Andrew Bogut

[JD074]

I stayed up late to get my first look at this guy, and I was very
impressed. A 7-foot Australian who played for his National
Team in Athens, he seems to have the total package. He had
20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks against an albeit weak
BYU team. He can shoot, rebound, defend, pass, has good
mobility for a big man, and seems to have a feel for the game.

I was also impressed- and extremely surprised- by the color
commentator, Jimmy Dykes. He raved about Bogut. If I had
closed my eyes and didn't see Bogut, I would've just assumed
he was talking about a black player. He was saying things like,
"he should definitely be considered for National Player of the
Year, he's ready for the NBA, He's going to be a ten-year NBA
player, he could already start for some NBA teams, he could
compete against anybody, he could be the number one pick in
the draft," he just kept going on and on. He made it into the
"Andrew Bogut Show." (Bogut's good play chipped in as well.

)

For me, it was a glimpse of what sports could be like, but isn't,
which is very unfortunate for us. Unabashed enthusiasm
and appreciation like that just isn't aimed at white players that
often.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

JD; what did BYU look like, colorwise. I have never seen them play, and I was wondering about them, because I might be going up there to school this fall, to get my Ph. D. I know it's a fairly white friendly school, but what does the basketball team look like? It sounds like Bogut is pretty exciting. I'll have to try to keep up with him a little more.

 

[JD074]

They're very white. For a brief moment they even had five
white players on the floor. But two or three white players on
the floor is common for them. They're having an off season
unfortunately. The commentators mentioned that they had a
player who was red-shirting who will be their best player next
year, and another good player who is doing his mission, I think.
So hopefully they'll become good again soon. In both football
and basketball, they're a reliable school to root for.

 

[Don Wassall]

Bogut is about to announce his eligibility for the NBA draft:


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2023715
<H1>Bogut led Utah to Sweet 16</H1>
<DIV =byline style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px; HEIGHT: 36px">
<DIV =bylinetext>By Andy Katz, ESPN.com

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Utah sophomore forward Andrew Bogut is expected to announce he will declare for the NBA Draft at a 5:30 p.m. ET news conference Monday, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com.



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Bogut, a native of Australia, led Utah to the Sweet 16, losing to Kentucky in the Austin regional on Friday. Bogut, the ESPN.com National Player Of The Year, is expected to be one of the top two picks in the June NBA Draft.


Bogut considered leaving after last season, when he was the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year, but a visit to Australia from new Utah coach Ray Giacoletti convinced Bogut to put off the NBA at least another year.


Bogut led Utah in scoring and rebounding and was third on the team in assists with 82.








Bogut led Utah with 20.4 points and 12.2 rebounds per game and was third on the team in assists with 82.


Andy Katz covers college basketball for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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[Kaptain]

I wish he would stay in Utah. I see him as another white star that gets buried on the bench in the NBA. If he does go to the NBA I would like to see the Jazz get him.

 

[Bart]

I hope he doesn't go to Detroit.Darko is lock and chained to the bench and Larry brown swallowed the key.Edited by: Bart

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I wish he would either stay at Utah or get drafted by the Jazz, then I'd be able to see him play next season.

 

[Bear-Arms]

I just heard this on ESPN news, and they mentioned him as a possible #1
draft pick. Howcome all these white players arent from America
though? Ouch

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I think the reason is a less agressive style of play which the Caste System has almost forced them to play. If they will take the lead of the European guys, maybe things will change. I don't have a problem with Bogut being #1.

 

[white lightning]

I see him being a possible Nowitzki type if given the
opportunity.I would hate to see him sit like Darko does
every night.Utah would be a perfect fit for him and they
could put Kirelenko as the other forward.What a combo
that would be!

 

[JD074]

Utah is 22-48 at the moment, and that's the fourth worst record
in the league. So it is definitely a possibility. A lot of luck and
they could get the first or second pick. For now, they would
need that to get him. That could change, and given the
workings of the Caste System, I doubt that any of us would be
shocked if his stock mysteriously drops a little bit. But it's hard
to imagine him going past four or five.

The "dream scenario" might actually be San Antonio or
Sacramento instead of Utah (as long as the pressure wouldn't
be heaped on him too much too soon.) I imagine he would
really fit into a team of shooters and passers.

The worst teams right now are: Atlanta, Charlotte, New
Orleans, Utah, Golden State, Portland, Milwaukee, Toronto,
and New York. Clearly some teams would be better than
others. We can already scratch out New York, as I doubt Isiah
Thomas would draft him.

Darko going to a good team was such an anomaly. It isn't
likely that Bogut will be thrown into a "high stakes" situation like
that. Hopefully he'll be able learn the game at his own pace for
a few years, in a positive, supportive environment. Also, it
would be a shame if he went into an overly negative situation
like he might find in a bad team like Atlanta or Portland. Let's
wish him the best!
Edited by: JD074

 

[Kaptain]

I believe Utah would be the dream scenario. He would recieve lots of local fan support which should guarantee that he won't have to sit on the bench and develop for years. Also Utah is a better team than what there record shows this year as they went into a slump when Ak47 first got hurt. With a heathy AK, Bogut, and aseveral white players in thesupporting caste he won't have to fight with the caste system within his own team's racial dynamics.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I agree Kaptain Poop, there's nothing I'd like to see more than him playing for the Jazz next year.

 

[JD074]

Also, Bogut is more "battle tested" than Darko. Darko was only
18, and raised eyebrows mainly with his skill set. Bogut has
that too, but he's also performed well in actual competition,
both in college and the Olympics (where he played against
NBA players.)

 

[white lightning]

I am anxious to see where he will be drafted.Bogut has
all star potential.He also has a nba type body.He is big
and strong.He would be an excellent guy to build a young
team around.I hope he goes to Utah,Sacramento,Dallas,
or Memphis.

 

[JD074]

Hopefully his stock won't drop so low that Sacramento, Dallas,
and Memphis will have a shot at him! Those are playoff teams!
They would have to trade for him, which seems improbable.
Utah, however, does have a realistic chance. Golden State
and New Orleans have been white friendly as of late (although
New Orleans appeared to be getting rid of salary more than
anything else,) and they have a realistic shot as well.

Right now he's considered a "top two pick," so it will be
interesting to see if that sticks or not.

 

[Bart]

Matt Ronig of Yahoo Sports chimes in on the draft and Bogut, offers this comment:Have to go back to Olowokandi in 1998 to find a less inspiring big man atop the draft


Less inspiring... to who? I'm excited and inspired as all get out!

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I think several NBA teams would be delighted to have Bogut. We'll see what happens in a few days.

 

[Bear-Arms]

Dan Wetzel, of Yahoo! Sports has him going #1 overall in his Mock Draft I didn't even know they did the lottery already, but the Buck's won it like a month ago.

 

[Bart]

Bogut seemed to be irked by those who claim he isn't very athletic. Even though he has many skills, today it seems -athletic- refers only to jumping and running. Does anyone have stats on his verical leap by the way. His comment has me wondering. I wouldn't think most 7 footers jumptoo high.


[url]http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BKN_NBA_DRAFT?SITE=WI MIL&amp;SECTION=SPORTS[/url]


The Hawks are expected to select North Carolina freshman Marvin Williams, an athletic small forward who came off the bench for the Tar Heels.


"My vertical (leap) is only one inch less than Marvin Williams'," Bogut said. "You guys call him the 'superfreak' athletic-wise, so I don't see why I'm unathletic."

 

[Bart]

Found this on Bogut's athletic ability. http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?blogid=24


During a hour-long workout at the Bucks' training facility in St. Francis, Bogut raised eyebrows with his agility around the basket, his good footwork and his ability to elevate, which he demonstrated on several occasions with high-flying, powerful one-hand throwdowns.
If anyone had any serious reservations about Bogut's athleticism, they were emphatically dispelled with a performance that was clearly better than the one turned in by Marvin Williams a day earlier. Bogut and Williams, a 6-8 forward from North Carolina, are the only two players the Bucks are considering for the No. 1 overall selection in the June 28th NBA draft.
After the workout, Bogut said he disappointed in his shooting but was generally satisfied with his audition, which was watched with understandably keen interest by virtually everyone affiliated with the team's basketball operations and owner Herb Kohl.
Asked what he liked about his showing, Bogut said, "I showed that I can shoot a hook either way, that I'm ambidextrous, that I can get up and down the floor, that I can jump ... I'm athletic enough to play in the NBA.''
Before being put through a rigorous workout by Bucks assistant coaches Bob Ociepka and Mike Sanders, Bogut did a series of drills to measure his jumping abilities. He acquitted himself more than nicely.
Bogutwent 28 inches in a no-step, vertical leap and went 31 in a one-step, vertical test. Said one Bucks official: "That's not good; that's great for a guy his size.''
Bogut also showed he has a handle. It might possibly be as good as any center's in the NBA already. In drills where he started from mid-court, Bogut easily dribbled around obstacles before pulling up for a J or taking it hard to the basket. On a couple occasions, Bogut nonchalantly dribbled the ball between his legs or around his back while going full-tilt to the basket.
What Bogut didn't show in the workout was his passing skills. He wasn't asked to, because Bucks general manager Larry Harris and the team's scouting staff had already seen enough of Bogut's ability either in person or on tape.
"Coming into the league next season, he'll be one of the five best passing centers in the league,'' Harris said. "That's probably his best skill.''

 

[white lightning]

People also forget that he is of Croatian Ancestry.That
is where he gets his athletecism from.He grew up in
Australia and I'm not knocking that country.There are
alot of good basketball players from there too.This kid
is a sure shot.He will work harder than anyone to
succeed.He is not about the women,cars or jewlrey.He
will become a all-star center.His still can get alot
better.Look how young he is,and he is very strong.
The face of basketball is slowly changing.

 

[bigunreal]

We'll see how patient the fans, coaches and media are with Bogut. If he
can become a star, he would be the first truly dominant white big man
since Bill Walton. I know I'm leaving out Kevin McHale, Tom Chambers
and probably some others, but imho Walton (in his prime with Portland)
was the last big white guy whom everyone considered a superstar.

 

[Don Wassall]

It's nice to see Bogut stand up for himself when it comes to talking about athleticism. He's also proud of his Croatian/Australian background, as he states in this article, which also contains demeaning comparisons (in the context in which they are used) to former Bulls center Luc Longley.


[url]http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/06/27/b c.bkn.nbadraft.ap/index.html[/url]

 

[Gary]

Hats off to Bogut! The top player taken in the NBA draft. Along with Steve Nash winning the NBA MVP and Argentina,Italy and Lithuania beating the "nightmare team" at the Olympic's it makes for a good season.So White men can't jump

.When was the last time blacks did so well in hockey? A movie should be made called "Black men can't skate"!Good job Andrew Bogut!!!