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Report: NCAA denies San Francisco guard Matt Glover’s waiver request

Indiana's Watford and Penn State's Glover go for the basketball during an NCAA basketball game in Indianapolis

Penn State University guard Matt Glover (5) battles Indiana University forward Christian Watford for the basketball during the first half of play in the first round of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis March 8, 2012. REUTERS/Brent Smith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

With the combination of a Penn State campus embroiled in controversy and the desire to be closer to this family, Matt Glover transferred from the Big Ten school to San Francisco this off-season.

But the hopes of being able to suit up for the Dons this season have been dashed, as the NCAA denied the request for a waiver that would make him immediately eligible according to Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.

Glover started 21 games for the Nittany Lions last season, averaging 2.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Another reason for Glover’s decision to transfer back to a school in California was the health of his mother, who suffered a heart attack in April.

His mother, Nancy Willson, told CBSSports.com that the Penn State situation, along with family issues, were the reasons she gave to the NCAA on the waiver in an attempt to gain immediately eligibility.

Willson had a heart attack this past April, just after returning from the visit to San Francisco.

“I think it was broken heart syndrome,” she told CBSSports.com. “I believe I had it because of all the losses I’ve had in my life and because of empty nest syndrome.”

You see, Willson lost the oldest of her nine children (six are biological) when he was 18 to a brain virus. She lost her only brother, her ex-husband died of a heart attack a couple years ago and Glover’s husband also passed away of colon cancer a little more than a decade ago.

“It’s been tough,” Willson admitted.

But this wasn’t enough for the governing body, which has decided that Glover needs to sit out the 2012-13 season.

This is a tough blow for Rex Walters’ squad, as the Dons lost their top four scorers from last season’s 20-win team.

Glover would have added some valuable Division I experience to a team that has just one returning starter (point guard Cody Doolin) and seven freshmen.

There’s also junior guard De’End Parker, who left UCLA to attend to his ailing mother last season, and he’s another key addition to the San Francisco program.

The NCAA has handed out a number of waivers in recent years, allowing players to avoid having to sit out a season. But why wouldn’t Glover been deemed worthy of a waiver? Doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.