Butler's Graves, Streicher, Green Bay's Schachtner earn basketball Academic All-America recognition

Feb. 26, 2008

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Indianapolis, Ind. -- Butler University seniors A.J. Graves and Drew Streicher joined University of Wisconsin-Green Bay junior Mike Schachtner among 15 men's basketball players receiving University Division (Division I) Academic All-America recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The awards, sponsored by ESPN the Magazine, were announced Tuesday (Feb. 26).

Graves and Schachtner were both recognized on the Second Team, with Streicher earning Third-Team notice. The award is the second in a row for Graves (a First-Team choice in 2006-07) and Schachtner, who climbed one level from his Third-Team status from last season.

Graves ranks among the League's top ten performers in five different statistical categories, ranking tenth in scoring (14.0 points per game) and fourth with a rate of 1.50 steals per contest. The Switz City, Ind., native is also third in free-throw percentage (.870) and second in three-point field goals made (82) while leading the circuit with an average of 35.6 minutes played. He has scored 20 or more points five times this season, including a season-best 26 at Indiana State University in November and 20 to lead Butler past Valparaiso University before a national (ESPN2) television audience on Feb. 5.

In the classroom, Graves carries a 3.35 grade-point average as an actuarial science major. He is a two-time Academic All-League selection.

Streicher has started all 28 games for the Bulldogs, who are ranked 13th in the latest Associated Press national poll and 14th in this week's ESPN/USA Today coaches' canvass. The Washington, Ind., native averages 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.32 assists per game for Butler, shooting nearly 47 percent from the field while playing just over 28 minutes per contest. He also plays a key role on the Butler defense which allows only 59 points per game while compiling a 25-3 overall record.

Streicher owns a perfect 4.00 grade-point average in Butler's graduate school, pursuing his master's degree in business administration. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry with a 3.95 undergraduate GPA. The former walk-on is a three-time Academic All-League honoree after sitting out the 2003-04 season as a redshirt.

Butler is the only school in the nation to boast two Academic All-America selections this season. With Schachtner also honored, the Horizon League is the only Division I conference with three players recognized.

Schachtner leads the League and ranks among the nation's top ten with a .901 free-throw percentage, part of his stat line that also includes a 15.7 points-per-game scoring rate that ranks third in the League. Schachtner scored 34 points versus Valparaiso on Jan. 12, one of his eight games with 20 or more points this season. The Somerset, Wis., native also stands third on the League's three-point accuracy charts with a .471 clip behind the arc. He is one of only two players ranked among the League's top ten in all three shooting-percentage categories, including a tenth-place showing for his .490 rating from the field.

Schachtner's academic résumé includes a 3.81 GPA as a psychology major. An Academic All-Horizon League selection in 2006-07, Schachtner was named the League's Scholar-Athlete of the Month for November.

Drake University senior Adam Emmenecker headlines the First-Team Academic All-America squad, joining University of Texas sophomore D.J. Augustin, Belmont University senior Justin Hare, Coastal Carolina University senior Jack Leasure and North Dakota State University junior Brett Winkelman.

CoSIDA / ESPN The Magazine University Division Men's Basketball Academic All-America Teams

First-Team
D.J. Augustine, Texas -- So. * 3.64 * Education
Adam Emmenecker, Drake -- Sr. * 3.97 * Business and Finance
Justin Hare, Belmont - Sr. * 3.87 * Exercise Science, Pre-Med
Jack Leasure, Coastal Carolina -- Sr. * 3.82 * History
Brett Winkelman, North Dakota State -- Jr. * 3.48 * Industrial Engineering & Management

Second-Team
A.J. Graves, Butler -- Sr. * 3.35 * Actuarial Science
Bryan Mullins, Southern Illinois -- Jr. * 4.00 * Finance
Drew Neitzel, Michigan State -- Sr. * 3.27 * Interdisciplinary Humanities
Joe Reitz, Western Michigan -- Sr. * 3.72 * Finance
Mike Schachtner, Green Bay -- Jr. * 3.81 * Psychology

Third-Team
Ryan Bright, Sam Houston State -- Sr. * 3.59 * Kinesiology
Matt Nelson, Boise State -- Sr. * 3.52 * Business
Greg Paulus, Duke -- Sr. * 3.30 * Political Science
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia -- Jr. * 3.79 * History
Drew Streicher, Butler -- Gr. * 3.95 * Chemistry (undergraduate), Business Administration (graduate)

Academic All-America® of the Year: Adam Emmenecker, Drake