NIU guard Jerry Williams is academically ineligible to play for the men’s basketball team this semester after failing to meet the university’s grade point average requirement.

Coach Jim Rosborough confirmed the news Saturday about his senior co-captain. Williams met the National Collegiate Athletic Association minimum GPA of 1.8, but he fell below the Big Ten’s 2.0 standard. NIU has complied with the Big Ten’s academic criteria since leaving the Mid-American Conference. Rosborough said Williams entered the fall semester with a GPA of about 2.2.

“He had a horrible semester,” said Rosborough. “The blame is on him. The tragedy of this is Jerry Williams is as fine a man as I’ve ever met.”

Williams denied he was ineligible last Wednesday. He declined comment Saturday but said he would talk today.

At last Monday’s Huskie Club luncheon, one member asked Rosborough if Williams was ineligible. Rosborough said he was concerned about one player but did not want to reveal the name.

osborough said Williams still will remain a co-captain along with senior forward Eric Harrington and will be involved with the team in whatever capacity is available – even if that includes becoming a student coach.

“Eric is going to have to shoulder the major responsibility, and then it falls on the juniors,” said Rosborough. “Now we’ll see how the kids rally around.”