That’s why I jumped at the chance to work for b5Media and blog about college hoops. I was already watching a ton of games, so why not share what I was thinking?

Well, I am getting ready to pursue some other business interests in my life, and these new interests are going to demand a bunch of my time. Unfortunately, that means that some of the fun things in my life will need to take a back seat for a while, and one of those is College Fast Break.

I appreciate the opportunity that b5Media gave me to blog about college basketball, and I’ve enjoyed sharing some of my thoughts and feelings about the sport I love with the masses.

Thanks to everybody who regularly visits the blog – please continue to do so. I know the fine folks at b5 will find somebody who will push College Fast Break to higher heights than I was able to do.

Thanks for the ride.

Rich

Post from: EveryJoe

Thanks for the ride…

Here are a collection of tidbits from Hall of Fame coach Bobby Knight:

Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win.

Everyone wants to be on a winning team, but no one wants to come to practice.

Post from: EveryJoe

College basketball – Quote of the Day – April 29th

- BYU guard Lee Cummard
- BYU center Trent Plaisted
- Texas A&M guard/forward Josh Carter
- UCLA guard/forward Josh Shipp
- North Carolina guard Ty Lawson
- North Carolina forward Wayne Ellington
- Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll
- Missouri forward Leo Lyons

Since underclassmen can declare for the draft without hiring an agent, it really muddles up the draft picture. Many of these kids are simply testing the waters to see where they would potentially fall in the draft, but have no intentions of remaining in the draft.

With no penalty for dropping out of the draft, why not declare? I have to laugh every time I see a player that averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game declare for the draft. Yeah, like teams are going to waste a draft pick on him.

Post from: EveryJoe

Let the underclassmen exodus to the NBA begin, Part whatever…

Given all of the recent early entries into the draft, this is BIG news.

It is bigger news because the player returning for his senior season is the National Player of the Year – Tyler Hansbrough.

Hansbrough averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds for North Carolina, and he will return to Chapel Hill for his senior season in an effort to win the national championship.

I personally felt this was the Tar Heels year to win the tournament, but they flamed out against Kansas in the national semi-finals.

Hansbrough and the Tar Heels may have a tougher time next season as juniors Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson declared for the draft and may not be back.

Post from: EveryJoe

POY Hansbrough going back for senior year

Porchea walked off the court after the game and collapsed. He never regained consciousness. A candlelight vigil was held on the Alabama State campus Thursday night to honor Porchea.

This incident is the latest in a long line of incidents where young, healthy athletes have collapsed and died after games or workouts. It would not surprise me at all to learn that Porchea had an enlarged heart, which led to his death. I’m not saying that is what happened, but many of the similar deaths were later determined to have been caused by an enlarged heart.

I’m not sure if it is feasible or not, but I believe that every college athlete should undergo some sort of testing to determine if they have an enlarged heart before they are allowed to participate in practices or games.

Even if that testing saves only one life, it is well worth it.

Post from: EveryJoe

Alabama State player dies after pickup game

Three more underclassmen declared late Wednesday: Memphis juniors Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier and Texas junior guard A.J. Abrams.

Anderson and Dozier were role players on Memphis’ team this year, and their early entries come as a big surprise to me. Neither player signed with an agent, so I would expect both to return to school next season.

If Dozier and Anderson were to stay in the draft, that would mean that the entire starting 5 for the Tigers would be in the draft. Let the rebuilding in Memphis begin…

Abrams joined fellow Longhorn guard D.J. Augustin in declaring for the draft on Wednesday. Abrams averaged 16.5 points per game last season, but at 5′11″ is a little short to play shooting guard in the NBA.

Post from: EveryJoe

Let the underclassmen exodus to the NBA begin, Part Five

Many NBA draft experts peg Augustin as a lottery pick, so his early entry should not have surprised anybody. Augustin was a consensus first team All-American this season and averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 assists per game for the Longhorns.

Chalmers became an instant legend in Kansas folklore when he hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to send the national championship game against Memphis into overtime. Chalmers averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game for the national champion Jayhawks.

I’m a little surprised that Chalmers declared and would not be at all surprised to see him withdraw from the draft and return to Kansas for his senior season.

Post from: EveryJoe

Let the underclassmen exodus to the NBA begin, Part Four

Gordon averaged 17.2 points and 4.9 assists per game for the Bulldogs, while freshman center Koufos averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.

Neither Gordon or Koufos will hire an agent prior to the draft, so the door remains open for them to return to school.

Post from: EveryJoe

Let the underclassmen exodus to the NBA begin, Part III

VA Tech head basketball coach Seth Greenberg spoke with ESPN and gave his thoughts about that fateful day.

Post from: EveryJoe

Virginia Tech – one year after tragedy

The latest two to declare: Memphis junior guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and UCLA forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

CDR led Memphis in scoring at 18.1 points per game and made a name for himself during the Tigers run through the NCAA tournament. At 6′7″, Douglas-Roberts could easily play the 3 in the NBA. He can shoot from the outside and has a pretty decent post-up game.

Mbah a Moute is hoping to get drafted on his defensive abilities alone, which is pretty scary. He only averaged 8.8 points and 6 rebounds this year for the Bruins, who may get Mbah a Moute back as he is not going to hire an agent.

Post from: EveryJoe

Let the underclassmen exodus to the NBA begin, Part II