In light of BMK starting his first half of Division I basketball, I think he deserves his own thread here.  It looks as though, unless Bernie Fine can make some drastic improvements to Melo's game soon, BMK will soon earn the starting Syracuse center job.  The kid hustles his butt off, is pretty scrappy and I feel has loads of untapped potential, but will he be able to handle the grueling Big East schedule with such a slight frame.  He moves his feet well and when not on the ball puts himself in good position on defense.  Even when he is caught out of position, I've noticed he is quick to react and can also move quickly to get back in position.  The question remains, how will his positioning and hustle fair against the bruisers in the Big East?  My feeling is not very well, but given Melo's almost complete ineptitude on both sides of the court BMK seems to be our only option unless Boeheim decides to go small with Ricky at center, a line-up coach was almost dead set against before the season started.  Given the development or lack thereof of our big men, it will probably be something we see more.

I really hope Fab can turn things around, but the schedule only gets tougher. I guess the verdict is still out.  To use a phrase we've heard all to often early on this season...are we in for a "looooong year"?