Sophomore guard speaks about his experiences
First-year head men’s basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik announced Friday that sophomore guard Xavier Silas was released from the team.
Bzdelik released a brief statement concerning Silas’ release but declined to comment further.
“In the best interest of the future of Colorado Basketball, I had to make a difficult decision and dismiss Xavier Silas from this team,” Bzdelik said. “We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
In response to his release, Silas said his dismissal was purely a coaches’ decision and not a disciplinary reaction.
“As a player this season, I believe I have represented the University of Colorado Buffaloes to the best of my ability,” said Silas in a statement he sent out on Friday. “I was told what was in the press release from coach Bzdelik released yesterday.”
Silas also said that he wanted people to know that he has had no academic problems and no behavior issues while he has been at CU.
“I want to clearly state I have never had a problem academically or socially while at the University of Colorado or during my life time,” Silas said. “I have no athletic eligibility issues or law enforcement arrests. I did not break any team rules or verbally abuse anyone in the basketball program or in the University of Colorado.”
Silas, one of former head coach Ricardo Patton’s last recruits, played in 23 games for the 10-15 Buffaloes this season. He averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
In his final game this season against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Silas played 26 minutes and earned nine points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Buffs.
This is not the first run-in Silas has had with a coaches’ decision. Silas did not play in a game against the Kansas Jayhawks earlier in the season because of a “coaches’ decision.”
Bzdelik did not say why Silas did not play against the Jayhawks.
“It was a coaches’ decision I’ll leave it at that,” Bzdelik said.
Silas will retain his athletic scholarship through the end of the 2007-08 academic year.
Silas has not said whether or not he will transfer to another school, but has said that he wants to continue playing basketball.
“My goal to continue playing Division I basketball, graduate from college, and compete at the next level remains strong,” Silas said. “My future is in my hands now and I plan to make the most of it.”
Click here to see Silas’ press release
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Brad Cochi at Bradley.Cochi@thecampuspress.com
