North Dakota athletics had an extremely impressive fall semester in the classroom. The men’s basketball program was a significant outlier.
Its team GPA, while firmly into “passing grade” territory, was less-than impressive.
The Fighting Hawks proudly boasted its academic prowess during the Fall 2023 semester earlier this week. Their student-athletes recorded the department’s 31st straight semester with a 3.0 overall GPA or greater. They combined for a 3.391 in the fall, with 300 student-athletes over a 3.0 and 95 student at a 4.0 or higher— which is super strong!
However, every single team finished last semester with a GPA of at least 3.1… except one. The men’s college basketball team barely hit the 2.5-mark, partially because of an athlete who is no longer eligible and likely dragged it down.
- WOMEN:
- Volleyball — 3.529
- Track — 3.514
- Tennis — 3.789
- Softball — 3.361
- Soccer — 3.424
- Golf — 3.690
- Cross Country — 3.485
- Basketball — 3.197
- MEN:
- Track — 3.530
- Tennis — 3.431
- Hockey — 3.397
- Golf — 3.546
- Football — 3.334
- Cross Country — 3.640
- Basketball — 2.504
One of those numbers is not like the other!
Although a 2.504 GPA reflects a firm passing grade, and Cs get degrees, it is not necessarily something to shout from the rooftop. North Dakota thought better!
Its teams shared their strong individual academic marks on social media. The graphics look like this:
Despite a fake graphic that is going around, the Fighting Hawks did not promote the basketball team’s 2.504 GPA on social media. Understandably so!
13 of 15 teams at North Dakota deserved high praise for their academics. Even the women’s basketball team deserves some love — but maybe not a full-blown graphic — for its 3.197.
The men’s basketball team does not deserve the same amount of applause. Whomever is in charge of social media in Grand Forks made the smart decision to keep the 2.5 off of the internet with an understanding that it could only end poorly!