Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State's junior big man, will not be making the trip to Europe next month, when the Bulldogs are set to play five games in three countries (Aug. 7-13). That's according to a release by the team.

Instead, Sidney returned to Houston earlier this week to work with former NBA player John Lucas, with whom he worked in May and June before returning briefly to Starkville. Sidney told reporters last week that he had dropped more than 20 pounds from his frame, but judging by last season, he's still got a ways to go.

A team spokesman said the decision to go back to Houston was Sidney's, and coach Rick Stansbury OK'd it. The reason: He can get "24/7 attention" with Lucas, according to the spokesman.

Stansbury said in the release that Sidney will be back on campus in time for the start of fall term in mid-August. The coach could not be immediately reached for comment.

MSU began practices for the Europe trip Thursday.