North Dakota State started the same 5 white men in all 32 games this season, 4 of which are redshirt-seniors (which is more anecdotal evidence of the later physical maturity in most whites), and only played one black in the championship game. but there's even more impressive news regarding the Bison!
1st-team All-conference small forward
Brett Winkelman was the
Academic All-American of the Year as well as being named 1st-team Academic All-America for the second consecutive year, and third AAA overall. he was 2nd-team Academic All-American in 2007.
point guard
Ben Woodside was named the Summit League Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring with 22.2 points per game in league contests and ranked second in the league with 5.7 assists per game.
Woodside led the Bison to the league's regular season crown in his senior season, had five games where he scored 30 or more points, which included his 60-point game against Stephen F. Austin, and tied an NCAA record in that game when he made 30 free throws.
6-7 sophomore small forward
Michael Tveidt, the only non-senior in the starting lineup is a tremendous athlete. NDSU's track coach talked him into participating in the high jump at one meet last season, and after practicing for only a week, he cleared 6-8.
possibly the most impressive feat the team accomplished this year is this: North Dakota State is the first team since 1970 to qualify for the NCAA Tourney in their first year of Division I eligibility. simply amazing!
NDSU is a terrific offensive team, but they aren't very big. starting center Lucas Moorman (6-10) is the only player over 6-7 who gets playing time. this will be their biggest hurdle to overcome in the NCAA Tourney.
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GLS, it is 6-9 sophomore forward Will Hudson who you meant instead of Benson, who is a black sophomore center. you mentioned Maynard's terrific leaping ability. Hudson also plays
way above the rim. in fact, Oakland's first two baskets of the championship game were Hudson dunks.
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as an aside,
there was only one non-white player on the three 5-man Academic All-American Teams.
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's Basketball Team
University Division
First Team
Jason Holsinger, Evansville, Sr., 3.89, Economics
Aaron Linn, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 4.00, Finance
Bryan Mullins, Southern Illinois, Sr., 4.00, Finance
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, Sr., 3.79, History
**Brett Winkelman, North Dakota State, Sr., 3.88, Industrial Engineering & Management
Second Team
Jimmy Baron, Rhode Island, Sr., 3.42, Communications
Matt Howard, Butler, So., 3.72, Finance
Yves Mekongo Mbala, La Salle, Jr., 3.82, Integrated Science, Business & Technology
Mike Schachtner, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Sr., 3.81, Psychology
Ryan Schneider, Marist, Sr., 3.72, Communications
Third Team
Patrick Foley, Columbia, Jr., 3.81, Political Science
David Kool, Western Michigan, Jr., 3.38, Physical Education
Kevin Lisch, Saint Louis, Grad., 3.48 (4.00 grad), Business Administration
Greg Paulus, Duke, Sr., 3.35, Political Science
Andy Wicke, Belmont, Sr., 3.74, Environmental Studies
**Academic All-American of the Year