File Photo

University of Colorado mens head basketball coach, Jeff Bzdelik, speaks to the media at the Big XII Coaches Media Day, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in Kansas City, Mo. Bzdelik will join the "Operation:Hoop Talk," tour that is sponsored by the USO.

It has been a turbulent off-season for the University of Colorado men's basketball program, one that has been marked by major construction projects, far-flung recruiting trips and more players coming and going than an Amtrak station.

Ever since the Buffaloes finished the 2007-08 season with a 12-20 record, two more players (Caleb Patterson, Xavier Silas) have left the program and a third, Jeremy Williams, is considering a move. If Williams were to leave CU, that would bring the number of players who have left CU up to seven since Bzdelik took over the program.

While Bzdelik has signed a five-freshman recruiting class set to begin play in 2008-09, the attrition has sparked controversy. Bzdelik, who recently returned from a recruiting trip to Australia and New Zealand, sat down Thursday with members of the local media to discuss the attrition, as well as the many positive improvements that have occurred over the past several months.

"There were three major emphasees (this off-season): recruiting, player development and academic improvement," said Bzdelik.

Among the positives that Bzdelik touched on was the excitement that he has after watching his current roster take an active role in voluntary off-season workouts where he says their strength and conditioning have been improved. When talking about a recruiting class that includes recently signed guard Ryan Kelley, as well as point guard Nate Tomlinson, and forwards Austin Dufault, Trey Eckloff and Toby Veal, Bzdelik gushed with optimism about players that fit his system.

Recently, the men's basketball team was put on notice that their APR standing needs to be improved. Bzdelik said that the team's grades did improve this past semester and that all the incoming freshmen are expected to enroll. In order to help his players improve their academic performance, Bzdelik also said that there will be study areas in the CU basketball offices as well as the locker room. He also said that as a result of director of basketball operations Jody Bailey's hard work, the team will not miss any class time next season due to games or travel.

"Academically, our players have made a significant improvement in just the 12 months that we have been here," said Bzdelik.

When Bzdelik first signed a contract with CU, it was stipulated that if a basketball practice facility was not completed by his third season then he could walk away. Well, according to Bzdelik, plans for such a facility are ahead of schedule and he personally applauded the efforts of CU athletic director Mike Bohn, Chancellor Bud Peterson, special assistant to the AD Tom McGrath and director of game operations, Tom McGann.

Their work has led to the opening of the new CU men's and women's basketball offices, as well as the improvements of both team's locker rooms. The offices and locker room are decorated in a modern design with flat screen TVs on nearly every wall. A new $200,000 film study system that allows CU coaches to cut to any clip in any game they want, and then send it out on a server to computers around the office, will be a vital aid for film study. The locker room will also include a sauna and cold tub for players health, as well as the aforementioned study areas.

Bzdelik also pointed out several changes in the Buffs' non-conference schedule that will now include the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu against teams such as Clemson, George Washington and Pepperdine. Colorado will host Harvard, Lafayette College, Montana State, TCU and Colorado State and CU will play at Stanford and SMU.

He did, however, say that CU would no longer play Air Force because he and Air Force head coach Jeff Reynolds are too good of friends. The Buffs' tradition of playing Wyoming and Denver will continue, only that each school will switch off home and away years so that the amount of travel is cut down for CU.

The only negative in the meeting with Bzdelik was, again, the player attrition. While he made no apologies for the release of any players, he did make it clear that the first three players to leave (Kal Bay, Sean Kowal, James Inge) were offered alternative financial aid, but chose to leave. Patterson and Silas each had off-court issues that led to their leaving and Williams has academic struggles that could lead to his departure.

"As far as Jeremy, there is no answer right now," Bzdelik said. "To my knowledge he has never officially asked for a release (of his scholarship). He currently is still not eligible. But we have extended ourselves to him to continue to work with him the best we can to see if we can get it right academically. He is a wonderful young man that we want to help."

The 6-foot-7 forward is currently at home in Memphis weighing his decision.

Off the court, it is clear the CU program is headed in the right direction as the new basketball offices, new locker rooms, and a concerted effort to improve the academic standing of the men's team have made clear.

On the court, however, fans will have to make like potential recruits and take Bzdelik's word that once his type of players come in, they can help his system reach its full potential.

NOTES: When Down Under in Australia, Bzdelik sparked a conversation about America with a cab driver in Canberra. The driver, said Bzdelik, had visited the United States and said that he had visited Nebraska on a pheasant-hunting trip.

"It was great, people were really nice, but not real smart," said the driver.

"How so," said Bzdelik.

"Well we walked into a sports bar and this guy in Cornhusker clothes talks to us about about American football and says 'I knew you were from somewhere else because of your accent. Australia huh. Where is that?'"

The driver said, "Down Under."

The Cornhusker replied, "Well hell, how long did it take you to drive here?"

In other news, the CU basketball program will hold an elite basketball camp June 21-22 where the top players in the state and region will be invited.

Contact Eliot Dempsey about this story at (303) 443-6272 ext. 112 or sports@coloradodaily.com