Lance Thomas prepared to take the floor during his senior season. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY-cliddy@newsobserver.com

In today's paper, I outlined two major hurdles that the NCAA faces in investigating whether or not Lance Thomas's jewelry purchase constitutes an extra benefit violation. First, the NCAA is facing a statute of limitations that will expire Dec. 21, 2013, which is four years after Thomas's purchase. And second, neither Thomas nor the jeweler can be forced to talk to the NCAA, and the jeweler has already declined to do so. Check out the rest of the story here.

I also asked both John Infante and David Ridpath, two former compliance directors at Division-I schools, how concerning this situation is for Duke. Both agreed that, yes, this is cause for legitimate worry.