March 9, 2004
Duquesne University senior guard/forward Jimmy Tricco (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) was named Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year in a vote of league sports information directors it was announced today.
Tricco is the first Duquesne player to earn the honor which was instituted by the conference in 1999-00.
Tricco, who is working toward his graduate degree in marriage and family counseling, was also named to the six-man A-10 Men's Basketball Academic Team along with teammates Jon Pawlak (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands) and Tyler Bluemling (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon).
It is the second time both Tricco and Pawlak have been named to the academic team, and marks the fourth consecutive season the Dukes have had at least one player named to the A-10 academic team.
Tricco, who completed his undergraduate degree in psychology in the spring with a 3.84 GPA, has a 4.00 GPA on the graduate level. Pawlak, who was named to the 2001-02 academic team prior to redshirting last season, has a 3.15 GPA in investment management. Bluemling, who has a 3.15 in elementary education, is a first time pick.
Tricco, a second-year transfer from Gonzaga, has started every game in his Duquesne career. He enters the 2003-04 Atlantic 10 Championship averaging 9.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He leads the team with 50 3-point field goals. Pawlak, a junior, has seen action in 26 of 27 games. He is averaging 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Bluemling, also a junior, has played in 16 games this season.
DUQUESNE AND THE A-10 ACADEMIC TEAM Duquesne is the only Atlantic 10 school to produce a men's basketball All-Academic member in each of the last four years:
2001 -- Matt Barker
2002 -- Jon Pawlak
2003 -- Jimmy Tricco
2004 -- Tyler Bluemling, Jon Pawlak, Jimmy Tricco
