Syracuse faces tough slate; Southerland in limbo

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is dealing with an eligibility issue for the second time in a year.

On Saturday, the university announced just before the Orange's tipoff against Villanova that senior James Southerland was out indefinitely.

A year ago, center Fab Melo missed three games in late January due to an academic issue, then was reinstated. But just before the start of the NCAA tournament, the sophomore big man was ruled ineligible again. He did not play another college game and was drafted by the Boston Celtics.

Although Boeheim cited privacy issues in declining to elaborate on Southerland's status after the Orange's 11-point win over the Wildcats, he says in an interview Monday at ESPN headquarters in Connecticut that "We will get through it and, hopefully, James will get through this.''

Southerland is the team's third-leading scorer and a key player off the bench.