Marquette 'M Club' Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2016
- Class:
- 2006
Steve Novak cemented himself as Marquette's most deadly shooter in program history during a career which spanned from a 2003 Final Four run to MU's entrance into the BIG EAST in 2005-06. Novak ended his career by shooting 46.1 percent from three-point range (354-of-768) and hitting 93.1 percent (243-of-261) of his attempts from the free throw line. That free throw percentage included an astronomical 97.4 percent during his senior year in which he missed on just two of 76 shots from the charity stripe.
The Brown Deer, Wisconsin native burst onto the scene as a freshman by helping MU to its first Final Four appearance since 1977. Novak earned Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year and All-Freshman Team recognition as a rookie and was also named to the NCAA All-Midwest Regional Team after connecting on five 3-pointers against No. 1 Kentucky in the Elite Eight.
The 2006 All-BIG EAST First Team selection made another big first impression as a senior in MU's first BIG EAST matchup versus then-No. 2 Connecticut at the Bradley Center. Novak poured in 41 points, still a BIG EAST record for a player in their league debut, and 16 rebounds, as the Golden Eagles throttled the Huskies, 94-79, on Jan. 4, 2006.
After a career year in which he averaged a team-high 17.5 points per game and set the current BIG EAST record with 70 3-pointers in league action, Novak was selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2006 NBA draft. The 15th-leading scorer in MU history was the sixth player to reach 1,500 points and 500 rebounds in his Marquette career and was the co-recipient of the 2006 McCahill Award.
