Gonzaga has certainly missed former guard Matt Bouldin's leadership and steady play on the court this year, although perhaps the coaches and players have found some answers to establishing a little consistency lately.
Bouldin has now moved on to pursue a pro career and after a stint with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA's summer league and overseas in Greece, he's back in the U.S. for a shot at the NBA D-League, as described by Scott Shroeder of SBN's D-League site Ridiculous Upside.
Gonzaga's Matt Bouldin, Syracuse's Arinze Onuaku Sign With D-League - Ridiculous Upside
The former Bulldog was averaging 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals for Iraklis Thessaloniki earlier this season, but was released in January after failing a drug test (he was replaced by the now heavyset Smush Parker).I have semi-high hopes for Bouldin's D-League career after being impressed with his play for the Chicago Bulls in the Vegas Summer League where he averaged 6.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds. He'll also immediately be put in a good situation as league sources have indicated that the Tulsa 66ers will claim him with the top pick on the waiver wire. Tulsa has already moved Zabian Dowdell up (to the Phoenix Suns) and Tweety Carter on (to Latvia, which almost assuredly pays better) so Bouldin should be given plenty of minutes to prove himself.
Dowdell was selected for the 2011 D-league All-Star Game in Los Angeles this year while Carter got some run with the Oklahoma City Thunder during NBA training camp back in October. So Bouldin definitely has an opportunity to assert himself.