All the hype about Bogut

[Fresh8]

He struggled against 'tough inside d' against UNLV...

[copious]

Pretty impressive stats if you ask me, he wont be another Luc Longley.

http://utahutes.collegesports.com/sport ... rew00.html

If you've seen him play the Olympics (Athens) this guy is far from a slugging 7 foot center who can just take rebounds and hook shots. He can pop jumpers, create good scoring opportunities and he is quick for his size. He'll also go hard for 40 mins if he has to. anyway maybe not #1 but he'll be up there if hes capable of NBA level skill.

[Fresh8]

Yeah.. but his defence is lacking...

[Yessie]

lets see how he does in the NCAA tourney in march. i doubt they will beat any of the top 15 teams. i hope my UW huskies take names this year. last year was very dissapointing.

[J@3]

there always 2 or 3 people trying to be a smartass. Bogut is going to be a Bust in the NBA another big slow guy who cant shoot and will probably ride the bench of a crappy team for 3yrs and be forgotten about

Well at the Olympics he was hitting the 3 with regularity, which isn't bad for a guy who can't shoot

[Fresh8]

Bogut played his last game in front of the Utah crowd. Scored 20, 15 and 4... good stat line. The team plays 8 more games and it looks like they will make the NCAA tournement... then we'll get to see some March Madness... is that a cliche?

[The X]

The Utes are a lock for the Big Dance even if they get knocked out in the 1st Round of their conference tournament....

as for March Madness, it has already started....Conference tournaments are in full flight....Winthrop's back in the Big Dance

[Fenix]

Actually, he does remind me of Darko.

Perhaps because he's white and his origins are in ex-Yugoslavia (Croatia, Darko comes from Serbia). But in terms of skills and athleticism, Darko is light years ahead of him ("Please turn off your BS detectors.") He's quick, fast and with extremely good vertical leap and is not as raw as people think he is, even though he's still riding Brown's bench. I saw him play in Serbian league and if Kwame was considered raw (which he still is), then Darko was already Duncan-like at seventeen.

And about Bogut: he's a skilled, big hustler who doesn't run away when he's being touched (hum, just ignore the homofobic potential). IMHO, that's a good combination. He'll never be a superstar, but I can see him as a rich man's Vlade Divac (less whining, more hustle).

[FendeR`]

Yea for all the hype I've heard I doubt he'll amount to much besides maybe a solid bench player.

[The X]

I think he will amount to more than a solid bench player....he might take a while to adjust to NBA and be a solid bench contributor for first season or two, but I'll reckon he'll be pretty decent....

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

I worked as a volunteer during the summer in the Olympics and had the chance to watch some freebie bball games at the Sport Complex.

Caught a few of the Aussies games and was impressed by Bogut. Didn't know who he was at the time, but he seemed to have a good grasp of the fundamentals for a 19 year-old...

Given the fact that LeBron James had some sort of sight problem during th eOlympics and considered the basket to be approximately 10 inches from his actual location(meaning he had a few airballs, and yeah, he sucked in the little time he played), combined with Bogut's ecellent play during th esame tournament, I cannot see why he will not become a solid player for the league. Even the prospect of a 15ppg - 10rpg night in and night out center must be having teams drooling given the lack of depth at the center position.

ESPN seems to think highly of him: http://utahutes.collegesports.com/sport ... 05aaa.html

[Matt]

he said he wants to play for Utah...might just happen

[air gordon]

any of the locals or big college b-ball fans have a scouting report to give on this guy? i've heard dicky V. mention him a few times on that one network but he really didn't give much insight.

so if anyone can provide something other then big man who shoots, i'd appreciate it

[The X]

hmmm....don't really have much to go on other than olympics and other reports....

he seems to not get intimidated by opposition (didn't back down from duncan, stoudemire or anyone and actually played them tough)
improving shotblockers, although I'd imagine at the next level he wouldn't average more than 1 per game....
can step out and hit the international 3 (out to 22 feet), although his real range would probably be more like 16-18 feet....
has superb hands....a point guard can throw it anywhere and he'll get it....
I've heard he's a good passing big man....
great footwork....

I think he needs to improve his man-to-man defense....he has a lack of lateral quickness and could get burned by certain NBA bigs (namely the likes of the Stoudemire's, the Garnetts, the Duncans but then again most people do struggle)....

doubters say he can't play in NBA cos he plays in weak conference....I don't buy it....he had no trouble playing at olympic level.....although I think he could struggle early as he adjusts to the dramatic increase in skill level....so don't expect immediate impact....but don't expect to waiting obviously like Darko....I don't know how he will go without the ball in his hands....I've got a feeling he's much more of an impact in a game when the ball goes through him....he doesn't have to shoot and score, just get his touches....

sorry I can't be more insightful but I haven't seen much of him....you really need someone from utah or whatever to give you a more detailed report....

my NBA comparison would be a splice of Kevin McHale and Chris Mihm....

[J@3]

His biggest problem apparentely (apart from his horrific interior D) was his athletisism.. he kind of plodded up the court and wasn't overly quick. That being said, since then he's come back with a completely new body type apparentely... he's more athletic and muscular and those issues aren't really a problem anymore. He's a fantastic passer, and despite what some random said above he can hit shots from all over the court, he's not some "white stiff who can't shoot". We'll see what happens, definitely the best Aussie basketball export we've had in a long time.

[Matt]

until his D improves he'll likely be another Euro big man type

[The X]

until his D improves he'll likely be another Euro big man type

yep, if you defend your man in the NBA then you're likely stuck on the end of the bench....

although I do think it depends on which team drafts him and their depth at the PF and C positions....I'm hoping a Western Conference team picks him as I think he would be better suited out West....

[Indy]

i really see him playing for utah next year and making an immidiate impact. i like this kid alot.

[Fresh8]

Some ppl like him... some dislike him... mopst dont know him.

Thats the problem with Bogut is that NBA teams will be gambling on him cause he's in a conference with not much exposure. We will see though..

[cyanide]

lol, I'm surprised nobody said his first name in this entire thread. I had to find out what his first name was so I can look him up. Wow, at seven feet, he's got the size, so GMs would drool over that, but it's hard to say whether he would do well in the NBA.

[Fresh8]

Hes god damn 6'10"....