Update 4: Mookie takes to Facebook to say "I'm sorry to all of my fans but family is the most important thing right now much love to everyone"
Update 3: The Juice Online actually saw this coming last week when word began to trickle out that Melo was academically-ineligible.
Update 2: Mookie tweets "Ill be back next year." That only makes this seem stranger...
Update: According to Andy Katz, Fab's issue is an "unresolved academic issue from first semester."
According to the source, the school is hoping the matter can be cleared up next week. The Orange host West Virginia Jan. 28.
Original: Well, we've been hearing the rumors all morning and here it is.
Fab Melo did not travel with the team and will not play in the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish today. He also will not play when the Orange take on the Cincinnati Bearcats on Monday.
Further, Mookie Jones has left the team for "personal reasons."
For the Syracuse Orange fan who's always waiting for the other shoe to drop, there it is.
Here's the official statement:
"The Athletics Department's Communications Office is releasing two separate and unrelated matters regarding the men's basketball team:
-Sophomore Fab Melo is not with the team for the current road trip, which includes games against Notre Dame (tonight) and against Cincinnati (Jan.23).
-Junior Mookie Jones has left Syracuse University for personal reasons, and currently is not a member of the team.
Given University policy and federal student privacy laws, we are not able to provide any further details at this time."
As we find out more, I'll update...