Dusty Rychart
Encyclopedia
Dusty Mike Rychart is a naturalised Australia
n professional basketball
player, originally from the United States
. He currently plays forward for the Cairns Taipans
in the Australian National Basketball League.
in Minneapolis
where he walked on to the basketball team for the 1997/98 season. After redshirting
his freshman
year, Rychart earned a scholarship following his redshirt freshman year of 1997/98 season. He went onto make the All Big Ten team his junior and senior years. In 1998, his team won the National Invitational Tournament Championship. The following year, he was selected as NCAA Tournament Player of the Game. His overall ppg average was 24.9, 51% from the field and 32.9 % from 3 pt range. He averaged 6.6 rpg.
to participate in that country's National Basketball League
. Rychart began his career with the Victoria Giants
, joining the team in 2002. Halfway through the 2002/03 NBL season, he became a member of the Adelaide 36ers
making his debut for the club on February 14 2003, and stayed with the team until 2006, when he joined the Brisbane Bullets
. He has also played for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in New Zealand, and BC Krka in Slovenia.
in 2002 to play for the Victoria Giants as an import. Rychart averaged 17 ppg, 8 rebounds for the Giants.
offered him a contract, Rychart put in another solid year averaging 19 ppg and 9 rebounds.
.
for the 2008-09 NBL Season
. In 30 games with the Hawks, Dusty averaged 15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.63 assists a game.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, originally from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He currently plays forward for the Cairns Taipans
Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The club is based in the northern Queensland city of Cairns. The Taipans, named after a species of venomous snake native to Australia, entered the NBL in the 1999/2000 season...
in the Australian National Basketball League.
College career
Rychart attended the University of MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have played in the Big Ten since the conference began sponsoring basketball in 1905...
in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
where he walked on to the basketball team for the 1997/98 season. After redshirting
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
year, Rychart earned a scholarship following his redshirt freshman year of 1997/98 season. He went onto make the All Big Ten team his junior and senior years. In 1998, his team won the National Invitational Tournament Championship. The following year, he was selected as NCAA Tournament Player of the Game. His overall ppg average was 24.9, 51% from the field and 32.9 % from 3 pt range. He averaged 6.6 rpg.
Professional career
After graduation, Rychart moved to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to participate in that country's National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
. Rychart began his career with the Victoria Giants
Victoria Titans
The Victoria Titans were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the inaugural NBL summer season of 1998/99...
, joining the team in 2002. Halfway through the 2002/03 NBL season, he became a member of the Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
making his debut for the club on February 14 2003, and stayed with the team until 2006, when he joined the Brisbane Bullets
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy...
. He has also played for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in New Zealand, and BC Krka in Slovenia.
Victoria Giants 2002-2003
Rychart joined the NBLNational Basketball League (Australasia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
in 2002 to play for the Victoria Giants as an import. Rychart averaged 17 ppg, 8 rebounds for the Giants.
Adelaide 36ers 2003-2006
Joining the 36ers after the Giants released him, Rychart made an immediate impact in the 2003/04 season averaging 22 ppg and 10 rebounds. In his second year with the club it was a consistent year averaging 21 ppg and 11 rebounds and in what was to be his final year with the club after the Brisbane BulletsBrisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy...
offered him a contract, Rychart put in another solid year averaging 19 ppg and 9 rebounds.
Brisbane Bullets 2006-2008
After joining the Brisbane bullets for the 06/07 season, Rychart played a different style of game than what was seen in the past, playing as a center. His averages went down because of the more team oriented play, averaging 15 ppg and 9 rebounds but in his first year the Bullets won the NBL Championship and Rychart was instrumental in helping the Bullets win the title. In the 07/08 season Rychart finished the season averaging 16.2ppg and 9rpg. The Bullets finished the season third, making the finals before losing in the semis to eventual winners, the Melbourne TigersMelbourne Tigers
The Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
.
Wollongong Hawks 2008-2009
Rychart signed on with the Wollongong HawksWollongong Hawks
The Wollongong Hawks are a team competing in Australia's National Basketball League , based in the New South Wales city of Wollongong. They won the NBL championship in 2001 and finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010...
for the 2008-09 NBL Season
2008-09 NBL Season
-2008-09 league participants:* On 30 June 2008 the Brisbane Bullets confirmed they would be handing back the team's license to the NBL. The NBL confirmed there will be no Brisbane team participating in the 2008/09 season....
. In 30 games with the Hawks, Dusty averaged 15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.63 assists a game.