Syracuse center Fab Melo did not travel with the team for Syracuse’s current two-game road trip, SU athletics announced in a release on Saturday afternoon.

The release also stated junior guard Mookie Jones has left Syracuse University for personal reasons and is not a member of the team. Jones’ departure is a separate and unrelated matter, according to the release.

No. 1 Syracuse plays on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Notre Dame, and on Monday at Cincinnati at 7 p.m. Melo’s absence leaves SU with one center, Baye Keita, for both games. Freshman forward Rakeem Christmas has filled in at center at times this season as well.

Given university policy and federal student privacy laws, the release stated the athletic department is not able to provide further details at this time.

Melo, a sophomore, has started all 20 games for the Orange this season. He averages 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and three blocks in 22.3 minutes per game.

Jones played a total of 38 minutes in seven games this year.

mcooperj@syr.edu

Published on January 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Mark: mcooperj@syr.edu | @mark_cooperjr