeheim about his initial support of his former assistant and his harsh stance on the accusers. Also, he put his longtime job on the line when he verbally lashed out in defense of Fine. This past weekend, as a third alleged victim came out publicly and Laurie’s taped conversation had been made public, Boeheim had softened his position on the allegations and maintained self-control and support for the victims. His expression is irately in shock, however, his mind is set to move forward and hopefully put the allegations behind him and inspire his players, on a mission to win a national title. This is Boeheim’s attitude, a strong recovery and aspiration for a program now stuck in misery.

This university should be leery in protecting Boeheim from hell. What a helluva week it’s been, for a basketball coach who should be taken into account based on his unfeeling comments, harshly attacking the victims and blinded by his longtime assistant’s double-life. The distasteful thought is that he may have known about the allegations. And then again, maybe he was like everyone else and really had no clue Fine, who spent 35 seasons on the bench sitting next to Boeheim, was an alleged molester. Since he couldn’t reserve judgment and spoke angrily, he is simply to blame faced with a despicable and outrageous incident that cast a gloom over Syracuse. This is curable and may even die down this season, if only because its one of the elite Big East basketball programs in the nation, but it is terrifying to know that a pedophile lurked in the school’s facilities and courtside. Moments like this, in truth, is when folks are unafraid to state how they feel about a typical incident. This week, Rev. Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery, an organization that supports abused victims, said that Fine’s firing wasn’t good enough.

“I think Jim Boeheim should be fired or resign as well,” Hoaston said Monday. “These boys were members of the basketball program. Jim Boeheim’s responsibility is to oversee that program, and the children were not safe on his watch.”

Penn State II: The Return of the Sex Scandal in Sports.

I am fatigued by it all. I am sick and tired of scandal after scandal, blame game after blame game in sports. It’s probably right to affirm that men of power are sick in the mind and would seduce children for an advantage in power. It’s probably right to grasp an understanding that we can’t trust men in high-profile positions either, despite that many of them are viewed as role models. This was beyond a crime, but a mental illness that requires attention. This was a sociopath taking control of children with his power. It’s hardly ever that a person sense a strange vibe whenever grown men are seen alone with children who aren’t theirs, but now would be a good time to be attentive, if something highly unusual is noticed.

If Davis, now 39, told the truth in an interview with ESPN – in which it’s hard to call an abused victim a liar – Fine began molesting him in 1984 and the sexual activities continued until he was around 27. The abuse took place at Fine’s home, Syracuse basketball facilities and on road trips. His stepbrother, Lang, was even molested while he was in the fifth or sixth grade. The other guy to come forward was Zach Tomaselli, 23, who said Sunday he told police that Fine sexually abused him in 2002 in Pittsburgh hotel room.

And you know what? In the wake of the news, not believing the victims and responding in defense of Fine, Boeheim was defensive, uncompromising, biased and politically inaccurate. By those remarks, he might have just risk so much, not only for defending his friend and the university’s brand but slamming the victims. We’ll soon find out whether he’ll be Syracuse basketball head coach in the coming days. Everybody deserves a chance to repair a school’s image, but normally when a coach has a relentless rant without having any knowledge it somewhat damages credibility. He certainly wasn’t thinking before he had spoken, and Boeheim’s unwise concept to blame the one’s hurt by all of this was obliviousness and downright ignorance.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Boeheim is fired. It’s not an irrational act. It’s not too late. But he won’t be fired, even if you make a strong case of his heartless words. For what we know, he’s not guilty of any crimes. For what we know, he wasn’t aware of these allegations — at least that is what he tells us. It’s hard to fire someone without evidence or eyewitnesses.

For what we know, despite the gloom and dark shades of this catastrophe, Boeheim will stay as Syracuse basketball head coach.

Mystique, Tradition, Mayhem: This March Has The Makings of Epic Madness

Everyone has waited for all the mayhem, which is looming closer titillating all basketball devotees to fill out brackets, keep their eyes clued to the television and unite together in a tight room rooting on their alumni or college team. One team will survive within a tournament of 64 teams, of course, seeking to bust someone’s bracket and emerge as the next Cinderella team.

Each year, a fascinating twist creates an epic tale, forcing everyone to watch a breathtaking ending to a magical story, navigated by a sleeper or an underdog that was least expected to make a convincing surge.

What we love about March Madness is the unpredictable reactions, a mesmerizing scene and electrifying finishes. This hasn’t been the most brilliant season, seeing the likes of UCLA, Indiana, UConn, and North Carolina miss the tournament. It’s a rarity, whenever a program is known for its mystique and tradition, but misses the tournament.

Either way, that is, I’ll utter the words of Dickie V. “Yeah, Baby!”

The greatest tourney in all sports is amid a dramatic countdown, awing all people across the nation to fill out elusive brackets and join pools at work.

Whether their bosses scold them near the water cooler or even at their desk for wasting much time in front of the computer curious of which team pulls off the upset or which No. 1 seed survives a decisive contest, March Madness is an extravaganza and one sporting tournament, hijacking our consciousness until the Final Four takes place in early April.

This year, the emergence of Kentucky’s John Wall and Evan Turner musters attention, both recognized as a feel-good story within two programs that were mired in disarray a year ago for underachieving. Its entire mystique was ruined, based on the failures at two schools recognized greatly for basketball and dominating the tourney in March.

But nowadays, it seems the Two K’s repossess top-seeds, returning to normalcy and balancing a ritual the Bluegrass State and the Sunflower State are accustomed to embracing. However, you cannot please all teams.

In fairness, some teams deserved a shot at contending in the biggest dance, but the committee tried handling a difficult task responsibly. There weren’t signs of favoritism, I hope. Or were there indications of giving the teams with values and tradition, a better seeding?

Duke was rated a spot higher than Syracuse when the No. 1 seeds were unveiled. To me, the Orange played in a tougher Big East conference, to whereas the Blue Devils struggled to pull off must-needed victories on the road in an undermined ACC conference.

Another argument worth screaming about is West Virginia, the Big East tournament champs, claiming a No. 2 seed, undervalued by Syracuse and the devastating injury of senior center Arinze Onuaku. The section committee chairman Dan Guerrero is catching heat, after disregarding acceptable schools such as Mississippi State and Virginia Tech.

The final six teams selected in the field of 64 teams, such as UTEP, Minnesota, and Missouri were lucky based on how well they played in their conference tournament. If so, why Mississippi State never earned a bid?

Very interesting!


Aside from all the pontificating and debating on which team should’ve earned a berth to the big dance, even greater, the Madness will be tense and thrilling. In what is set to be an epic theater, we embrace a shining moment wondering which team is this year’s George Mason, Western Kentucky, or Davidson. Rarely ever is March disappointing, but becomes the month of fools, perhaps, early then April.

None of this is overexposure, but a moment for us to relish sports in a different way as teams defy the odds. It’s certainly more enthralling the NBA, a league that has become dull over the years, with its usual format.

The best-of-seven format doesn’t implement enough suspense and thrills, as the NCAA tourney. Each year, you never know what is bound to happen within an erratic sporting event that incites a large debate and bracketologists to intermingle with the biggest showdown in college sports.

If tournament week was any indictor, we’ll predict New Mexico is a sleeper out of the Mountain West conference. How about Cornell, a team from the Ivy Leauge?

Quite fittingly, the glass slipper may actually fit on the feet of a team that has buried more three-pointers than any other team in the field of 65. Settling for an average of 9.8 per game, Cornell is a dangerous out, regardless of facing Temple, an unselfish and deepest team in the Atlantic 10 conference.

The Owls are capable of slowing down Cornell’s three-point game, and taking them out of their comfort zone. But take a closer look at Houston and Siena, too. If there’s one Cinderella team in the tournament, Siena has a chance to ruin brackets.

You’ve been warned, pick the Saints to advance pass an ailing Purdue in the first-round. By losing star player Robbie Hummel to season-ending knee injury, the Boilermakers weren’t nearly as powerful in the Big Ten tournament.

Each year, there’s a new personality in the tournament and the field of 64 teams. This year, the menaces are all the No. 1 seeds, craving and coveted to reach the biggest stage at Indianapolis. Reminder to all folks filling out a bracket, Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Duke are tenacious and vigorous in advancing to the Final Four.

Let’s give our thumbs up to committee for granting the Jayhawks a No. 1 seed. With the exception of Bill Self, point guard Sherron Collins, center Cole Aldrich, shooting guard Xavier Henry and twins Marcus and Markieff Morris, you could be starring at the bottomless team in the nation, a team destined of the Final Four.

In conversions to break out amid the tourney, are Georgetown and Maryland, courtesy of the National Player of the Year nominees in Hoyas’ center Greg Monroe and Terrapins’ guard Grevis Vasquez, both experienced star players with tremendous talent.


It’s tough to call, having the powerhouses of the SEC in the mix. The Kentucky Wildcats are groomed and cultivated by the cleverness of John Calipari. Based on his history, he has prepared his teams for big games.

So rather the Wildcats are too young and inexperienced, his coaching method may strengthen and encourage Wall and DeMarcus Cousins of uplifting their performance. As we know, Wall is lightening quick and Cousins takes advantage inside the interior with his muscular body and wingspan to collect boards and tip in a shot before the end of regulation expires.


Is it a new dynasty for Duke? Seems Mike Krzyzewski has the Blue Devils on the right track. But in what seems to be the most vulnerable team in the South region, the boys from North Carolina are the hottest team near Tobacco Road winning four straight games and 11 their last 12 games.

It’s an understatement ignoring the Blue Devils, with the highest scoring trio in the nation. Guards Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith and forward Kyle Singler are the difference in Duke’s ideal winning streak.

Meanwhile, facing Louisville and Villanova later down the road, could spell trouble.

What has the makings for the best storyline early in the sporting year, March Madness has the makings for the greatest epic classics in sports.

We’ll certainly watch.

Syracuse's Early Ouster, Not Big East Powerhouse

Before I had confidence in them, willing to fill out a bracket and applaud what had the features of the deepest team eligible for all the mayhem in March. But after yesterday, it’s hard to believe in the Syracuse Orange engraving another breathtaking epic classic with endless adrenaline lasting until midnight in the Big East, or even greater in the NCAA tourney.

Having seen the Orange precisely regulate an evident theory that the Big East is the one conference consisting of the most talent, all presumptions may have been misguided perspectives. Any team is vulnerable of suffering an unexpected letdown in gusty moments, when much is at stake as to earning a No. 1 seed and clinching a Final Four berth.

However, it is clear Syracuse isn’t Final Four caliber, stumbling at a time of desperation, a time a win enlarges a pure sense of confidence. This was considered an imposing chance, an awe-inspiring chance for the Orange to raise another championship banner, and appease an enthusiastic sporting school where the students await March wishing yet for another epic finish.


With five minutes remaining, arguably, the deepest powerhouses of the Big East glanced at the possibilities of clinching a No. 1 seed and winning the conference title diminish, suddenly becoming a fading program that had much capacity to arrive at the biggest dance.

Throughout recent struggles, Syracuse has hit unfamiliarity, after winning a national championship and two Big East titles. Back in the state of mediocrity, some are convinced that the Orange still could maintain a No. 1 seed, based on its reinforcement to emerge to new heights with its flourishing players.

Only this time, an upsetting 91-84 loss Thursday afternoon at the world’s most-respected venue may have smeared any conceivable assumptions of the top-seeded Orange locking up a No. 1 seed after squandering a nine-point second-half lead and trailing No. 8 Georgetown by 6 points.

No longer a menace, Syracuse was referred to as the most vigorous and bottomless program in the nation, with solid ingredients foreshadowing a premier school. It’s fitting to assume the Orange are relevant, but instead a team that may actually fall in the NCAA tournament prematurely, especially if slumps continues to downsize chances of a national title.


Believed to be the toughest out, the Orange aren’t a team known for playing from behind. With the exception of losing four games all season, winning 28 games brainwashed the minds and bracket experts of picturing an imposing ride to the Final Four, but after the unfortunate loss of senior center Arinze Onuaku to a right knee strain, the Orange may lose morale and tries finding fortitude elsewhere.

Overall, the program is languishing at the worst possible time, when contending to win it all demonstrates the worthiness of any school with immeasurable promise to reach glory.

The beauty of the NCAA tourney is winning, and also strengthening the athletic program by luring in more recruits and profit to put together the most compelling program in all college basketball, a usual trait Syracuse commits to so well.

Very wisely, coach Jim Boeheim has built and solidified a powerhouse in the Big East, a program that wasn’t even projected in the preseason top 40, based upon losing three prolific starters from last season.

Doesn’t everyone remember the indelible moment at last year’s Big East tournament?

Reminisce with me:

In a six-overtime thriller, the Orange somehow survived an exhausting marathon captivating all populace to stay awake and witness an epic contest that ended at exactly 1:25 a.m., becoming the longest game in Big East Tournament history.

Settling for 127 points to defeat the third-seeded Connecticut in the quarterfinals defined a breathtaking contest for the ages, orchestrated by gifted point guard Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf, whom opted to depart after coming up short in the Sweet 16.

However, the latest class captured a recognizable deed, unlike last year’s class.

For the first time in 20 years, the Orange claimed a top-seed, but unlike in the previous year, faltered holding on to an honorable possession after receiving 59 first-place votes from the national media panel.

So in large part, seeing the Orange decline illustrates an early ouster, even though it’s a program with massive talent.

Meanwhile, there are still a few players optimistic.

“I think we’re still one of the most consistent teams in the country where we can get a No. 1 seed,” Scoop Jardine said after the frustrating upset against the Hoyas.

After two consecutive losses and the injury of Onuaku, the dominant force inside the interior gives me second thoughts.


Leery of the sudden juncture considering that the Orange won seven of eight against teams ranked in the Top 25 poll, it’s not easy imagining them clinching a No. 1 seed or a Final Four berth unless Syracuse begins to awaken and polish. All of which, the recent breakdown stains all possibilities of earning a top-seed, putting all endless opportunities in jeopardy.

“I hope they’ll still be with us,” said Jardine. “We’ve been consistent all year. We have to get six wins…I think we’re capable of getting six wins. Hopefully ‘Cure Nation’ is still with us.”

Of course, "Cure Nation" is still by their sides, hopeful the Orange reshapes into a contender and solaces all conceptions of falling early.

“We can’t let these losses get us down,” said Andy Rautins, the explosive three-point shooter. “Come April, I don’t think anyone will remember this.”

In a sense, the Orange envisions a potential surge, lulled of reestablishing and legitimizing parity. What is viewed as a well-balanced program, Syracuse needs to benefit from Andy Rautins’ three-point shots. They need to benefit from Wesley Johnson’s midrange jumpers, a streaky shooter whose numbers dropped in prior weeks.

Only problem is he could be worn down, and if his opponents are really physical, Johnson doesn’t play as effectively. At least there’s the 2-3 zone defense, a philosophy inserted by the Hall of Fame coach Boeheim, probably the most stabilized in all of college hoops.

And certainly, the magnitude of an admirable event is to rise to the top, but suddenly disintegration ruins the delirium of March.

So what we assumed was promising, seems currently doubtful.