Bogut will take a little time off

Andrew Bogut wasn't with his Utah teammates Monday afternoon for their first workout and he won't be practicing with them during the next couple of weeks. In fact, he doesn't even plan to pick up a basketball for awhile.

But relax, Ute fans. As the big Australian would say, "no worries."

Bogut is indeed back in town, having arrived late Monday night, straight from his Olympic experience in Greece despite a three-hour delay in New York. He spent most of Tuesday running around the U. campus, obtaining his parking permit, buying books and getting organized in his apartment with teammate Tim Drisdom.

Although Bogut will start attending his American History, Geography and Music History classes this week, he doesn't plan to play basketball for awhile. He and the Ute coaches decided he should take two weeks off from basketball.

"I haven't had a break for two years," he said.

It certainly has been a whirlwind for Bogut ever since he left Utah in May at the end of the semester.

He went straight to the Olympic camp in Australia before going home for a few days and then to New Zealand for more training. He made the Olympic team and spent most of the summer traveling in pre-Olympic competition, in places such as Italy, Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro.

By the time he got to Greece with his team, Bogut had earned a starting spot and he played well for the Australian team, averaging 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Against Lithuania he had 21 points and nine rebounds and produced double-doubles against both Angola and Puerto Rico.

Against Tim Duncan and the United States team, Bogut had a respectable 11 points and eight boards.

"It was awesome," Bogut said of his Olympic experience. "Obviously it was disappointing not to go further than we did. But just starting for my national team is as big a highlight as you can get."

Bogut stayed right through the closing ceremonies, which he said was fun, but also "a long night." He left the next morning for the U.S. and traveled all day.

Utah coach Ray Giacoletti was able to see his prize player, although he was only in Athens for four days, watching two games. Even though he's not that close to Bogut yet, Giacoletti said he felt like a proud father, "pulling so hard for him." Because of tight security, Giacoletti said he was only able to spend just five minutes with Bogut in Greece.

Although Giacoletti had seen film of Bogut and had seen him work out a bit in the spring, he said the Aussie was better than he expected in Greece.