Bogut says g’day to NBA draft

Andrew Bogut couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be the top pick in the NBA draft.

The Utah center announced Monday that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the draft, confirming what his coach, teammates and Utes fans have known was coming.

“I have no regrets and full-speed ahead,” the 7-footer from Australia said at a news conference Monday.

Bogut, the leading vote-getter on the AP All-America team, averaged 20.4 points and 12.2 rebounds while leading the Utes to a 29-6 season, which ended with a loss to Kentucky in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

“I feel the time is right to move on to the next level of basketball,” Bogut said.

Bogut has hired agent David Bauman of SFX Basketball, making him ineligible to play again in college. Bogut plans to stick around Salt Lake City for a few weeks, then head to Washington, D.C., to begin preparing for pre-draft workouts.

Bogut’s parents, Anne and Michael Bogut, sat in the front row for their son’s news conference. Michael Bogut ran an auto shop when Andrew was growing up and the younger Bogut remembered some lean times for the family. As a top NBA pick, Bogut’s family should be comfortable for a long time.

Bogut considered leaving after last season, when he was the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year, but a visit to Australia from new Utah coach Ray Giacoletti convinced Bogut to put off the NBA at least another year.

Bogut is expected to be – at the very least – a lottery pick and possibly the first player chosen overall. He led Utah in scoring and rebounding and is an exceptional ball handler and passer for a big man.

“There hasn’t been one day when he hasn’t been our hardest worker,” Giacoletti said. “It’s all about the team and that’s very rare this day.”

Diogu eligible for NBA draft

Arizona State junior forward Ike Diogu made himself eligible for the NBA draft Monday, following a season in which he led the Pac-10 in scoring and rebounding.

The 6-foot-8 Diogu hasn’t hired an agent and could return to Arizona State if he decides not to turn pro. He has until June 21 to remove his name from draft consideration.

Diogu won’t attend any draft camps, but will participate in private workouts for interested teams.

Tennessee hires Pearl

Bruce Pearl, who led Wisconsin- Milwaukee on a surprising run through the NCAA Tournament, was introduced as Tennessee’s new men’s basketball coach.

“This is a dream come true,” the 45-year-old Pearl said after becoming Tennessee’s sixth coach in 16 years. “I feel like I am prepared.”

Pearl took 12th-seeded Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the round of 16 this year for the first time in the program’s 109-year history.

Tennessee failed to make the NCAA Tournament in four years under coach Buzz Peterson, who was fired March 13 after a 14-17 season.

Tennessee gave Pearl a five-year contract that will pay him $800,000 a year plus bonuses.

Budke takes over OSU women

Oklahoma State hired Louisiana Tech women’s coach Kurt Budke, a move it hopes will make the Cowgirls more competitive in the Big 12.

Budke, 44, was 80-16 in three years at Louisiana Tech, taking the Lady Techsters to the NCAA Tournament every season since replacing longtime coach Leon Barmore in 2002.

Budke replaces Julie Goodenough, who led the Cowgirls to a 23-61 record in three seasons – the worst three-year stretch in school history.