The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

BY GERY WOELFEL

It's been more than a decade since the Milwaukee Bucks drafted a player from the University of Wisconsin.

It's been even longer since they selected a player from Marquette University.

But there's a chance one of those droughts could end on June 25, the date of this year's NBA draft. That's because the Bucks have more than a passing interest in two Marquette players -- Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews -- and one Wisconsin player -- Marcus Landry.

All three of the aforementioned players are considered by NBA scouts to be legitimate second-round picks. And all of them will audition for Bucks officials later this month at the Cousins Center, the team's training facility in St. Francis.

"We're bringing in all of these guys based on their merits as basketball players, not just because they are local players,'' said Jeff Weltman, the Bucks assistant general manager.

Indeed, McNeal, Matthews and Landry have constructed impressive college resumes, ones that have drawn the attention of not only the Bucks but numerous NBA teams. To wit:

McNeal, who averaged a team-high 19.8 points a game last season for Marquette and generally regarded as a late first- or early second-round pick, has a slew of scheduled workouts, among those being Oklahoma City, Washington and Sacramento.

Matthews, who averaged 18.3 points a game for Marquette last season and bolstered his draft stock with a quality showing at the recent Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, has seven scheduled workouts, starting Monday in Portland.

Matthews, who has been training in Washington, D.c., said he will also work out for Detroit, Houston, Minnesota, Memphis and Washington.

Landry, who averaged a team-leading 12.7 points while grabbing 4.6 rebounds a game last season for the Badgers, will have his first workout today for the Houston Rockets. Landry's brother, Carl. is a reserve forward for the Rockets.

Marcus Landry will also work out for the Chicago Bulls next month and is expected to work out for Detroit, Sacramento, Minnesota and Memphis as well.

According to Bucks general manager John Hammond, Bucks officials will conduct workouts May 20, 21 and 22. McNeal, Matthews and Landry will be among approximately 18 prospects -- all of whom are projected second-round picks -- the Bucks have extended workout invitations.

The last Wisconsin player drafted by the Bucks was center Rashard Griffith, taken in the second round of the 1995 draft.

The last Marquette player chosen by the Bucks was guard Artie Green, taken in the 10th round of the 1981 draft.

* Hammond and Weltman will represent the Bucks at the nationally-televised Draft Lottery on May 19 in Secaucus, N.J.

Last year, Hammond and Jon Horst, the Bucks' director of basketball operations, attended the Draft Lottery.

The Bucks will enter the Draft Lottery with the 10th overall pick. Their odds of getting the No. 1 selection are one percent.

* Veteran center Francisco Elson and veteran power forward Malik Alen both said they plan on exercising the options on their contracts and return to the Bucks next season.

* Guard Salim Stoudamire, whom the Bucks signed late in the regular season, has a partially-guaranteed contract for next season, contrary to reports that his contract was fully guaranteed.

* Elson will play for The Netherlands national team this summer. Elson is the team's captain.

Bucks center Dan Gadzuric won't be able to play for The Netherlands as he will be getting married to Lisette Franco in Milwaukee in July.

* Good news for the Bucks: The NBA's luxury tax for next season, which some NBA officials had projected would plummet to $69 million, will likely be around $71 million.

The Bucks are closely monitoring the luxury-tax situation, especially with Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions becoming restricted free agents this summer.