Nerlens Noel has dropped Florida and Providence from his list of schools.

Noel, a 6-foot-11 center, will choose between Kentucky, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut and North Carolina.

He plans to make his decision in April.

Jim Calhoun underwent a two hour surgical procedure to remove a large extruded disk fragment that was pressing on the spinal nerve and decompressed the area around the nerve.

"Everything looks encouraging," said George Blaney, who has been filling in for Calhoun since Feb. 3. "Pat [Calhoun, Jim's wife] called and said the doctors were really pleased with what went on in the procedure."

Calhoun had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine, normally associated with aging and sometimes with arthritis.

There is no timetable for Calhoun’s return.

At least one NBA general manager has not been overly impressed so far by the potential 2012 draft class.

"Everyone talks about how great this draft is," one NBA GM said. "On paper in July, it really looked that way. On the ground in February, I'm not that impressed. Anthony Davis is great. But after that, there are a lot of question marks and a surprising lack of depth. I'm not sure that the 2012 draft will be better than the 2011 one."

North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, Baylor’s Perry Jones, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, and Kentucky’s Terrence Jones have failed to show significant improvement from one season to the next while UConn's Andre Drummond and Duke’s Austin Rivers have failed to live up to the hype that surrounded them.

Only two freshmen, Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Indiana's Cody Zeller, have exceeded expectations.

Jim Calhoun will miss at least two more games while he undergo a surgical procedure on his ailing back.

"I'm glad we have finally determined the best course of treatment to deal with the problem," Calhoun said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to having the procedure done, hopefully recovering as quickly as possible, and putting it all in the past."

Calhoun's coaching status 'will then be evaluated on a day-to-day basis,' Connecticut school officials said.

Steve Lavin, still recovering from surgery for prostate cancer, is focused on trying to lure top talent to St. John’s.

“It’s the most involved I’ve been recruiting, probably in my career,” Lavin said. “It’s the last thing I’m doing before I go to bed and the first thing I’m thinking about in the morning. . . . It’s not like I’m in an iron lung somewhere.”

Lavin, 47, and assistant coach Tony Chiles have been traveling the country to see recruits as far as Louisiana, California and Nevada. He took an extended leave from the bench in mid-November.

“I am back next year,” Lavin said.

Syracuse barely escaped with a 52-51 win at Louisville on Monday, their first win against the Cardinals in seven tries.

"You're going to get in games like this in the tournament. I don't care who you are. You've got to be ready to be able to make those plays at the end of games," Jim Boeheim said. "If they make a play, hit one shot, the end, we lose. In the tournament, you go home and you're going to play teams like Louisville and teams just as good or better."

"Our defense was getting crucial stops when we needed them," C.J. Fair said. "And, defense wins games."

"It was a defensive battle and they came up with the plays at the end," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "I'm very, very disappointed that we lost the game."

Fab Melo creates a turnover on 5.6 percent of his possessions played.

Melo ranks second in the nation in block percentage, and leads the Orange with 17 charges taken.

"I tell Fab all the time, a charge is really better than a blocked shot," coach Jim Boeheim said. "We get the ball, they get a foul, and it keeps them from driving hard at the basket."