Senior shooting guard Jermaine Dixon, the only returning starter for a Pittsburgh team that went 31-5 and made it into the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight last season, could be sidelined for eight weeks.

The NCAA has granted Louisiana-Monroe senior guard Tony Hooper a medical redshirt for last season, which means the Warhawks will have another returning contributor to a mostly intact squad.

The attorney for Karen Cunagin Sypher, the woman charged with trying to extort Louisville coach Rick Pitino, wants to stop representing her because of “irreconcilable differences.” He didn’t specify the nature of the disagreement, citing attorney/client privilege.

The NCAA approved the addition of Simon Fraser, a university in Burnaby, British Columbia, to DIvision II, the first time that the organization has welcomed a team outside the United States into the fold.

Iowa State’s second-leading scorer, Diante Garrett, chipped a bone in his foot while playing a pickup game. The rising junior guard averaged 9.8 points and 5.0 assists per game.

Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati’s star recruit, settled a sexual assault case by pleading guilty in exchange for three days of community service, avoiding any jail time. Although it was not a likely scenario, Stephenson could have faced as much as six months in prison if convicted.

If someone dunks on LeBron James and King James’ No. 1 corporate sponsor confiscates all video evidence, does anyone hear about it? Oh yes, much to Nike’s chagrin.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will continue to lead Team USA as it prepares for the World Championship in Turkey in 2010 and then the 2012 Olympics in London. He will going for his second consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.

Tennessee has restructured the contract of coach Bruce Pearl to boost his salary earnings to $1.9 million next season, with subsequent annual increases until 2014-15.

Former Kansas forward Quintrell Thomas has transferred to UNLV and will be ready to suit up for the Runnin’ Rebels after sitting out 2009-10 because of NCAA transfer rules. Thomas averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 5.4 minutes per game.