« DI Men’s Basketball 2012-13

Mike Muscala

School
Bucknell
Position
Center
Major
Management
PPG
18.7
RPG
11.1
APG
2.3

Classroom

Muscala has a 3.36 cumulative GPA in Bucknell’s challenging management program (he also majors in Spanish). In the spring 2012 semester, while leading Bucknell to a Patriot League regular-season title and earning First Team All-PL honors, Muscala at the same time was recording a 3.83 GPA. Muscala has been named to the five-man Patriot League Men’s Basketball All-Academic Team in each of the last three seasons. In 2013 he earned Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, and he was a national Capital One Academic All-American (third team).

Character

While Muscala is considered one of the best basketball players in Bucknell history, he is an even better person. He is a two-year team captain and is very popular with the local media, and during Bucknell’s 2011 NCAA Tournament run he set up a special Twitter feed to help chronicle his experiences for Bucknell’s fans. Coach Dave Paulsen continually raves about Muscala’s work ethic, saying “any time your best player is also your hardest worker every day in practice, your team is in good hands.”

Community

As a two-year captain, Muscala has led numerous team-wide community service events, including free YMCA clinics, volunteering at the annual Lewisburg Street Fair, volunteering at the local soup kitchen and an annual Halloween visit to a children’s hospital.

Competition

Muscala is one of the most decorated players in Bucknell basketball history, and he is considered by many national outlets to be one of the top centers in the nation in 2012-13. The 6’11” Muscala is just the second four-time All-Patriot League selection in league history, and in 2011 and 2013 he won both the PL Player of the Year and PL Tournament MVP honors after leading the Bison to a league title and NCAA Tournament bid. This season Muscala became the first player in Patriot League history to sweep Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. He is one of 30 candidates for the Naismith Player of the Year Award, he is one of 25 finalists for the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, and he earned a spot on the USBWA All-District Team.

Mike enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 19.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 assists per game. He is the only player in all of Division I basketball averaging at least 18 points and 11 rebounds, and he leads the country in double-doubles with 22. He is shooting 52% from the field and 79% from the free-throw line, and his 628 points this season is a new school record. Muscala had a 25-point, 14-rebound game against then-No. 12 Missouri on the road, one of 15 20-point performances this season. In addition to leading the country in double-doubles, Muscala ranks fourth nationally in rebounding, 27th in scoring and 29th in blocked shots. In the Patriot League Tournament, Muscala posted 56 points and a tournament-record 38 rebounds in three games to lead the Bison to their second Patriot League championship in three years.

Muscala is part of the winningest senior class in program history (92). Over the past three seasons, he has led Bucknell to a record 78 wins, two Patriot League Tournament titles, an unprecedented three straight PL outright regular-season titles, two NCAA Tournaments and an NIT appearance (which included a win at Arizona).

Muscala has 2,027 career points, which makes him Bucknell’s all-time leading scorer and the only 2,000-point scorer in program history. He is also the only player in school and Patriot League history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He ranks second in both school and league history in both rebounds (1,083) and blocked shots (271).