From Deseret News archives:
Bogut standing tall
Utah's 7-foot center was recently named as a finalist for both the Wooden and Naismith Awards, given to college basketball's top player. He's been featured in several national publications such as USA Today and Slam Magazine and will be the subject of a story in Sports Illustrated next week. He is interviewed daily by media outlets from around the United States and his native Australia. He's had NBA scouts drooling all season as they've followed him from one city to the next. He has a good chance to be on several all-American lists at the end of the season.
Not bad for a 20-year-old who was cut from his local team in Australia just four years ago.
Bogut was the obvious choice for the newspaper's Athlete of the Month award in January, a month his team never lost in eight games, starting with a 65-54 win over LSU early in the month and concluding with a 72-58 win over BYU on the last day. Bogut exceeded his season averages in most categories during the month, averaging 20.3 points and 13.0 rebounds per game and making 70 percent of his field goal attempts.
By now, you probably know that Bogut came to Utah two years ago, a year after signing a letter of intent to play for coach Rick Majerus.
You probably know how he burst on the international scene in the summer of 2003 by leading Australia to the Junior World title in Greece and earning MVP honors. Then he came to Utah that fall and earned Mountain West Conference freshman-of-the-year honors after averaging 12.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
You probably know how Utah's new coach Ray Giacoletti made a special trip to Australia last spring to talk to Bogut and his parents and ensure that he'd return to Utah for his sophomore season.
You're also probably aware that Bogut starred for his country in last summer's Olympics in Greece, where he averaged 14.4 points and 8.8 rebounds, going against some of the best players in the world.
You probably know that right now Bogut is considered one of the premier big men in college basketball and ranks second in the nation in rebounding (11.7 rpg), third in field goal percentage (64.9) and is 27th in scoring (19.5 ppg). You know that Bogut is a big reason why Utah is one of the surprise teams in college basketball with its 20-3 record and national ranking.
But here are a few things you may not know about Andrew Bogut:
Comments
- BYU says Hall incident resolved 7:35 p.m.
- Man critically injured in accident 6:47 p.m.
- Trial begins in slaying 6:44 p.m.
- 2 families divided over slaying 6:22 p.m.
- Provo fire displaces 4 families 6:22 p.m.
- Brems outlasts 2nd round of votes 6:06 p.m.
- Boy's quick thinking saves life 6:05 p.m.
- Turner considers County Council run 6:00 p.m.
- Gifts for gamers 5:27 p.m.
- Acquired immunity may not help 5:15 p.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- U. eyes bowl for redemption
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
374 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
344 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
304 - Utes won't respond to Hall
236 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
119 - Religion in politics is tiresome
103
I know schools sometimes get forced into committing too much to keep...
This all could be a great lead in for a bowl game rematch!
It's Corroon, not Caroon or Coroon. Time to learn it, since he'll be...
An excellent and timely sermon.
I wish I got the day off of work when my back was sore.
In the past the two teams were generally unevenly matched when they played....
It is ironic and funny how a society that believes in and practices violence...
Wow what a sore winner. I understand how much it hurst for your family to be...
@anon 6:52 --- who cares that "most Christian groups don't recognize Mormons...
What law school did you pretend to go to?
Based on most Ute fan comments above, I would have to say Max was wrong, the...




You can be the first to comment on this story.