BOULDER — Xavier Silas already has received calls from coaches wanting him to join their program, his father, former NBA standout James Silas, said Monday.
Xavier Silas, a 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, was dismissed from the Colorado men’s basketball team by coach Jeff Bzdelik on Thursday, a move that was announced publicly on Friday. Silas will remain on scholarship through the end of this semester but no longer is a part of the team.
“Xavier will be fine through this,” James Silas said. “When a player has already proven by his freshman year that he can play at the Big 12 level, that says something to coaches of other schools. I have no doubts Xavier will get to play for another Division I program.”
When Bzdelik was asked Monday if he would release Silas to any school that inquires about him, the coach said: “We want what’s best for that young man.”
Silas ranked second on the Buffaloes in scoring (12.0) under Ricardo Patton in 2006-2007 and was third (9.7) this season, behind seniors Richard Roby (16.7) and Marcus Hall (12.9). Silas lost his starting job after being suspended for the Feb. 2 home game against Kansas for what Bzdelik called a “coach’s decision.”
Bzdelik declined again on Monday to discuss his reasons for dismissing Silas. In a statement released by the school on Friday, Bzdelik said the decision was “difficult” but was made “in the best interest of the future of (Colorado) basketball.”
During a Big 12 teleconference in mid-January, Bzdelik said of Silas: “He plays hard, cuts hard. He is someone who is going to be very instrumental for us in the future.”
It’s no secret that Bzdelik was disappointed at Silas” 38.8 shooting percentage. If there has been an attitude problem, nobody is saying.
When asked Monday why his impression of Silas had changed so dramatically during the past five weeks, Bzdelik said, “Consistency.” Then after a pause, the coach said, “I’ve said what I’ve had to say.”
Bzdelik said he had not thought about whether he will attempt to sign another player during the spring or bank the available scholarship for the 2009 recruiting class.
“Changing the culture here has to be done,” Bzdelik said. “Every single person has to get out of themselves and into the team for us to become as good as we can be.
“When you’re in a position of leadership and make changes, people are going to have their own opinions. But I can’t worry about that, never have, never will.”
Roby said the players were surprised by the in-season dismissal.
“But it’s a business,” Roby said. “This is how (Bzdelik) eats. He’s not going to risk anything about this program. He was made head coach for a reason. He’s going to make decisions.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
