Graves, Schachtner named to men's basketball Academic All-America teams

Feb. 28, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Indianapolis, Ind. -- Butler University junior A.J. Graves earned First-Team Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization announced Wednesday (Feb. 28). University of Wisconsin-Green Bay sophomore Mike Schachtner was a Third-Team honoree, giving the Horizon League two of the 15 players recognized. The awards are sponsored by ESPN the Magazine.

Graves was a unanimous First-Team All-League performer on the court, ranking fourth in the League with a 17.3 points-per-game scoring average to lead the Bulldogs to a share of the regular-season loop title. The junior made 63 consecutive free throws at one point this year and scored 20 or more points in 13 games this season. He was the Most Valuable Player of the NIT Season Tip-Off after pacing the Bulldogs to that tournament title following victories over the University of Tennessee and Gonzaga University.

Graves also stands second in the nation with a 95.4 percent mark (125-of-131) at the free-throw line and is fifth with 1.40 steals per game for the Bulldogs, who are ranked 18th in the nation according to the Associated Press. Graves' efforts helped BU to a 26-5 overall ledger, eclipsing the League record for regular-season victories.

In the classroom, Graves owns a 3.39 grade-point average as an actuarial science major. The junior guard was an Academic All-League selection last winter and earned spots on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll in each semester in addition to receiving the Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle Scholarship for outstanding academic and athletic achievement.

Schachtner---one of only two sophomores to receive Academic All-America status---was a Second-Team All-League choice after averaging 15.2 points per game during the regular season. He was the only League performer to rank among the circuit's top five in all three shooting categories, ranking fifth in field-goal accuracy (.497) and second in free-throw percentage (.913, seventh-best in the nation) and three-point marksmanship (.467). Schachtner canned 50 three-pointers during the regular season. He scored 36 points in one game (Dec. 12 against Chicago State Unviersity) and had 31 versus Cleveland State University on Jan. 6.

In the classroom, Schachtner owns a 3.844 grade-point average focusing on general studies. He has won Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors twice this season and was a member of the League's Academic Honor Roll last semester.

University of Iowa senior Adam Haluska was named the Academic All-America of the Year, currently leading the Big Ten Conference in scoring at 20.4 points per game. The rest of the First Team included Graves, along with Cornell University senior Graham Dow, University of Florida senior Lee Humphrey and Western Michigan University junior Joe Reitz.

###

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

First-Team
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s)
Graham Dow * Cornell * Sr. * 3.99 * Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
A.J. Graves * Butler * Jr. * 3.39 * Mathematics / Actuarial Science
Adam Haluska * Iowa * Sr. * 3.50 * Finance / Marketing
Lee Humphrey * Florida * Sr. * 3.68 * Exercise Physiology
Joe Reitz * Western Michigan * Jr. * 3.72 * Finance

Second-Team
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s)
Jim Goffredo * Harvard * Sr. * 3.45 * Economics
Justin Hare * Belmont * Jr. * 3.85 * Exercise Science
Jack Leasure * Coastal Carolina * Jr. * 3.76 * History
Jamaal Tatum * Southern Illinois * Sr. * 3.57 * Speech Communications
Anthony Tolliver * Creighton * Sr. * 3.53 * Finance
Brett Winkelman * North Dakota State * So. * 3.81 * Industrial Engineering and Management

Third-Team
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s)
Chris Chalko * Elon * Sr. * 3.69 * Doctor of Physical Therapy
Matt Lefeld * Bowling Green * Sr. * 3.97 * Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
Mike Schachtner * UW-Green Bay * So. * 3.84 * General Studies
Rodney Stuckey * Eastern Washington * Jr. * 3.34 * Interdisciplinary Studies

Note: Due to a tie in the voting, six players were named to the Second Team, and four to the Third Team

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA OF THE YEAR: Adam Haluska, Iowa