It is the headline writers who are probably the most bummed about Nerlens Noel's decision today.

Come on. Christmas and Noel on the same team? The possibilities were endless.

Georgetown fans aren't too far behind on that list.

Of the three schools Noel had narrowed down his decision to, the Hoyas got the short end of the stick (a fact Syracuse fans surely feel horrible about today).

Kentucky got Noel.

Syracuse still has a loaded front court without Noel of DaJuan Coleman, Baye Keita, Rakeem Christmas, and C.J Fair.

What did Georgetown get out of this? A copy of the home game?

For the Syracuse fan, the act of Nerlens Noel turning his flat top around on ESPNU at 8:46 p.m. last night to reveal a Kentucky logo shaved into his hair was greeted with, well, mostly a shrug of the shoulders.

Given the amount of build up to this decision, I was pleasantly surprised to see that.

Now, there were a few who didn't take the news that way.

Like the guy who showed up on my Twitter timeline last night informing me he was "super pissed" about the decision. Hopefully a good night's sleep helped ease the pain, sir.

And there were quite a few jokes floating around about what the winning bid was from John Calipari for Noel's services and what the over/under was on when the Yahoo! investigation would commence on Noel's recruitment. All things we have heard before.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times reminded us of this piece that he wrote a couple weeks back on some, as Pete put it "sordid" figures that surround Noel.

But for the most part, Syracuse fans seemed to wish Noel good night and good luck (and maybe unfollow him on Twitter) and move on.

Me? I was kind of bummed he didn't pick Georgetown.

Yep. I said it.

Look, at the end of the day this is sports, right? Sports are for fun. They are entertainment. I think we can all agree we take this way too seriously sometimes (myself included).

If Syracuse wasn't Noel's choice, and it clearly wasn't, then what would the next best scenario be, thinking from an entertainment standpoint?

» The Bud and Brent Show

» What they're saying about Nerlins Noel's decision

How about the next big thing in college hoops going to the school that used to be a factory for big men, that happens to be Syracuse's arch rival.

When Syracuse-Georgetown was at it's peak, it wasn't the school SU fans despised. It was names like Ewing, Mourning, Mutombo they despised.

We simply don't get that anymore in college basketball. The really good players don't stick around long enough for opposing fan bases to develop that dislike that was there back in the day.

Noel could have been added to that list.

Now, we all know Noel isn't going to stick around college basketball long. He is the latest to punch his ticket on the one-and-done train.

But you are telling me a player of his caliber having burned Syracuse to go to Georgetown doesn't stoke the flames of the SU fan and build up the intensity of those two matchups next season?

And there would be two SU-Georgetown games next season. TV people and executives in the Big East front office, smelling a great storyline, would make sure of it.

Nerlens Noel coming into the Carrier Dome in that hated gray (or platinum if you prefer) uniform for what would be the last SU-Georgetown game in the Big East (no we really mean it this time!) doesn't interest you? Really?

But how can you WANT to send the best recruit in the country to Georgetown, Axe! Are you insane?

Well, what did SU fans keep saying about their team if Noel didn't commit to Syracuse?

"We''ll be fine!" "Look at all these guys coming back!" "No worries!".

You aren't telling me you are scared of the guy now, are you?

Anyway, I'm dreaming. He chose Kentucky and the possibility of Syracuse matching up with Noel would have to be in a Final Four or NCAA Tournament setting or ... wait a second.

Are they doing that Big East-SEC challenge again next year?

If ESPN is remotely serious about making that the event it should be, than Syracuse plays Kentucky in that thing. Not only for the Noel factor, but because it was the title game we all wanted but didn't get to see this past college basketball season.

Well, if that happens or not, it's on to the next thing for Syracuse basketball fans.

Anyone know what Tyler Ennis' Twitter handle is?



Brent Axe

baxeman@yahoo.com

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@BrentAxeMedia on Twitter

Brent Axe is also the host of "On the Block" heard weekdays from 2-6 p.m. on The Score 1260 in Syracuse. The show is simulcast on Time Warner Cable Sports.