Colorado men’s basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik sounded resigned to
waiting Tuesday when asked about the practice facility on which
department officials hoped to break ground this summer or fall.
“My attitude with the practice facility is this: We have to find a
way to win because of us as people and our desire and our will as
opposed to what we have or don’t have. We have to find a way,”
Bzdelik said on the Big 12 coaches teleconference.
“The practice facility is not going to happen for awhile. The
intention is good, but no one counted on the economy being the way
it is. A combination of 75 full-time faculty and staff member just
lost their jobs here at the university. That’s a lot of people and
families. Compared to 75 people losing their jobs, a practice
facility is not even a consideration, and that doesn’t bother me.
We’ll have to find places to play and practice.”
Bzdelik’s contract calls for its buyouts to cancel if CU has not
broken ground on a practice facility within three years of his
hiring. CU hired him in April, 2007.
Bzdelik was more optimistic when discussing his incoming recruiting
class. He compared guard Alex Burks to Richard Roby in how Burks
can “create his own scoring opportunities. That’s huge. You can’t
teach that.” Bzdelik added that Burks is listed at 6-foot-4 on
recruiting sites, but is now 6-6.
“I told him to keep growing this summer,” Bzdelik said.
Marcus Relphorde, a junior college signee during the spring,
will “make an immediate impact,” Bzdelik said.
The one from whom CU must have immediate help is Shane Harris-Tunks.
Bzdelik said the 6-11 center is up to 237 pounds, and he rebounds
and defends well.
“He’s very physical; that’s his game,” Bzdelik said. “That’s a part
of the game we were sorely missing last year.”
AROUND THE BIG 12:
ONE AND NOT DONE? The one-and-done rule that allows prospects to
enter the NBA Draft one year removed from high school is being
closely scrutinized, as it is every year at this time. Most college
coaches hate it. Kansas coach Bill Self said he believes there’ll be
a movement soon to increase the rule to two or three years, saying
someone can make a mockery of the education system by playing a year
of college hoops without even attending classes in the second
semester of their freshman season.
Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel used the same word.
“(The rule) makes a mockery of education in college,” he said.
Texas coach Rick Barnes said if a player were to skip classes his
second semester because he didn’t intend to return, that would be
his fault.
“We’ve told every kid ever recruited here to be loyal to the program
and promise to do everything they can at the start of the second
semester, be a student, go to class, don’t leave us hanging,” Barnes
said. “If a person told me there weren’t interested in doing that,
we wouldn’t recruit him.”
CARROLL’S LIVER: Strange story out of Missouri.
Recent reports have indicated DeMarre Carroll, who was all-Big 12
first team as a senior for the Tigers in 2008-09, has some sort of a
liver problem that he’s played with the past two years. His agent
has downplayed the chances he’ll need a liver transplant, but this
news isn’t exactly boosting his draft stock.
Coach Mike Anderson refused to reveal the exact nature of the
problem, saying only it’ll be released soon.
TIP-INS: Kansas could be the preseason No. 1 next fall. “I’m hoping
having that bull’seye on our back creates the toughness level we
have to have to win,” Self said. ... Missouri guard guard J.T.
Tiller had surgery on a torn ligament in his right wrist in April
and should be released to do more basketball drills within the next
two week. Meanwhile, he came down with mono this spring, slowing his
recovery. ... The recent death of former Kansas athletic director
Bob Frederick is being felt. Self said he’s been told by longtime
department members that Frederick’s death is the biggest loss they
can remember. Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said Frederick went out
of his way to get him a spot on Roy Williams’ staff when Williams
succeeded Larry Brown as coach. “He was a special person and a big
part of my life,” Turgeon said.
Patrick Ridgell can be reached at pridgell@times-call.com.
Current Thread:
CU & Big 12 Hoops.....article -- Irish BuffWed Jun 17 2009 9:22:33 AM
