Fereti speaks out on Solomon, team

While the men's basketball team is decidedly lacking in highlights this season, guard Zarryon Fereti may have the two most memorable ones. His leaning, double-pump 3-pointer as time ran out against Central Arkansas forced overtime and helped the Bonnies escape from their home-opener with a win, and his 26 points, along with a critical block after a turnover late in the game, allowed the Bonnies to knock off Saint Louis in the opening game of Atlantic 10 conference play.

But the enduring memory of Fereti's season in the Brown and White will likely be his dismissal from the team, which was announced in a statement by coach Anthony Solomon Monday afternoon.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Solomon said in the statement. "He had ample opportunities to embrace the philosophies of the program."

Fereti, who was the team's second-leading scorer at 12.1 points per game, admitted his relationship with Solomon had been tense for some time but said things boiled over after the team's 69-62 loss to Dayton Saturday in the Reilly Center.

"We were supposed to execute a play, and the play didn't get executed, and I was upset about it," Fereti said. "Then the ball was turned over, and we didn't run back on defense. (While) running down the court, I was swearing because I was mad. I was frustrated . I'm not perfect. I know people are going to get frustrated, and that is part of life.

"So we had a timeout and he called me and pulled me away from the team and asked me what was wrong, and why I was so frustrated. I told him about the play, and whether he interpreted it however he did, I don't know . it might have come out of my mouth totally different, but then he subbed in Terron (Diggs) for me. Then we went into the locker room (after the game), and things kind of blew up a little bit.

"He started yelling and came in and said my name and told me I was selfish for getting mad about that play. I don't remember if he said anything else, and then he just told me to pretty much pack my bags and leave, and I just said 'OK.'"

With everything that took place over the weekend, it isn't surprising Fereti has some regrets on how the situation unfolded and eventually ended.

"I love playing here, and there are a lot of people that support me, which I'm grateful for," he said. "And people that come and watch the team play - I take that as a compliment.

"The only thing that I regret is not being able to get my full potential. I don't think that my development as a basketball player has developed since I have been here. I think as far as coach Solomon's playing style . I don't think I could ever understand what to do."

While the problems between Solomon and Fereti came to a head Saturday afternoon, the beginning of the end was when Fereti played just one minute in the second half of Bona's game at George Washington Jan. 13.

"Coach Solomon and I spoke, and he spoke to me about plays and me making mistakes," Fereti said. "I told him that I haven't played basketball for very long and still am kind of new to it, and I would get down about making mistakes. So he wanted me to run back on defense, which I totally agree with. This was after that game that we spoke about this, but I guess that's what I was subbed out for - because I didn't run back on one of the plays."

Fereti said things happened this season which resulted in him being benched. He did not mention those things, but he said it was the coach's decision to not play him and he respected that.

"After that, it was kind of just downhill from there. I'm a stand-up type of guy, and I speak my mind . maybe that got me in trouble a little more than I should have, and it's pretty much come to this."

The main issue that caused so many problems between the two, in Fereti's eyes, seemed to be the fact that Fereti and Solomon's ideas clashed.

"I'm the type of person that if you tell me one way to do it, I will do it," he said. "But if I think there is a better way to do it, I will give you a suggestion and see what you think - and if you don't like it, then that's fine, and we'll do it your way.

"I just don't think that was what he wanted."

After thinking about what Solomon said in his statement, Fereti said it made sense to him, in terms of his interaction with Solomon.

"I think the reason he said that was because we butted heads so much over issues that I thought were never addressed," Fereti said. "I'm not sure if he's had a player that's so stand-up like me before."

One of the issues Fereti spoke his mind to Solomon about was his feeling about the way he and his teammates were working together. Considering five new players were entering the program, including himself, Fereti felt team chemistry was a major issue for this year's team.

"I think we have a lot of talented players on our team, but I don't think that our chemistry is very good at all," he said. "I'm not going to put it all on the coach, because it takes the players, too . but with saying that, you need the right direction.

"Off the court, everyone is great . we all are together, we all talk, that's not a problem - we are all good friends. But I just think that when it comes to game time, (with) all of our preparation for the philosophies that he had, (we) never really prepared our chemistry."

Looking back on everything that has taken place, it was clear to Fereti that his willingness to speak his mind was a major factor as to how he had arrived in the position to be dismissed from the team.

"When I spoke about being a stand-up guy, and (how) I will tell you exactly what (I) am feeling and how it is . I am the classic example of what not to do with coach Solomon," Fereti said. "There are a lot of things guys on the team (thought) should have been addressed, and that they wanted (to speak up), but they won't say it.