Monday, January 03, 2005

Valparaiso University's Dan Oppland was selected as the Mid-Continent Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Oppland, who earned the honor for the second time this season, became the first Valpo player ever to be named to two all-tournament teams on the same road trip. He was named to the Arizona State Hoops Classic Team, as well as the Las Vegas Holiday Classic Team.

A junior forward from St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield, Oppland averaged 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in helping the Crusaders to a 2-2 record during the four-games-in-four-days stretch. He led Valpo with 22 points in a 75-68 win over Longwood Friday in the final game of the trip. In a 69-56 win over Penn State, Oppland tallied 13 points and seven rebounds. In the championship game loss to Arizona State, he had team bests of 17 points and seven boards. Oppland also added 10 points and six rebounds against Northern Iowa in Las Vegas.

Oppland has made 21 consecutive free throws, including a 10-for-10 mark against Longwood.