Has anybody ever had a junior become academically ineligible? I just had one. I have always put 0 minutes on juniors and seniors and never had a problem. I had a junior who after the first 6 games slipped down to 2.2 gpa. I put 4 minutes on him for the next 6 games and the next report he came back at 1.9 and is ineligible for the rest of the season. Ridiculous.

Can't subscribe to the blanket zero minutes for JR and SRs ... but the 4 minutes I would have thought was enough to keep him eligible. You have reason to be annoyed/upset.

Does anyone know if a player is ruled academically ineligible after 12 games for the second half of the season does that include the Conference Tournament and the Playoffs?

yes if they are ruled ineligible for the 2nd half it includes postseason

I generally start JR and SR with zero, but some kids drop down as you describe

Most common for kids with one or more of - weak HS GPA, bad WE, low playing time - I think - anecdotally, not having studied data

I would have gone with much more than 4 minutes if the kid was at 2.2 and his momentum was downward. I have had close calls with kids jumped to like 8. WIth a 2.2 , I think you need to go more like 12.

BUT, i lean toward a bit too much investment in academics

I agree. When I have a player that is yellow at midterms, I usually put way more than I think I need to be safe. I used to just add a few minutes to what they were already getting, but I had a player become in eligible using that strategy and it really hurt me. It’s so now I err on the side of caution.

I lose juniors all the time. It's a thing.

I also had just my 2 player in 10+ years not come back for a 5th year because his GPA was to low. I hope he's doing fine in the real world.

I also probably put too much time in study hall. When I first started, someone told me to use the formula 37-10*HS GPA - 4 * years completed in college.
This reduces the study hall hours by 4 each year. I have never had someone ineligible and rarely anyone close. Perhaps too many wasted hours that could have been used practicing something better.