Cuse Is Out Like Flynn While KU Is Rich In Gifts

Syracuse and Kansas met in the 2003 national championship game and even had a rematch this year which the Orange won. Both teams reached the sweet 16 in this year's tournament and both teams would be title contenders next year provided their key players returned to school. Yet this is where the fortunes of these two basketball powers take a divering course.

Johnny Flynn, the high-flying, iron-man, do-everything point guard for Syracuse is reportedly waiting by his mailbox for paperwork to sign with agent Leon Rose according to the Syracuse Post-Standard. Rose represents some guy named LeBron James so I guess he comes with a smidge of credibility. Once Flynn scribbles his name proper on the line his college eligibilty will be up in smoke. Initially first thought to be testing the NBA waters at the pre-draft camps, somebody must have gotten hold on young Johnny's ear and filled with stories of lottery picks and samsonite's full of cash. Having LeBron's agent offer his services is enough for any young man to take the leap. While I am sure our Syracuse alum Concierge wishes Flynn well, but this drops the Orange out of their Final Four hopes for next year. Just how far they fall will be determined what other pieces will fall. Paul Harris was thought to be testing the waters but is no saying that he had not had the intentions of leaving. Devendorf, while he may not be a high first-rounder would be a huge loss to Syracuses backcourt and their trash-talking ability. They do have Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson along with Onuaku and Jackson in the frontcourt and Rautins coming back from the perimeter, but without the dynamic point play of Flynn, Syracuse will definitely have a tougher time next year. [Syracuse Post-Standard]

While things may be gloomy (and probably cold) in Syracuse, the situation is a lot brighter in Lawrence with the news that Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich will be returning to Kansas next year. Collins averaged just under 19 points a game and 5 assists as the Jayhawks' point guard while Aldrich was a force down low all year and recorded a triple double in the NCAA tournament. Bill Self won the title a year ago and won AP coach of the year this year after going 27-8 and getting endged by Michigan State in the tourney. Aldrich has just as much cause to go to the NBA as anyone as his father has been out of work for awhile, but he stated that it was the passion of the fans and the encouragement of his parents that made his decision. With KU also in the running for recruits Xavier Henry and Lance Stephenson, Kansas is going to be heavily favored to cut the nets down in Indy next year. [CBSSports]