Pittsburgh's Mike Cook was denied an appeal for another year and won't be able to play this year for the Panthers.

I actually spoke with Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon yesterday and he said that Cook was taking classes and he wouldn't leave him out in the cold.

However, the ruling on Cook is certainly a blow to Pittsburgh. Now Dixon & Co., will have to rely on Gilbert Brown or one of the freshmen wings .

Remember, Cook tore his knee in the 11th game of the season against Duke. If he hadn't played in that game and the previous, he would have been granted the addition year. But he played in more than 30 percent of the team's regular-season games.