CU's Syretta Stafford

[swok34]

http://espn.go.com/ncw/news/2003/0211/1507353.html

BOULDER -- Colorado guard Syreeta Stafford, who has started 12 games this season, left the women's basketball team, the school announced Tuesday.

No reason was given for the departure of Stafford, a sophomore who averaged 4.5 points in 21 games this season.

"We are all going to miss Syreeta," coach Ceal Barry said. "My understanding after talking with her at length is that she felt she needed to do what was best for her basketball career."

[Go Buffs]

I posted a story from today's Boulder Daily Camera in the Big 12 News Section. I am not surprised by her decision.

Syreeta is a very talented player and a smart kid. She loves to play offense, but tends to slack off on defense.

I will miss the energy she brings to the court, and wish her nothing but the best.

[kate dawg]

Wow. Awhile ago after Maria Billingsley got the bulk of minutes in an early season game and BF22 was talking about Stafford and Johns-Richardson possibly departing over lack of playing time, I said that Syreeta and Veronica were never as selfish as the group in 1999 to leave over playing time as sophomores. I was obviously incorrect about Syreeta. Not only did she bail, but she bailed in the middle of the season. Nice.

It's really too bad, but I guess her personal goals and agenda were more important to her than those of the team. As Kate Fagan put it in today's Daily Camera, "...We have goals that we have to attain...We still have to move on and get ready for Oklahoma."

Fagan is an appropriate player to comment on this...according to the stats, she's was in basically the same situation as Stafford, just a year earlier. Now she's the second-leading scorer and is like 2nd or 3rd on the team in minutes. I guess that goes to show that it's amazing what can happen when you stick to the plan.

[Jennifer]

I shouldn't comment, as I'm not close to the situation and always wonder if there is more than meets the eye in these situations. However, I find it hard to respect any player who bails, especially towards the end of a thus-far successful season.
I think it's selfish and self-serving and shows a player who is just in it for 'me'. (yes, I know there are situations where it's warranted--health, health of family, etc). Usually, a team will be better off once a player with this mindset is gone anyway.

[carolann]

I've been critical of players leaving in the middle of a semester. It seems to me now that no matter how much a team appears to need a certain player, the team is usually better off without a player who wants out that badly. An unhappy teammate can be a serious distraction. It occurs to me that Stafford may want to make her availability known before teams fill all their remaining scholarships during the Spring signing period.