Just before tip-off of Saturday's game, the news broke that Kansas State forward Jamar Samuels would join Syracuse center Fab Melo on the list of ineligible players.
While the Wildcats kept it close throughout the first half and even well into the second half, the No. 8 seed ultimately couldn't keep up with the No. 1 seed Orange over the last 10 minutes of play. Syracuse slowly built a lead and eliminated its opponents with a 75-59 victory.
Maybe that's all for the best. The Orange can claim that Melo's absence isn't hurting their ability to compete despite their closer-than-comfortable victory in their opening game win over UNC-Asheville. And KSU doesn't have to worry about resolving Samuels' ineligibility issue, since there are no games for him to play in.
