Happy holidays Syracuse fans, now here's a giant lump of coal for your stocking.

Eric Devendorf is gone. Again.

The junior guard, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, has been suspended for the season by the Syracuse University judicial hearing board. Devendorf allegedly struck a female student in the jaw during an early morning confrontation on Nov. 1, though the board ruled that Devendorf did not commit any physical harm and did not violate any laws.

He was however on probation already, and the board said he didn't take it seriously.

Devendorf is expected to appeal the decision, and will be able to play until a final ruling is made.

Either way, whether the suspension is upheld or lessened, Syracuse is going to embark on the Big East season without its most experienced player in the lineup.

And things were going so well#.

The 13th-ranked Orange have two marquee wins, an eight-game win streak and a noticeable swagger that was missing last year.

Apparently, it's lightest just before dark.

This is a devastating loss. With Devendorf, Syracuse could be a Final Four team. Without, they're a Sweet 16 team.

Still good, but not great. Devendorf is an excellent finisher at the basket, one of the best in the country for his size. On top of his 14.1 points per game, he's a threat from the 3-point line, an excellent free-throw shooter and one of the team's best ball-handlers.

He makes Jonny Flynn better. He makes Paul Harris better. He makes all of his teammates better.

This isn't like losing Flynn, which would be Armageddon for 'Cuse hoops.

But it is significant.

So what does this mean for the Orange?

It means that Andy Rautins is a starter. The junior guard, who also missed last season with an ACL injury, is known for his outside shooting but is also an underrated passer. He's averaging 4.0 dimes per game.

Rautins is a better rebounder than Devendorf, but not nearly as good a ball-handler. This will put a lot more pressure on Flynn, who is going to have to handle all the press breaks and create more on offense.

Harris can handle the rock, but putting him out at the perimeter is like taking away Batman's gadgets - he loses his strength, which is interior brute force.

Without Devendorf, Syracuse is likely to face more zones. Rautins and Flynn are now the only legit 3-point threats.

Defenses can sag inside to take away production from Harris and Arinze Onuaku. Plus, Flynn is deadly against the man-to-man - no defender in the country can stay with him. Against a zone, Flynn may resort to hoisting more 3s, which we've seen in the past.

He can definitely shoot, but Syracuse is better when Flynn is dribbling and driving.

Devendorf's absence will likely mean more minutes for freshman Mookie Jones, who has yet to see significant court time.

Can Mookie fill in effectively?

I'm not so sure. Jones reminds me of a less athletic Donte Greene.

He's got a quick trigger and his shot selection isn't always ideal. But he is a tough guard and if he can find his stroke, he could be useful.

I just wonder if he can hold up against more physical opponents.

His wiry frame and his pension for injury don't bode well for Big East play.

Syracuse might be fine A.D - after Devendorf. They still look like an NCAA Tournament team. They're talented, experienced and most importantly, have the depth needed to replace a starter. They're better off than last year, for sure.

But it's just another blow to a program and a fan base that's been waiting for something good to happen.

The Orange have suffered enough losses the last four seasons.

And the fact that this one could have been avoided, makes it more difficult to handle.