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Williams may want out, too
Bzdelik plans to speak with CU sophomore
It looks like Jeff Bzdelik might have to fight off some serious jet lag and make an extra recruiting pitch when he returns to Boulder from his trip to Australia and New Zealand.
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Share and Enjoy On Friday, while the Colorado head coach was recruiting on the other side of the planet, rumors swirled on the World Wide Web that Jeremy Williams -- a 6-7 forward the Buffs are counting on next season -- is going to be the seventh player to leave the program since Bzdelik was hired last April.
Bzdelik, who is scheduled to return on May 2, plans to sit down and talk to Williams before addressing the issue publicly. The Buffalo Sports News reported on its Web site that the talented sophomore-to-be has already been released from his CU scholarship after making the request to move on.
"When Coach Bzdelik returns next week the basketball office will make a comment," said Andrew Green, CU's assistant director of athletic media relations for men's basketball. "But nothing has been confirmed. ... Jeremy hasn't met with Jeff yet."
Other developments since Bzdelik headed Down Under include:
Ricardo Patton announcing that Xavier Silas, booted off the team by Bzdelik in February, will officially transfer to Northern Illinois.
Caleb Patterson asking to be released from his scholarship at CU, a request that was granted. The 6-11 freshman is visiting Northern Illinois this weekend.
Silas obviously didn't buy into Bzdelik's system, and Patterson looked to be destined for a career on the end of the bench at CU.
But Williams -- who started 18 games and averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds during his freshman season under Patton -- has a chance to start for the Buffs in 2008-09 as they attempt to climb out of the Big 12 cellar.
The Memphis native was academically ineligible for the fall semester but took a redshirt and practiced with the team throughout the season.Williams has three years of eligibility remaining if he stays at CU but only two should he transfer to another Division I program.
The Buffs already have to replace the two top scorers from last year's team in Richard Roby (17.0 ppg) and Marcus Hall (14.0 ppg). Silas (9.7 ppg) was third in scoring before getting dismissed from the team.
The only other Patton recruits remaining on CU's roster are Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, Levi Knutson and Dwight Thorne. Knutson (hip) and Thorne (knee) are on schedule with their rehab assignments after undergoing offseason surgeries.
Cory Higgins, who started all 32 games as a true freshman, will be the team's top returning scorer (8.3 ppg) and assist man (2.3 apg). Jackson-Wilson (4.7 rpg) was second on the team in rebounding last season behind Roby (6.7 rpg).
One disgruntled fan has established a forum to vent about the attrition in the program since the coaching change at firebzdeliknow.blogspot.com.
If Williams does leave, Thorne would be the only remaining member of Patton's final recruiting class at CU, an eight-man group the former Buffs head coach touted as the best of his 11-season run in Boulder. Kal Bay, Marc Van Burck, Sean Kowal and James Inge all left the program last offseason.
Bzdelik would have four scholarships to work with if his meeting with Williams ends in another coach/player divorce at CU.
Posted by BIGEZ on April 25, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope this guy changes his mind. He might be the best offensive threat for us next year.
Posted by Ralphie2 on April 25, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All these players leaving is raising a lot of red flags. Anyone else concerned?
Posted by zwilson56 on April 25, 2008 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not concerned. Let Bzdelik get his guys in, if he loses at that point, I will be concerned.
Posted by NJBuff on April 26, 2008 at 4:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fire Bzdelik is laughable. I didn't see anywhere in the article that says that these players are transferring to Duke or UCLA....let them join Patton at Northern Illinois.
Posted by Odog on April 26, 2008 at 5:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Williams is the only one of concern.
And we aren't certain he has his academics in order. Wait it out for the real scoop.
Posted by SEColoBuffFan on April 26, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are always more to things behind the scenes....I have complete faith in Coach Bzdelik
Posted by extrapoint on April 26, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I think we all can agree- BZ's first 12 months have been a complete disaster"
(quote from the fire Bzdelik site)
This kind of spin would make Karl Rove dizzy
Sorry birdbrain, it was Patton's entire time here that was the disaster.....and because of that these defectons can easily be construed as a good thing. Williams obviously has some talent but if he wont buy into team basketball it will be wasted anyway.
All you NBA fans are certainly free to disagree but I find it nicely ironic that an ex NBA coach is trying to do things the right way here.
Posted by mam2jd on April 26, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No worries. Natural attrition is expected. With or without Williams (preferably with) Buzz has it right, it's just going to take awhile. GO BUFFS!
Posted by houstonbuff on April 26, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny, the firebzdeliknow.blogspot.com guy doesn't provide his name. I'm shocked. Nothing like an internet loser making anonymous attacks on CU's coach.
If you want to attack Bdzelik, fine. Provide your name though. I bet the site is registered under "R. Patton"
Posted by Hobbes31199 on April 26, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love that the person who created the blog claims to be a "CU fan." Much like football, we are just trimming the fat. Finally we have coaches who make players work for their playing time and develop as players and students. Patton couldn't develop David Harrison, and Richard Roby even said Bzdelik, in his ONE year, made a huge impact on him and his NBA stock. If players don't want to put in the effort to work for their time under Bzdelik, good riddance!! The "CU fan" apparently didn't see enough of the basketball games this last year to realize that under Bzdelik, we no longer play the "Ricardo Patton stand around" offense and defense.
Posted by BIGEZ on April 28, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is so funny to hear Patton's name whenever Bzdelik's actions are questioned. Apparently the NBA can't develop Harrison either, so what does that mean?
As much as most people don't appreciate Patton, I thought he did a good job with what he had to work with here. Little fan support, horrible facilities, and no tradition. At least he put us on the map a little bit. I'm glad Patton realized it was time to move on, but I give credit where credit is due.
I hope Bzdelik gets the job done. I don't care if he cleans house. I am anxious to see what type of recruiter Bzdelik can be. We are going to need some Blue-Chippers in here to achieve our goal of winning the NCAA Tourney.
Posted by BuffNut99 on April 29, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Losing Williams would hurt, I think he has more upside than any Forward/Center since Harrison.
I trust Buzz, though. Go CU
Posted by bouldabuff on May 1, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BIGEZ....how exactly did Ricardo Patton put CU basketball "on the map a little bit"? - by consistently underachieving. I will give credit where credit is due -- Patton was a decent recruiter, a terrible coach, and a decade-long waste of the athletic departments money. Why do you think Patton had virtually no fan support? -BECAUSE HE DID NOT WIN GAMES. It is as simple as that. How many NCAA tournament appearances in 11 years? How many NCAA tournament wins?
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