Big time news coming out of the Ensley Athletic Center today. All preseason Desko had repeatedly said Mellen’s condition was improving but he announced yesterday that the Syracuse Orange will be without pre-season All-ACC selection Nick Mellen for the rest of the season as he will undergo an unspecified procedure. According to a Syracuse.com report, Desko would not comment if this procedure has anything to do with the shoulder surgery Mellen had during the offseason.
In 2016 Mellen snagged 38 groundballs and picked up 14 caused turnovers, although he missed the 2017 opener against Siena last weekend. For a defensive unit that lost starters Jay McDermott and Brandon Mullins to graduation, losing Mellen is a huge blow. The Orange will now continue on with Scott Firman as the lead long-pole saddled with Tyson Bomberry and Marcus Cunningham. We may also see freshman Nicholas DiPietro more in a rotation.
The Syracuse defense gave up 26 shots and 16 shots on goal versus the Siena Saints this past weekend on its way to a 19-6 victory. This weekend SU will face a fast Albany Great Danes team which could prove tricky for this inexperienced close defense. Albany will also bring stud attackman Connor Fields to the Carrier Dome, a player who put up 73 points last season including two assists versus Syracuse.