The Mid-American Conference announced Monday that Eugene German, men’s basketball sophomore guard, was named to the MAC all-second team.

German was rightfully named to second team

Khobi Price | Sports Writer

The glaring flaw in German’s resume is that the Huskies failed to win a road conference game and finished the regular season with the worst record in the MAC.

Team success should matter just as much as individuals’ statistics when it comes to evaluating who deserves the honors of being on which All-MAC team. It’s a reason why University of Kansas guard Devonte’ Graham won the Big-12 Player of the Year award over Oklahoma University guard Trae Young, even though Young leads the nation in points and assists per game.

The three guards who are on the All-MAC first team led their teams to winning percentages of 50 percent or greater in conference games. NIU won a measly 33 percent of their regular season conference contests.

German could’ve done more to help the Huskies have greater success in the conference even though he led the MAC in points per game. He didn’t do a great job of using his dynamic scoring ability to help get his teammates involved.

He ranked No. 35 in assists per game in the conference with 1.7, according to ESPN. That was the third best mark on his own team. Each of the guards on the first team ranked in the top-20 in assists per game in the conference. Far too often, German would attack the basket with tunnel vision and look for his own shot, as opposed to involving his teammates more.

German is a dynamic and efficient scorer who will improve going forward. I don’t doubt that he could be deserving of a first-team nod next year, but it will take some improving on his part and a better team record. The second team is where he belongs.

German was snubbed from the first team

Julian Nunnery | Sports Writer

German got snubbed from the All-MAC first team, and although second team is a great honor, it’s not enough for the incredible season he had.

German not only made a case for All-MAC first team, but also as an All-MAC player of the year candidate to some respects.

German led the conference in scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game. That number ranked him No. 34 in the nation and No. 8 among underclassmen, according to ESPN.

German scored in double digits in all 31 of the Huskies’ games this season and scored 20 or more points in 18 of those games. He also turned himself into a prolific 3-point shooter, knocking down two 3-point field goals per game.

What adds even more to German’s case for the All-Mac first team is he increased his production in conference play. German averaged 21.6 points per game and 2.3 triples per game during the Huskies’ conference games.

Even as an undersized guard, German proved to be one of the most explosive and dynamic players in the MAC this season.

If German was added to any other roster in the MAC, the team would immediately become a contender to win the conference championship. In the same respect, take him off the Huskies and the number of NIU’s conference wins could probably be counted on one hand.

German went from a player who was, arguably, the third string point guard in the beginning of his freshman season to an invaluable asset to his team this year.

It happens all the time in the world of sports, but German was simply snubbed from the first team.