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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Monday / December 9.
  • BoeheimSyracuse may not have been headed to the NCAA Tournament anyway.

    Now they definitely won’t be dancing.

    The University on Wednesday announced it previously notified the NCAA that it has instituted a self-imposed post-season ban for the men’s basketball 2014-15 season as part of its case pending before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

    Syracuse (15-7) is not currently listed in Joe Lunardi’s NCAA Tournament bracket and were a bubble team at best.

    “I am very disappointed that our basketball team will miss the opportunity to play in the post-season this year,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “Senior Rakeem Christmas has been an outstanding member of the team for the past four years. However, I supported this decision and I believe the University is doing the right thing by acknowledging that past mistakes occurred. Our players have faced adversity and challenges before. I know they will rise to this challenge by keeping our program strong and continuing to make our University proud.”

    thon_maker_dunkThon Maker, the 7-footer from Orangeville Prep in Ontario, is expected to make a decision on reclassification next week, his guardian Ed Smith told SNY.tv on Wednesday.

    Maker’s decision could have a profound impact not only on the recruiting landscape in the Class of 2015 but potentially on the 2016 NBA Draft, too.

    “The beginning of next week when we get back from the tournament [in Rhode Island], I’ll have everything,” Smith said Wednesday by phone.

    Orangeville Prep will compete this weekend in the National Prep School Invitational in Providence.

    Smith said Maker finished his classes a week ago and they are awaiting the results on his grades.

    Kyle AlexanderKyle Alexander, a 6-foot-10 2015 forward from Orangeville Prep in Ontario, enjoyed his weekend visit to St. Bonaventure and is still planning his other officials.

    The visit was “great,” his father, Joseph, told SNY.tv.

    “They answered all of our questions and focused on what he asked for, which was getting specifics about his major,” Joseph said. “Kyle really liked the coaching staff, as did my wife and I. It was an informative visit for Kyle.”

    Alexander has an official set for Pittsburgh Feb. 13-15 and Rice, Rhode Island and Western Kentucky also want him to visit.

    Newly minted McDonald’s All-American Caleb Swanigan attended games at Notre Dame and Louisville last week, but has no more visits planned for the moment.

    The 6-foot-8 Swanigan, out of Fort Wayne (IN) Homestead, saw Notre Dame beat Duke last week at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.

    “[Notre Dame] has been involved for a while,” Roosevelt Barnes, Swanigan’s guardian, told SNY.tv. “They’ve been calling, keeping in touch since September.”

    Barnes said the atmosphere at the game was special.

    “It was an excellent game, excellent atmosphere,” he said. “I remember seeing UCLA and Bill Walton and those guys when I was little, so it’s everything that tradition says that it is.”

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