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Bucks will open season without Bogut

Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines after banging his leg into Steve Blake`s knee, his team announced on Monday. The Australian center left the court in the third quarter in a pre-season practice game at the Bradley Center Saturday. Bogut, who did not return to the game, was diagnosed with a contusion on his lower left leg, and will miss the beginning of the season October 31.

At first, Bucks coach Terry Stotts said his second year starting center was "going to be alright" and is listed as day-to-day. But medical evaluation by team doctor John Heinrich on Sunday revealed that the No. 1 pick in last year`s draft will undergo extensive rehabilitation for the injury.

General manager Larry Harris told the crowd before the scrimmage that the 2006-07 Bucks were the best team in his four years as general manager. The team is expected to do better than their eighth place finish last season, and a first round playoff ouster. But without Bogut, who averaged 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in his rookie season with the Bucks, at least the beginning would be more difficult.