Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Mike Muscala Named to Capital One Academic All-District Team
2/3/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell sophomore center Mike Muscala (Roseville, Minn./Roseville) added another honor to his rapidly building portfolio on Thursday when he was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Muscala is the 15th Bison men's basketball player to earn district honors, and now he becomes eligible for the national Academic All-America ballot.
One of the top players in the Patriot League, Muscala was a preseason all-conference pick after earning Second Team All-Patriot League accolades as a freshman in 2009-10. He is one of only four freshmen in league history to earn a spot on one of the all-league teams.
Muscala is backing up his impressive rookie campaign with another all-league-caliber season in 2010-11. He leads the team in scoring (15.7), rebounding (7.0), blocks (2.0) and field-goal percentage (.536), and he also ranks among the Patriot League leaders in each of those categories.
In Patriot League play, Muscala's numbers are even better: 20.0 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 3.4 blocks per game and a .600 field-goal percentage.
This season Muscala made headlines with buzzer-beaters in wins over Richmond and Holy Cross. He earned the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week Award after producing 33 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a road win over American, followed by a 23-point, 13-rebound performance along with the game-winning shot against Holy Cross.
Muscala has eight 20-point games this season, and in a road win over Lehigh last week tied the school record with eight blocked shots in a game.
In the classroom, Muscala is majoring in management and has a 3.47 cumulative grade-point average. His GPA in the fall 2010 semester was a stellar 3.75.
In order to be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or significant reserve, be at least in the sophomore year, and maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative GPA.
The last Bison men's basketball player to earn Academic All-District honors was Chris McNaughton in 2006, and the last to earn Academic All-America honors was Valter Karavanic in 1999. Bucknell ranks fifth nationally in total number of Academic All-Americans with 119 dating back to 1970, eight of which have come from the men's basketball program.
The Bison enter Saturday's home game against Navy in first place in the Patriot League with a 6-1 conference record (15-8 overall). Tip-off is 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion.
