For the second straight season, the University of Memphis men's basketball team has been named one of the top-four teams in the country in terms of Academic Progress Rate.
The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport announced its annual study, naming the University of Dayton, American University, the University of Michigan and the U of M to their Final Four.
Memphis head coach Josh Pastner couldn't be more pleased with his players.
"What a great thing for our program," the fifth-year coach said. "Let's not undersell that now. That is an important feat when you're talking about how this program is viewed nationally just from a perception academically."
The study - conducted at the University of Central Florida - examined the Graduation Success Rate and APR of NCAA Tournament teams provided by the NCAA.
The University of Kansas posted a perfect 1000 - the mark posted by the U of M last year - but Memphis, Duke University, the University of Louisville and Michigan were close behind with marks of 995.
U of M interim president Brad Martin said this was just another accomplishment on a long list by Pastner and company.
"The Memphis basketball team under coach Josh Pastner is an extraordinary representation of the values and mission of the University of Memphis," Martin said in a release. "We are proud of their academic achievement, their community service and their athletic accomplishments."
In 2013, five tournament teams tied with a perfect APR score. Memphis, Belmont University, Butler University, Kansas, Michigan and the University of Notre Dame all posted perfect 1000's.
The accomplishment is all the more impressive with some of the players Pastner has allowed to join his program. Several have had colorful backgrounds, but there have been very few problems.
The U of M's athletic director Tom Bowen said the basketball program is running exactly the way it needs to be running.
"The University of Memphis is committed to recruiting and developing the best student-athletes in the country both in the classroom and on the field of competition," Bowen said. "Our men's basketball program continues to set a high standard in both areas, and we are immensely proud of their success."
Despite the success in the classroom, Pastner understands he will be judged by the way his team performs on the court.
"I know last year the count of rebounds and Michigan State outrebounded us, and that's why they advanced," he said. "They advanced and we didn't, so it wasn't based on academics. It will be the same thing on the court. We're going to have to advance through getting the job done via rebounding and scoring, but it's a great thing to be recognized academically."
