The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team was recognized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches with a Team Academic Excellence Award, announced today by the organization. The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognize men’s basketball programs that completed the 2022-23 academic year with a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
The Golden Gophers held a team grade point average of 3.29 during the 2022-23 academic year with a program-best 3.36 team GPA in the spring. Minnesota had 12 individuals that held a GPA above 3.0 in spring of 2023, while six were above a 3.5 GPA. In addition, Minnesota had five Gophers earn degrees this past May. During head coach Ben Johnson’s tenure, 12 individuals have received a University of Minnesota degree.
In order to earn a NABC Team Academic Excellence Award, institutions in the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA must count the grade point averages of all men’s student-athletes who competed during the 2022-23 season. Over 1,800 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court and over 300 programs received NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards for 2022-23.
Minnesota, along with Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers, were the five Big Ten representatives to receive a Team Academic Excellence Award this year.
The NABC Honors Court, meanwhile, includes junior, senior and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the 2022-23 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Minnesota had four individuals receive this honor: Jamison Battle, Parker Fox, Isaiah Ihnen and Taurus Samuels.
Minnesota also had four Academic All-Big Ten selections in Battle, Ihnen, Fox and Jackson Purcell. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten merits, student-athletes must be on a varsity team, have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Fox was also named a Big Ten Distinguished Athlete, which is a 3.7 GPA or higher.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
