Andy Van Vliet Ruled Ineligible by NCAA: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Wisconsin Badgers center Andy Van Vliet was hoping to make a seamless transition onto the NCAA hardwood from Belgium this season, but the association has ruled him ineligible for the 2015-16 season.

The Badgers announced the unfortunate news regarding Van Vliet's status on Tuesday:

As is implied in the team's statement, Van Vliet played for another team before arriving stateside, serving a brief stint with the Port of Antwerp Giants, a Belgian club team, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus.    

Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal reported Wisconsin has already attempted to appeal Van Vliet's eligibility, which means the talented international product of Canarias Basketball Academy won't be able to suit up.

Although he initially opted not to attend college, Van Vliet spoke about how important academics were to him following his commitment to Wisconsin, per Scout.com's Benjamin Worgull:

"

I had a chance to meet a lot of people, including Chancellor Blank, the Dean of Students and the chair of the student department, and they really made me aware of what a great academic school this is. That's something that's really important to me as well. I know there is life after basketball, and I want to be fully prepared for that. From what I have seen, the academic part at Wisconsin is really good.

"

However, he will have to settle for being a 21-year-old sophomore when he makes his Badgers debut.

WisSports.net's Travis Wilson was among those displeased with Tuesday's verdict:

Listed at 6'10" and 188 pounds by 247Sports, Van Vliet is the type of finesse, skilled big man Badgers head coach Bo Ryan covets. Frank Kaminsky, who proceeded to be a lottery draft pick for the Charlotte Hornets, is a great example of such a player to come through Madison.

This is a big blow to a Wisconsin team that lost five of its top seven scorers from last year's squad, which advanced to the Final Four, knocked off a previously undefeated Kentucky team and fell to Duke in the national title game.

With the entire 2015-16 campaign off and time to add strength in the weight room, one can bet Van Vliet will come out fired up to play next season. His absence will definitely be tough for the Badgers to overcome, though, as they try to compensate for the loss of Kaminsky and Sam Dekker in the frontcourt.