Syracuse’s national title hopes took a big hit this afternoon when it was announced sophomore center Fab Melo is ineligible for the NCAA tournament. The university didn’t get any more specific than stating that he wouldn’t travel with the team to Pittsburgh, where the Orange will face UNC-Ashville.

Melo, a 7-footer from Brazil, averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season. He’d previously been suspended for three games due to eligibility issues, including the Orange’s first loss away to Notre Dame.

This will have a profound impact on the brackets of millions, but we’ll have to see just how much it affects Syracuse on the court.