Will Bogut give his farewell speech Saturday?

Published: Friday, March 4 2005 12:00 a.m. MST

Marc Jackson is the only senior on the Utah basketball team, but he won't be the only player honored on "Senior Day" Saturday before the Utes' final home game of the season against San Diego State.

The Utes will also honor sophomore center Andrew Bogut, who is almost certainly playing his final game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Even though Bogut is likely to skip his final two seasons to enter the NBA Draft, where he is projected as a top five pick, neither he nor his coach want to make it official yet.

"We'd love to have Andrew back next season, but if he decides to forgo his final two years of college, we wanted to make sure he had the opportunity to enjoy a moment like the one he'll have on Saturday," said coach Ray Giacoletti, who has always been open about the likelihood of Bogut not returning next year.

When asked about his plans Thursday afternoon, Bogut said, "People are going to paint a picture the way they want. But I'm going to keep saying the same thing."

Bogut laughed when asked about the possibility of one or two more "senior nights" for him.

"You never know," he said.

Bogut's father is flying up from Australia to be on hand for Saturday's game.

"It'll be kind of neat," Bogut said. "I'd like to have the chance to thank the fans in case I don't come back."

Utah has traditionally honored its seniors before the final home game of the season. Jackson is happy to share the limelight with Bogut — in fact he brought up the idea of honoring Bogut to Giacoletti.

"I really thought for Andrew's sake he should be honored," Jackson said.

If Bogut does decide to leave early, he would be the first Utah player since Ticky Burden in 1975 to turn pro with eligibility left. Burden left after his junior season, a year after Mike Sojourner left following his sophomore season to join the NBA.

The Utes would love to have their second straight sellout for Saturday's game and will allow fans from Friday's gymnastics meet to get free tickets to the basketball game. The ticket trade will start at 6 p.m. Friday at the Huntsman Center box office and is subject to availability.


E-mail: sor@desnews.com

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