The University of Akron Athletics
McNees, Bardo Earn Academic All-MAC Accolades
April 19 | Men's Basketball
University of Akron seniors Steve McNees and Mike Bardo were named to the men's basketball Academic All-MAC team the league office announced on Tuesday.
McNees was named to the first team while Bardo earned honorable mention honors. The selection to the academic team was the first for both players and they are the fourth & fifth players respectively to earn Academic All-MAC accolades (Andy Hipsher - 2003, 04; Doug Jackson - 1995; Mark Alberts - 1993).
McNees, a graduate student studying physical education, with an emphasis in sports science and coaching, has a 4.00 GPA. He helped the Zips win the MAC Tournament title and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons. Appearing in all 36 games in 2010-11, he set the program mark for career games played with 141. In addition to setting the career games played mark, he set personal career season marks for points scored (308), scoring average (8.6 ppg), rebounds (93), rebounds per game (2.6), assists (102) and steals (27). He was first on the team in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4) and second in assists (102), recording the 26th 100-assist season in school history (18th player).
Bardo, a graduate student studying international business, has a 3.40 GPA. He closed the 2010-11 season shooting 54.1 percent from the field (20-for-37) and was second on the team in blocked shots with eight while averaging 1.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. In a pivotal home contest against Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 23, he scored a season-high five points to help the Zips stay in the MAC regular season title race. Two weeks later, he was a key defensive player in helping Akron advance in the MAC Tournament and win the league crown for the second time in three seasons, earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
2010-11 MAC
Men's Basketball Academic All-MAC Team
Steve
McNees, Akron, 4.00 GPA, Graduate Student - Physical Education
(Sport Science/Coach)
Joe Jakubowski, Bowling Green, 3.33 GPA, Business
Byron Mulkey, Buffalo, 3.37 GPA, Higher Education
Administration
Jalin Thomas, Central Michigan, 3.65 GPA, Sports Studies
Alex Wolf, Western Michigan, 3.35 GPA, Mechanical Engineering
Honorable
Mention
Mike
Bardo, Akron, 3.40 GPA, Graduate Student - International
Business
Jay Higgins, Eastern Michigan, 3.35 GPA, Psychology
Kamil Janton, Eastern Michigan, 3.31 GPA, Political Science
J.R. Sims, Eastern Michigan, 3.58 GPA, Sports Management
Bryan Hall, Northern Illinois, 3.41 GPA, Business
