Walter Thompson will sit out for the rest of the season after being suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the NIU men’s basketball team.

The suspension takes effect immediately. Thompson will miss the Huskies’ last four games of the season. Their next game is Thursday against Marshall.

Thompson would not comment on the specifics of the situation.

“This is very disappointing, especially with the season,” he said. “This is one bad thing after another. This is very disappointing. I want to apologize to my teammates.”

The freshman guard played in 12 games this season and had four starts. Thompson averaged 0.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The

5-foot-10-inch guard’s last start came Feb. 7 against Marshall.

NIU interim coach Andy Greer would not comment on what happened, either, saying that what happens in practice stays in practice.

“This behavior has occurred on many occasions, and it got to the point where we had to decide to take this action,” Greer said. “There have been other incidents. This was the last straw.”

The suspension shows that athletes’ actions are watched carefully.

“Student-athletes who represent this university must wear their uniform with pride and dignity,” said NIU athletic director Cary Groth. “We will not tolerate any student-athletes who display a lack of respect for the Huskie uniform, his or her peers, program or our staff personnel.”

This is the second time the Huskies indefinitely suspended a player this year.

Former coach Brian Hammel, who resigned as NIU’s head coach Dec. 6, suspended Jerry Sanders at the beginning of the season after he violated team policies after the first exhibition game. Sanders was suspended indefinitely for the same reason as Thompson.

“I can’t pin-point the exact reason,” Greer said. “Maybe it is the lack of leadership on the team. Some years you have suspensions, others you don’t. You look around college basketball today; it is not just NIU. It is all around the country. Of course, this is really disappointing.”