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Silas leaving with no regrets
Sophomore mum on what sparked dismissal from Bzdelik's team
Xavier Silas took a break from studying for his final exams on Tuesday to close the book on his two years at Colorado.
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Share and Enjoy The talented sophomore guard was kicked off the men's basketball team in February by head coach Jeff Bzdelik and will transfer to Northern Illinois this summer to reunite with former CU head coach Ricardo Patton.
"I just felt like I could trust him," Silas told the Camera when asked about his decision to play for Patton again. "And I had a great deal of success playing for him. It was a good fit."
Before heading to DeKalb, Ill., Silas will travel to China with the Reach USA program, a collection of college players who will compete in Beijing before the city hosts the Olympics this summer. He leaves on Sunday.
"It's going to be amazing," Silas said. "I think it's going to be a great experience to play over there with some good players."
Silas averaged 12.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a true freshman under Patton, who announced prior to the 2006-07 season that it would be his last in Boulder.
In 23 games as a sophomore, Silas was CU's third-leading scorer (9.7 ppg) and tied for fifth on the team in rebounding (3.3 rpg) before getting dismissed.
"I don't have any regrets," said Silas, who didn't want to elaborate on what went wrong in his relationshipwith Bzdelik. "I had fun playing for CU."
Silas is one of six Patton recruits to leave the program since Bzdelik was hired a little over a year ago. If there ever was a rift between Silas and Patton, which was rumored to be the case when the coaching change at CU was made, both parties seem to have forgotten about it.
"We got along good," Silas said. "There wasn't any bad tension or anything between us."
Silas, who will have to sit out next season per NCAA transfer rules, describes Jeremy Williams as his "best friend" on the Buffs roster. But he also says he hasn't talked to the 6-7 forward about his plans for next season.
There is still no comment from the men's basketball office on Williams' status. He could be the latest Patton recruit to transfer out of the program at the end of the semester.
"I think it would have been a lot different had Coach Patton stayed," Silas said. "Because he recruited me and I liked his style of play."
Bzdelik, who has at least three scholarships available to offer this month, is busy recruiting with his staff. According to rivals.com, 6-1 guard Kavon Rose of Detroit visited CU on Tuesday and 6-3 guard Ryan Kelley of Pomona, Calif., will be on campus today.
Posted by dwahl on May 7, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not sure shooting below 40% from the field to ave. 12 points in a no scheme system qualifies as having success as a frosh. Ricardo had no expectations for anyone to play D so he got to take one bad shot after another. Bz had expectations and the kid needed to go, it was getting painful watching him on the floor, almost like watching the nuggets
Posted by NJBuff on May 7, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I liked his style of play" Here was Patton's style of play:
- Schedule cupcakes like Savanah State so that we've had no experience playing a tough game prior to the conference games. Aboslutely no road games against top 25 teams in the pre-season.
- Design an offense where everyone literally stands around and watches the player with the ball take his defender one on one
- Never hold players accountable for defense and instead blame the administration for the team's failures.
Have fun X!
Posted by smokey on May 8, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Patton wasn't great - no one will argue that. Absolutely incapable of coaching X's and O's AND in-game subs, clock management, etc.
That said, the administration DID have a substantial hand in the program's failure. Even Bohn, who is seemingly making great headway in football and several other sports is struggling to find a management system that will make B-Ball work in Boulder. I remain optimistic that hiring Buzz was a great start. He seems to be taking the program on his shoulders. Silas has D1 athleticism but (unlike Patton) Buzz has the leadership to throw out the bad apples and built the program his way.
The way things are working out for people (Silas and Patton reunited) perhaps Bzdelik will land thos premium recruits he's looking for soon.
Posted by Starwatcher on May 8, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dwahl,njbuff ad smokey. Bzdellik worshipers. Don't hate on talent. Clearly this student athlete is a talented. He was the 3rd leading scorer for two seasons on the team. Because he is athletic, something Bz's offense doesn't require is not a bad thing. Rather it appears his athletic talent landed him in China this summer playing with elite athletes selected by SEC and PAC 10 coaches. Whether you acknowledge his talent or not, realize that is an honor few athletes will experience this summer. Ryan, "A collection of players... equals the SEC, Pac 10 coach's selecting players to compete in Beijing.
Patton has put out NBA players and had 21-5 records at CU more than once. Bzdellik, you still have to fill those tennis shoes at CU.
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on May 8, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
starwatcher: 21-5 records???? and how many NCAA tourney wins?
Posted by NJBuff on May 8, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are we actually debating Patton again???
1 tournament win in 1997 with Chauncey Billups.
NBA players Patton put out: 2 in 12 years.
Give me a break Starwatcher. I'm not going to apologize for setting sights and goals higher than mediocrity.
Posted by Starwatcher on May 8, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NJBUFF- Seems like Patton is always going to be a debate at CU. The bad apple here will be proven in time to be the coaching selections CU's AD has made. 3star and up recruits are NOT interested in coming to a losing bball program and a Rookie Big 12 coach. Examine the true BZ AF recruit record:(didn't he inherit the 07 senior team? This past season...NIU defeated AF. Bzdeliks CU 08 Pt. Guard recruit, Jr. college player--relased from the team because he refused to play in the playoffs and had a criminal record. Now, That's pickin' a "bad apple".. Or didn't he check out the tree first? Sadly for CU, Bz has proven to continuously make Bad decisions.
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