Lance Thomas hugs Mike Krzyzewski after 2010 title game (Getty Images)

The NCAA's investigation into ex-Duke forward Lance Thomas ended Tuesday afternoon in the most predictable way possible.

Unable to prove Thomas accepted extra benefits in order to purchase nearly $100,000 of jewelry from a New York jeweler in Dec. 2009, the NCAA wrapped up its inquiry and moved on to other cases. Duke associate athletic director Jon Jackson sent out a press a release Tuesday indicating no evidence of wrongdoing was found and the NCAA now considers the matter closed.

A lawsuit filed by Manhattan-based Rafaello & Co. in Sept. 2012 brought attention to the purchase by Thomas because it raised eyebrows that a college senior from a single-parent home would attempt to purchase $97,800 in diamond necklaces, watches and earrings. The infractions case was especially noteworthy because it had the potential to jeopardize Duke's 2010 national championship that Thomas helped win.

[Also: Steve Alford locked in dispute with New Mexico over $1 million buyout]

Thomas forked over $30,000 for a down payment for the jewelry and initially agreed to pay the rest within 15 days, but Rafaello & Co. eventually sued him almost three years later because it did not receive the money. If Rafaello & Co. awarded Thomas a loan based on future earnings he could make as a professional either in the NBA or overseas, that would violate NCAA rules prohibiting such transactions.

Once Thomas and Rafaello & Co. reached a settlement last September, however, the NCAA's hopes of proving the Duke forward did anything wrong instantly became remote. Since a confidentiality agreement was likely part of the settlement and the NCAA lacks subpoena power, investigators would have needed to make their case without any input from either Thomas or the jeweler.

In addition to not cooperating with NCAA investigators, Thomas spoke publicly about the infamous jewelry purchase only once, and he did not shed any light on where he acquired the money for the down payment.

Brian Wardle (AP)Now that former Wisconsin-Green Bay walk-on center Ryan Bross has gone public with a the alarming accusations that sparked an investigation of coach Brian Wardle, what's at stake is finally clear.

Either eyewitnesses must corroborate Wardle's claims that the allegations against him are false, or the university should not let him coach another game.

In a story published Monday night by the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Bross accused Wardle of calling him derogatory and homophobic slurs, interfering with his academic course choices and running him when he was ill during practice to the point where he lost control of his bowels. It's the stomach-churning details of that particular incident that are most galling to read.

When Bross told the coaches he was feeling ill and needed to use the bathroom before the team was to run hill sprints near campus during preseason conditioning in October, the freshman center said Wardle thought he was faking it. Bross said Wardle called him a "baby" when he asked to stop again after one hill and continued to ridicule him when he couldn't control his diarrhea and soiled his pants a few hills later.

“I got down to the bottom (of the hill), and Wardle told me I was a piece of s--- and that he had never seen such a big p---- in his life and that I was the biggest piece of s--- he had ever seen,” Bross told the Press-Gazette.

(USA Today Sports Images)

Luke Hancock is the latest Louisville basketball player to have one of coach Rick Pitino's horses named after him. The horse's name is Three Point Luke.

Hancock earned the honor after being named MVP of the Final Four this year helping lead the Cardinals to their third national title. Dennis O'Neill, trainer who works with Pitino, apparently decided to rename a 2-year-old horse after Hancock.

Steve Alford (Getty Images)

When Steve Alford accepted an offer to become UCLA's new coach 10 days after agreeing to a 10-year contract extension with New Mexico, it left many Lobos fans feeling betrayed and upset.

Expect that tension to only escalate as a result of a dispute over how much buyout money Alford owes the school because of his departure.

New Mexico maintains Alford owes $1 million as stipulated in his contract extension, but school officials told the Albuquerque Journal on Monday evening that the UCLA coach has yet to pay that sum. The Journal obtained an email sent by Alford earlier in the day in which he offered only to comply with the terms of his previous contract and its $200,000 buyout.

The crux of the issue is whether the still unsigned new contract had taken effect yet.

Alford announced he was resigning to take the UCLA job on March 30, two days before his new contract began on April 1 and before he had even signed more than just an offer sheet. Because Alford's previous contract stipulates he will give 30 days notice before leaving, New Mexico maintains that his final day of work was 30 days after his resignation, bringing the $1 million buyout into play.

Barring a change of heart from either side, it appears this contract dispute will likely be settled by an independent arbitrator hearing arguments from attorneys from both sides. I'm certainly no contract attorney, but it would seem Alford has a legitimate case since he had yet to formally sign his new contract, he left before it began and a 30-day notice of termination requirement is very rare in the coaching industry.

Indiana and Illinois fans have long battled over which campus housed the real Assembly Hall.

That argument is now moot.

Illinois announced Monday afternoon that effective immediately, its venerable 50-year-old basketball arena will be known as State Farm Center. The insurance company struck a $60 million 30-year deal for the naming rights.

The name change predictably hasn't been received well by Illinois fans, many of whom are pledging to still refer to the building by its former name.

"I'm totally gonna call Assembly Hall by its new name, State Farm Center" - no one ever

— abby radasevich (@abbyradd) April 29, 2013

A corporate name change to a hallowed building is an easy target for criticism, but Illinois fans would be wise to remember what they're getting out of this deal. The $60 million will help fund a $160 million in renovations to the arena, a project that should improve the fan experience at Illinois basketball games and aid the recruiting efforts of coach John Groce and his staff.

Grant Gibbs (Getty Images)In addition to Doug McDermott, another Creighton standout may be returning for one more year.

Grant Gibbs, Creighton's third-leading scorer and assists leader, told the Omaha World-Herald the school has hired a law firm to look into the feasibility of him petitioning the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility.

Although Gibbs' five-year clock expired this year, his injury history enables him to make a case to extend his college career. He did not play a minute in two of his five seasons, the first as a result of a shoulder injury as a true freshman at Gonzaga and the second when he sat out after transferring to Creighton in 2010.

“[The law firm] indicated we should have an answer any day now,” Gibbs told the World-Herald. “If they indicate it would be worth pursuing, I would sit down with [coach Greg McDermott] and [Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen] and discuss it.

"If it’s something they would want to pursue, I’d be more than willing."

It's safe to assume Gibbs would have no trouble swaying McDermott or Rasmussen since Creighton would surely be elated to have him back for one more season. The playmaking guard thrived from long range and creating off the dribble this past season, averaging 8.5 points and 5.8 assists and shooting nearly 40 percent from behind the arc.

(USA Today Sports Images)Ole Miss power forward Murphy Holloway hasn't played organized football since his sophomore season in high school, but after working out for multiple NFL franchises recently he signed a free agent contract with the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens to play tight end.

The Ravens' personnel decisions are made by legendary former Cleveland Browns tight end Ozzie Newsome, who would seem to know a thing or two about what it takes to play the position.

Holloway, 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, is the latest in a line of former college basketball players to get a shot in the NFL, most as tight ends. Tony Gonzalez is obviously the shining star in the group. After a strong college career at Cal, Gonzalez became the best tight end in the history of the game with Kansas City and Atlanta.

Thanks to the return of Adreian Payne and Gary Harris, Michigan State will be loaded next season (Getty Images)

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft came and went on Sunday. Here's a look at which programs benefited from the return of some high-profile players and which suffered some unexpected losses:

EARLY-ENTRY DEADLINE WINNERS:

1. Michigan State: Freshman guard Gary Harris likely would have been a first-round pick had he opted to enter the NBA draft. Junior forward Adreian Payne had a chance to parlay his strong finish this past season into being selected in the first round as well. Both opted to return to school for one more year instead, all but ensuring Michigan State will start next season in the top three in the polls along with Louisville and Kentucky. Every key player besides Derrick Nix from this past year's Sweet 16 team returns for the Spartans, with point guard Keith Appling, wing Denzel Valentine and forward Branden Dawson likely to join Payne and Harris in a formidable starting lineup.

2. Oklahoma State: Of all the top college players who opted to return to school this spring, Marcus Smart's decision was the most surprising. The dynamic freshman had a chance to be selected in the top five in this year's draft, but he came back to Oklahoma State in hopes of paving the way for a special season next year. With Smart, Markel Brown and Le'Bryan Nash all returning from a team that won 24 games and finished 13-5 in the Big 12, the Cowboys belong in the preseason top 10. They're also a big threat to end Kansas' Big 12 title streak, especially with the Jayhawks losing their entire starting five.

3. Creighton: Doug McDermott's decision to return for his senior year prevents the Bluejays from entering the Big East in rebuilding mode. Had McDermott left, Creighton would have lost its three leading scorers off a team that won 28 games and captured the Missouri Valley title last season. Graduating seniors Gregory Echenique and Grant Gibbs will still be missed, but the Bluejays will have an All-American candidate to build around. Pair the high-scoring McDermott with sweet-shooting Ethan Wragge, steady Jahenns Manigat and dynamic Austin Chatman, and that's a nucleus capable of competing with Georgetown, Marquette and Villanova in the new-look Big East.