Everyone has probably read the article at this point, but you know I would have to post something.

The 6-foot-2 point guard, who ranks ninth all-time in scoring for the Panthers, confirmed Wednesday that he had signed a one-year deal to play for EWE Baskets Oldenburg, a German First Division team.

“After I signed, I stopped and thought about it. I thought, ‘I’m a professional.’ ” Krauser said. “I feel good.”

While Krauser would not divulge any other details of the contract, he insisted the move was “about making good decisions.

“Now, I’ve got to make a living,” said Krauser, who has a 2-year-old son.

The New York native led Pitt in scoring and assists the past two years, averaging 15.0 points and 4.8 assists per game last season, when Pitt finished with a 25-8 record after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

He is scheduled to depart for Oldenburg, Germany, on Aug. 13.

“I love basketball,” Krauser said. “I’ll just take this as a good experience. I’m going to go out there and compete and learn a new language.

“I’m not sure when the league starts, but I’m going to find out a lot when I get to Germany.”

Until then, he said, he’ll keep playing ball.

“There’s a few summer leagues going on in New York. I’ll get up there when I can,” he said. “I’m going to play and work out as much as I can.”

Love him or hate him, he’s been a huge part of Pitt basketball and the success it has enjoyed the past few years. Pitt may not have have met the goals they and we hoped and expected, and Krauser may deserve some of the blame. That said, those goals and expectations would not have been as high without Krauser on the team.

His cockiness may have irritated some, but it isn’t going away.

“The NBA messed up in not picking up a veteran point guard like me,” he said. “To pick up a bunch of (college) sophomores is something I can’t quite understand. Their minds and bodies will be fatigued.”

Krauser took part in his second consecutive NBA Pre-Draft Camp last month, where he impressed a number of scouts. He said the Los Angles Lakers, Indiana and Utah were among the teams to show the most interest.

I’m going to miss him, and I hope he shows the NBA and the Germans something while there.

I haven’t glanced at what’s happening at the Big East offices in a while. Looks like I missed plenty.

It’s Hall of Fame time.

BIG EAST Conference Commissioner MICHAEL A. TRANGHESE has been formally inducted into the Rhode Island Italian-American Hall of Fame.

Tickets were only $100 (VIP tickets $200) for the June 29 event. I was about to make some joke about holding this event in the closet of the Kirkbrae Country Club when I looked at the other honorees. They were also honoring a national guardsman and some guy who plays football for the New England Patriots. Bruschi or something like that. Call me a cynic but I don’t think most were attending to meet Tranghese.

Of course the bigger hall of fame event is for Big East founder Dave Gavitt who is getting inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Since not everyone can get to that, the Big East has decided to host a special “one of a kind event” (their words, not mine).

The BIG EAST Conference will honor its founder and future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee DAVE GAVITT by hosting a very special tribute event at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence on Aug. 10 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The conference office has scheduled this special tribute because tickets to the enshrinement ceremony in Springfield, Mass. are extremely limited.

In order to purchase tickets at a cost of $100 per person…
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In addition, the conference office will also assemble a very special and unique “video tribute book,” which will run on a loop during the event. It is designed to allow both individuals and organizations to offer their formal congratulations and best wishes to Dave and his wife Julie and also help to offset some of the costs associated with the event.

To do the video tribute only costs you $500 per slide — power point only, please. And make sure you get your order in by August 1 so they can review the submission. Darn the luck, I’ll be unable to make the event. Thank goodness on the order form (PDF) you can check a box saying you are only making a donation but can’t attend. No mention of an open bar either.

The Big East also made some staff changes of 4 grinning white guys.

BIG EAST Commissioner Michael Tranghese has announced four staff changes. Jim Siedliski has been promoted to Associate Commissioner for Olympic Sports and Shawn Murphy has been promoted to Director of Men’s Basketball Operations. In addition, former interns Jason DeAngelis (Compliance) and Ben Fairclough (Communications) have been added in a full-time capacity. DeAngelis will now serve as Assistant Director for Compliance, while Fairclough will be Assistant Director for Internet Publicity and Promotions.

The most shocking thing. One of the 4 actually came from outside of New England. Okay, that may be the second most shocking thing. Mr. Fairclough holds a masters degree from Slippery Rock. Slippery Rock offers post-graduate degrees? In sports management?

Looks like Pitt will find out soon about another potential recruit on the O-line.

“I’m very close to a final decision,” stated massive Evan Blankenship. “At this point, I’m down to Pitt and Ohio State. Both schools have a great deal to offer.”

Blankenship has been a three-year starter for Center High School. He led his team to an outstanding 10-2 record last season.

“It looks like I should have decision within the next two weeks. I want to get to Columbus and Pittsburgh within the next two weeks and spend time with both coaching staffs. I’ve already been to both schools a bunch of times but I think the final visit will help me separate the schools.”

Blankenship is capable of bench pressing 340 pounds, squatting 500 pounds and running a 5.4 forty-yard dash. He is a solid student with a 3.0 grade point average. Scout.com’s Eastern Football Analyst Bob Lichtenfels recently ranked Evan the 32nd best player in the state of Pennsylvania.

“I have been to Pitt many times and I’m very familiar with their facilities and coaches. The coaching staff there is great. It’s close to home and they need offensive linemen,” he said. “Pitt has a big campus and you have to take shuttles to get to parts of it. It’s a little more in the city compared to Ohio State’s campus but that’s not a big deal.”

Rivals.com lists Blankenship as the 25th best prospect in the state. Chris Dokish and PSR puts him at 18.

Meanwhile, someone Pitt will definitely have and need in 2007 is Dave Brytus, a top-flight punter who is sitting out this season after transferring from Purdue.

He would appear the frontrunner to win the punter and kickoff specialist positions. After all, as a sophomore last season he was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in college football.

But, Brytus has found something to fill the void for someone hungry for competition as he sits out — he has undertaken a career in Mixed Martial Arts Amateur Cage Fighting. Yes, the kind of ultimate fighting seen on television.

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No, he isn’t. Typical kickers don’t have fights scheduled in an event called Caged Inferno on July 29 in Lawrenceburg, Ky. That is when Brytus, a heavyweight, will square off against Jeremy Wurm.

Brytus is coming off a June 17 loss in Kentucky against Ron Francisco. It was the only fight of 18 on the card that went to a decision after the three, 5-minute rounds. All others ended in submissions or knockout. That said, Brytus isn’t exactly sure he lost.

Before he shifted to this, he was an amateur heavyweight boxer. Maybe an exhibition bout could be set up between Brytus and ND’s Tom Zbikowski.

Justin Hargrove was one of the early big commits for Pitt last year. Now, because of a head injury that was diagnosed as a brain contusion he suffered last fall, he will be one of the last of the recruits to get on the practice field with Pitt.

But a lingering injury has changed Hargrove’s figurative shirt color to gray. He will take what is commonly referred to as a grayshirt and enroll full-time at Pitt in the spring semester. That will allow ample time to heal from a severe head injury.

After the grayshirt, Hargrove will be permitted back on the field. Doctors have surmised that will be enough time for him to fully recover.

“This is the best situation for me, definitely,” said Hargrove, 6 feet 4, 245-pounds. “Just from all aspects, it makes the most sense. I’ll be able to learn the system in the next few months and that will be a big key for when I’m able to get back out there.”

I’m kind of surprised that he just didn’t do a medical redshirt for his freshman year, and get a head start on the academics and at least be a part of the strength and conditioning. The cynical and suspicious part of me wonders if they aren’t still downplaying the extent of the injury and risk to Hargrove.

This is an injury to the head. Concussion or contusion means a big level of uncertainty as to when or if ever a player can come back to playing football.

Hopefully, I’m wrong and Hargrove will completely recover and safely (as safe as anyone can be) play football for Pitt in 2007.