Via U-M Media Relations:
Novak Named to Academic All-America Third Team
Feb. 23, 2012
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior forward Zack Novak (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton HS) of the University of Michigan men's basketball team was named a 2012 Capital One Academic All-America third team member today (Thursday, Feb. 23), as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Novak becomes the first Wolverine to earn the prestigious honor since 1984.
Novak is the sixth Wolverine in program history to be named Academic All-America, joining three-time first-team member Steve Grote (1975, '76, '77), Marty Bodnar (1981 first team, 1980 third team), Mark Bodnar (1981 third team), Paul Heuerman (1981 second team) and Dan Pelekoudas (1982 fourth team, 1984 honorable mention).
Novak is one of three Big Ten players to earn Academic All-America status this season; Ohio State's Aaron Craft earned first-team honors and Northwestern's Drew Crawford is a second-team member.
A finalist for the 2012 Lowe's Senior CLASS award, Novak has helped the Wolverines to a 21-7 overall record and 11-4 mark in Big Ten play. He has started all 28 games this season and is averaging 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Novak, who is just the second three-time captain in program history, ranks fourth in the school record book in career three-point field goals and fifth in three-point field goal attempts. He became the 40th member of U-M's 500 career rebound club earlier this season and the 45th Wolverine to reach the 1,000-point mark, making him the 28th player with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
A business major at U-M's prestigious Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Novak is scheduled to graduate in May and has received numerous honors for his academic efforts, including National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court (2011), CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District first team (2010, '11, '12), Academic All-Big Ten (2010, '11), Old Spice Classic Scholar-Ballers (2010), U-M Athletic Academic Achievement (2009, '10, '11), and U-M's Bodnar Award for Academic Achievement (2009, '11).
To be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his current institution. A student-athlete must also have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games, completed one full calendar year at his current institution, and reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
2012 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Men's Basketball Team
First Team
Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's (Cal.)
Brad Loesing, Wofford
Mason Plumlee, Duke
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
Second Team
Logan Aronhalt, Albany
Brian Conklin, Saint Louis
Drew Crawford, Northwestern
Ronald Nored, Butler
Scott Saunders, Belmont
Third Team
J.P. Kuhlman, Davidson
Zack Novak, Michigan
Brian Stafford, Denver
Matthew Sullivan, Brown
Chris Wroblewski, Cornell
Awesome. He's my favorite all-time player for many reasons, and the fact that he is as driven off the court as he is on it is one of the biggest ones.
COYS and lets go Detroit FC!