Arizona is concerned Loren Woods might leave early for the NBA.

The Wildcats are desperately trying to fill their open scholarships after the departure of guards Ruben Douglas (transferred to New Mexico), Luke Recker (transferred to Iowa) and center Robertas Javtokas (went home to Lithuania).

Arizona has three scholarships to give, but that number could rise if the pro bug gets in the ear of junior center Loren Woods and sophomore forwards Michael Wright and Richard Jefferson. There is a legitimate concern in Tucson that any or all of those players could bolt if the wrong person convinces them they're ready for the NBA.

If that occurs, the Wildcats can't be expected to fill their spots immediately with equal talent. For now, Arizona has to concentrate on what it knows it needs -- namely, two more forwards and a junior college guard. Arizona is focusing its recruiting efforts on 6-foot-8 Travon Bryant (Jordan High/Long Beach, Calif.), the top unsigned power forward in the nation, and 6-9 Andrew Zahn (Redondo Union High/Redondo Beach, Calif.). Kansas could be the toughest foe in landing Bryant, while the Wildcats will have to beat out UCLA for Zahn. The 'Cats are also scouring the junior colleges for a good combination guard.

Next season, Arizona returns senior forward Eugene Edgerson and junior combination guard Lamont Frazier, both of whom are redshirting this season. Edgerson's absence was expected, as he is sitting out this season to fulfill student-teaching responsibilities. Frazier is injured, and his absence from the Wildcats' loss to New Mexico showed. Jason Gardner and Gilbert Arenas were out of sync and needed a guard like Frazier to give the team some pop off the bench.

The Wildcats probably don't have the depth to outlast Stanford over the 18-game Pac-10 schedule, but if the 'Cats can avoid injuries to their starting five, they should be OK for an NCAA Tournament run.

Needing the Nigerians
Louisville has crushed two top 25 teams (North Carolina and Utah) and the news could get even better for the Cardinals. Denny Crum and crew will learn within the next two weeks if 6-11 Muhamed Lasege is eligible this season.

Lasege has been on campus and, according to sources at Louisville, earned a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester. The hangup is with Lasege's amateur status. The NCAA has taken its time trying to determine if he was a pro while he was in Russia after leaving Nigeria. The Cardinals need to know if he's cleared when school starts again.

Meanwhile, fellow signee Ben Eze won't be in a college uniform this season, and might not ever in the NCAA. Eze still hasn't qualified academically. Eze also appeared in at least one FIBA-sponsored game, which raises the quesiton of his amateur status. He's back in Toronto with the sponsors who brought him, Lasege and Miami (Fla.) signee Uche Okafor, over to the United States.

Okafor is in New Jersey with his sister while he waits for his eligibility to resolved. The Hurricanes have to know by the start of the second semester next Wednesday if Okafor is eligible. Miami coaches told ESPN.com that Okafor's situation is similar to Lasege's and deals more with his amateur status than his academics. Okafor's status isn't a dead issue to the coaching staff, which could use some sort of lift.

Hurricane blowing ill wind
Miami has been erratic this season but it may not be entirely the fault of the players. The Hurricanes don't have a No. 2 scorer like they did a year ago, when Johnny Hemsley was the apprentice to Tim James. Now that James is gone, Hemsley doesn't have a scoring sidekick.

The pressure got to Hemsley in Puerto Rico and that's why he tangled with coach Leonard Hamilton, walked off the floor and was suspended. Hemsley didn't handle the criticism well and lashed out.

The Canes' defense isn't what it was last year, either. They're a Big East worst 35.7 percent on defending 3-pointers. The 'Canes are locked in a muddled middle pack in the Big East, unable to distinguish themselves from Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Providence, Boston College and Villanova.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.