Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Valparaiso University's Dan Oppland was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSida). Oppland previously earned Academic All-District V honors, an accolade he also achieved as a sophomore.

Five players were selected to each of the First, Second and Third Academic All-America Teams.

A junior forward from St. Louis, Mo./Whitfield, Oppland has earned a 3.490 cumulative grade point average in physical education/sports management. Oppland leads Valpo and ranks 3rd in the Mid-Continent Conference in scoring with 18.6 points per game. He also leads the Crusaders in rebounding (6.9 pg.), stands 3rd in the league in free throw percentage (.768) and ranks 8th in field goal percentage (.523).

During the 2004-05 season, Oppland has been a two-time Mid-Con Player of the Week and has been named to the all-tournament teams at the Arizona State Hoops Classic and the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. He has scored in double figures in 27 of the 30 games, netting 20-or-more points 17 times.

As a sophomore, Oppland led Valpo with 15.7 ppg., while earning Second Team All-Mid-Con and Mid-Con All-Academic Team honors. He was also selected to the Mid-Con All-Tournament Team after helping Valpo win its 8th Mid-Con Tournament Championship.