Northwestern University Athletics
Thompson Selected to Big Ten All-Tournament Team
3/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern senior point guard Michael Thompson (Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park) has been selected to the Big Ten Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team. He is the third Wildcat player to earn the honor, joining Evan Eschmeyer (1999) and Jitim Young (2004).
Thompson was stellar in Thursday's opening-round game against Minnesota, scoring a Big Ten tournament record 35 points. The total surpassed the previous mark of 33 set by Purdue's Brian Cardinal against Michigan March 4, 1999. It was the second-highest point total by a Northwestern player in Bill Carmody's 11 seasons as head coach. Thompson connected on 11 of 22 field goal attempts against the Golden Gophers, including five of 12 3-point attempts.
He also knocked down all eight of his free throw tries, breaking the Northwestern record for consecutive free throws made in the process. Thompson also went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe on Friday against top-ranked Ohio State, extending his streak to 32 in a row. Pete Boesen had held the previous mark of 27 consecutive makes since 1976.
Thompson scored 15 points in the Wildcats' near upset of the Buckeyes. NU took Ohio State to overtime before falling to the eventual tournament champions 67-61.
His 12-for-12 performance from the free throw line tied the tournament record for free throw percentage. Thompson's 50 points are the most ever by a Northwestern player in a single Big Ten tournament.
A third-team All-Big Ten selection this season, Thompson leads Northwestern (18-13) into the Wildcats first-round NIT home game against Milwaukee (19-13) on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
2011 Big Ten All-Tournament Team
Michael Thompson, Northwestern
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
Jon Dieber, Ohio State
William Buford, Ohio State
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State (MVP)
Talor Battle, Penn State
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