2023-24 Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – A trio of Bulldogs represented the Concordia University Men’s Basketball program on the honor roll released on Tuesday (March 26) by College Sports Communicators (CSC). The organization tabbed senior Noah Schutte and juniors Brad Bennett and Tristan Smith as 2023-24 Academic All-District® Team award winners. Bennett and Smith have garnered honors from CSC for the second time in their careers while Schutte is a first-time CSC award winner.
The 2023-24 Academic All-District® Men’s Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.
Schutte has continually raised his game throughout his Concordia career. The two-time First Team All-GPAC honoree has averaged better than 20 points per game in back-to-back seasons. This past 2023-24 season, Schutte averaged 20.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game and shot 55.2 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 percent from the foul line. He finished his senior season with career totals of 1,827 points, 727 rebounds, 195 assists and 78 steals in 115 games. The Laurel, Neb., native is majoring in Business Administration.
The sharpshooting Bennett moved up to the GPAC’s second team in 2023-24 after having been tabbed an honorable mention selection the previous year. While starting all 32 games this past season, Bennett averaged 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He shot 47.9 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from 3-point range and 71.1 percent from the foul line. With three seasons complete, Bennett has totaled 669 points and 183 rebounds in 66 games. He is majoring in Biology.
Smith took his stardom to new heights in 2023-24 while being honored as a First Team All-GPAC award winner. He played in 30 games and averaged 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. Smith shot 60.1 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range and led the team with 14 double-doubles. Through three college seasons, the Elizabeth, Colo., native has amassed 900 points, 472 rebounds and 80 blocked shots in 79 games. He is majoring in Business Administration.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on April 17.