"We've got a lot of confidence in Andrew," said first-year Bucks coach and former Jazz player Larry Krystkowiak to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after Bogut's big game in Phoenix. "I'm not sure he knew that a month ago. We talk about it all the time and in fairness to him, we're going to start running a lot of stuff through him."

Bogut is currently the third-leading scorer for the Bucks behind shooting guard Michael Redd (23.2 ppg) and ex-Jazz point guard Mo Williams (16.8 ppg). But Bogut's scoring numbers are on the rise. He's averaged 19.6 points in his last five games.

"Maybe in the past we've gone to him a time or two and he didn't produce so maybe we looked for something else," said Krystkowiak. "Now we're saying, 'Hey big fella, we're putting the saddle on your back and you're going to get touches down there.' I think he's got a lot of confidence, and you get some touches and the rim gets a little bit bigger and I think that's what we're seeing."

Bogut agrees that he's feeling good about how he's playing right now.

"I definitely have more confidence," said Bogut. "I just need to keep improving year in and year out and it will do wonders for me. And obviously it helps that the coaches have more confidence in my game."

While he only spent two years at the U., Bogut enjoyed his time so much that he decided to give back — even before he left campus. He committed to giving a gift of $125,000 toward building a new locker room for the Utes during his press conference announcing he would opt for the NBA riches following his sophomore season.

"It's always a good experience to get back to Salt Lake," said Bogut on Sunday. "The people here are very family-oriented, and they have treated me warmly. It's just always great to see where it all started for me as far as playing in America and obviously I owe a lot to Utah because without my experience there, there is no way I'd be in the position I am in now."

Bogut tries to keep up on the Internet with how the Utes are doing as much as he can and even was able to attend a Utah game against Oregon in Portland last month when he coincidentally had a game the following night against the Trail Blazers.

"I know they are playing pretty well lately," said Bogut of the Utes. "I met coach (Jim) Boylen the first time when they played in Portland, and it seems like they are doing a good job."

Fellow 7-foot Aussie Luke Nevill, now a junior at the U., was a redshirt freshman during Bogut's final year.

"Luke is a big guy, and he needs to get the ball down low and be a leader," said Bogut. "He's learning day by day, from what I hear, but it takes time to take that role because he's definitely not a vocal guy — as least he wasn't when I was there. But him being a leader of that team is a key to their success."

The Bucks, meanwhile, know that Bogut is a key to their success.

"If you're going to be a good team, you have to have a post presence," said Krystkowiak.

In Bogut, Milwaukee has an emerging post presence. Maybe in the near future they can become a good team, too.

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E-mail: lojo@desnews.com