Velander, Krenk Named to Academic All-Big 12 Team

Senior guards Paul Velander and Nick Krenk were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, the conference office announced this week. Only Texas, with four honorees, had more first team memebers than the Huskers, who tied with Kansas and Kansas State with two first-team members apiece.

For Velander, it is the third straight season he has been a first-team selection. The Blacksburg, Va., native is a biological sciences major, carrying a 3.73 grade-point average. He is the eighth Husker to earn first-team academic all-conference accolades for three straight seasons. Earlier this year he was named an academic all-region selection and had his name placed among the 30 finalists for Academic All-America honors.

Krenk earned the honor for the first time in his career. A native of Nebraska City, he is a psychology major who carries a 3.41 GPA and is on pace to graduate in May.

Overall, 28 athletes were named to the basketball academic team, including 17 on the first team. Nebraska ranks second in the conference only behind Kansas in first-team Academic All-Big 12 selections. Over the past 13 seasons, Kansas has had 33 players earn first-team honors while the Huskers have now had 24 selections. Only one other school (Kansas State, 17) has more than 14 first-teamers. In total academic all-league honors (first and second team), Nebraska is fourth in the conference with 27 seletctions, behind Kansas (42), Iowa State (28) and Texas A&M (28). 

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or in the two previous semesters and have participated in 60 percent of his team’s scheduled contests. First-team members must have at least least a 3.2 GPA. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence.  Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.