Michigan basketball senior Zack Novak earns third team Academic All-America status
Zack Novak is just the second three-year captain in Michigan basketball history.
And now he's the program's first Academic All-American in 28 years.
Novak, a senior guard, was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Third Team on Thursday, becoming the first Wolverine to earn Academic All-America honors since Dan Pelekoudas in 1984.
Zack Novak earned Third Team Academic All-America honors.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
The Michigan senior was one of three Big Ten honorees, as Ohio State's Aaron Craft earned First Team honors, while Northwestern's Drew Crawford landed on the Second Team.
Novak joins Steve Grote, Marty Bodnar, Mark Bodnar, Paul Heuerman and Pelekoudas on Michigan's all-time Academic All-America list.
To be eligible for Academic All-America honors, student-athletes must be a starter or key reserve on their respective club, and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or better.
A senior in Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Novak is on track to graduate in May. Throughout his career at Michigan, he's won numerous academic honors, including: the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court, CoSIDA/Capital One All-District first team, U-M Athletic Academic Acheivement and U-M's Bodnar Award for Academic Achievement.
Also a finalist for the 2012 Lowe's Senior CLASS award, Novak currently ranks fourth in Michigan's career 3-point field goals made list, and is one of 28 players in school history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
No. 11 Michigan (21-7, 11-4 Big Ten) returns to action Saturday when the Wolverines host Purdue (6 p.m., BTN).
Prior to tip against the Boilermakers, Novak and fellow seniors Stu Douglass, Corey Person and Ben Cronin will be honored as part of the team's senior night festivities.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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Comments
JFinNY
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 5:51 p.m.
rightmind250 You just have to know where to look... <a href="http://www.usnews.com/education/worlds-best-universities-rankings/top-400-universities-in-the-world" rel='nofollow'>http://www.usnews.com/education/worlds-best-universities-rankings/top-400-universities-in-the-world</a> Have a great day.
rightmind250
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
That was 2011 , goof the fact is 2012 UM #28, OSU #55. Nice try though <a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities" rel='nofollow'>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities</a>
golfer
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
Which school is the better research institution? U.S. News & World Report has its new rankings for "Worlds Best Universities" and M is 14th in the world, 10th in the nation, and 2nd among FBS schools. Ohio State (111th in world, 35th in U.S.) isn't so hot, though they'd still be middle of the Pac 12, upper quarter of the ACC, and only behind Texas-Austin anywhere else. The Big Ten is back ahead of the Pac, more because of the Oregon schools than what they added. Other bits of interest I put in a table-tastic diary. ok ohio compare the schools now. if you want you can adjust your dumb sign.
Ted Bundy
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
Sorry Rightming but senior level classes at Stephen M. Ross School of Business trumps sophomore pre-med program at O$U...
rightmind250
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
Total bs Mort. I have included the link below. Michigan is # 28 and OSU is #55. Meanwhile Aaron Craft ( OSU ) major in pre-med has a 3.86 avg and he is 1st team. What's Zack? third team? Just wondering Mort? Why would you make up these rankings knowing everybody can look it up? Did you even go to college? <a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/page+6" rel='nofollow'>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/page+6</a>
psaume23
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 12:36 a.m.
Great work in a challenging academic program. (Now hit those 3-pointers!)
smokeblwr
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.
Dugan Fife didn't make Academic All American? I seem to remember Jalen Rose saying the Fab Five were glad Dugan was on the team to keep the team GPA above 2.0.....
Nick Baumgardner
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.
The language of the award requirements read: "Must be a starter or important reserve." Not exactly sure what "important" means, but no, they can't be the 12th man on the end of the bench.
smokeblwr
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
Do you need a certain amount of playing time to qualify?
Nick Baumgardner
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
I believe Rose made that comment about Rob Pelinka in the ESPN documentary. But, no, Pelinka didn't earn Academic All-America status. Although, he's currently Kobe Bryant's agent -- so he's clearly done just fine. Nick
smokeblwr
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.
Maybe I'm thinking of Rob Pelinka. Or James Voskuil....