By Mark Scott
St. Bonaventure, NY – The Atlantic Ten is stripping the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team of six of its seven league victories for using an ineligible player. The team is also barred from playing in the league's post-season tournament.
The decision to strip the Bonnies of their victories came Monday following a telephone conference call with Atlantic Ten member colleges and universities.
St. Bonaventure's games have been in question since last week when the school declared junior center Jamil Terrell ineligible for failing to meet NCAA junior college transfer guidelines.
School officials declined to say what guidelines he might have failed to meet. St. Bonaventure coach Jan Van Breda Kolff was not available for comment.
St. Bonaventure President Robert Wickenheiser released a statement in which he said he is taking "full responsibility" for the situation.
Sources told the Buffalo News that Terrell did not have an associate's degree from Coastal Georgia Community College, but had earned a certificate in welding. Course work in such a trade would not satisfy the NCAA's core curriculum requirements for junior college transfers.
Terrell led the team with 31 blocked shots, was third with 121 rebounds and fourth in scoring, averaging 6.9 points per game.
St. Bonaventure has two regular season games left.