Jeff Bzdelik was one of the first college coaches in the country to discover Matt Bouldin.
"I knew of him when I was at Air Force because he lives right by my house," Bzdelik said Sunday before leaving the tournament later that day to see to his ill mother in Chicago.
But after being named Colorado's high school player of the year as a junior and senior at ThunderRidge, Bouldin decided to leave the state and play for Gonzaga.
"He knew he'd have to get a haircut if he came to Air Force, so he wasn't going to come there. I say that laughingly," Bzdelik said. "I think he's a terrific player and I just wish him well. He's a cagey, smart player who just finds a way to win."
Gonzaga's Matt Bouldin, who hails from Highlands Ranch, is averaging 17.3 points per game this season. The Buffs -- who do not have a player from the Centennial State among their starting five -- will face Bouldin's Bulldogs in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational today at the Lahiana Civic Center (1 p.m., ESPN2).
Bouldin, a strong 2010 John R. Wooden Award candidate, is averaging 17.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The 6-foot-5 senior, who was not seriously recruited to CU when Ricardo Patton was still the coach, will likely play in four NCAA Tournaments during his college career.
More on Bouldin + some game notes
"I knew of him when I was at Air Force because he lives right by my house," Bzdelik said Sunday before leaving the tournament later that day to see to his ill mother in Chicago.
But after being named Colorado's high school player of the year as a junior and senior at ThunderRidge, Bouldin decided to leave the state and play for Gonzaga.
"He knew he'd have to get a haircut if he came to Air Force, so he wasn't going to come there. I say that laughingly," Bzdelik said. "I think he's a terrific player and I just wish him well. He's a cagey, smart player who just finds a way to win."
Gonzaga's Matt Bouldin, who hails from Highlands Ranch, is averaging 17.3 points per game this season. The Buffs -- who do not have a player from the Centennial State among their starting five -- will face Bouldin's Bulldogs in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational today at the Lahiana Civic Center (1 p.m., ESPN2).
Bouldin, a strong 2010 John R. Wooden Award candidate, is averaging 17.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The 6-foot-5 senior, who was not seriously recruited to CU when Ricardo Patton was still the coach, will likely play in four NCAA Tournaments during his college career.
More on Bouldin + some game notes
