Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Mike Muscala Named to Lou Henson Preseason All-America Team
11/2/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. --Bucknell junior center Mike Muscala (Roseville, Minn./Roseville) added another preseason honor on Tuesday when he was named to the Lou Henson Preseason All-America Team, presented by CollegeInsider.com. Named in honor of the legendary coach at Illinois and New Mexico State, the Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top Mid-Major player in Division I college basketball.
Muscala is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and just last week he was named to the 2011-12 Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Muscala is coming off a terrific sophomore year, adding Honorable Mention All-America honors to his resume after averaging 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He was also named Patriot League Tournament MVP after leading the Bison to a conference title and the fifth NCAA Tournament berth in program history.
Last season Muscala led the Patriot League in blocks and ranked third in field-goal percentage, fourth in rebounding and seventh in scoring. His 67 blocks were third-most in a season by any Bucknell player, and after only two seasons he already ranks third on the school's career blocks list with 132.
Muscala scored a career-high 33 points along with 10 rebounds and five blocks in a league win over American. It was only the second 30-10-5 game in program history. One game later he had 23 points and 13 rebounds and hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds against Holy Cross, and he was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week after those two performances.
Muscala, who also hit a buzzer-beater in a road win over a Richmond team that later went on to the Sweet Sixteen, became just the 13th player in program history and the first since J.R. Holden 1997-98 to record 500 points in a season (he finished with 507).
Off the court, Muscala earned Capital One Academic All-District honors and was a member of the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
Bucknell finished 25-9 in 2010-11, falling to eventual Final Four participant Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament in Washington, D.C. The Bison went 13-1 in the Patriot League and defeated Army, Lehigh and Lafayette to win the Patriot League Tournament title on their home floor.
The Bison have four starters back in 2011-12, and they were the unanimous pick as favorites in this year's preseason poll.
