Spears says Patton does best job possible

The Black and Gold Breakdown and Nuggets Noise had a chance to speak to Marc J. Spears to talk basketball this week and Spears shared his views on the state of Ricardo Patton's Buffaloes. His insight on the Nuggets can be seen at http://nuggetsnoise.blogspot.com.

Spears, a former college power forward/center, is a columnist for The Denver Post and has also been published on ESPN.com, AOL Black Voices and Dunk Shoot.

Here is his personal breakdown on the Buffs.

BGB: Is Ricardo Patton respected for what he's done at a terrible basketball school or is he just being expected to do what any other coach is expected to do, especially in the Big 12, which is get to the NCAA Tournament, consistently?

Spears: He should be commended for the job he's done. No one expected anything from them last year and then they were decent. When they didn't make the NCAA's, everyone was mad. The emphasis at CU is on football. It's not going to be easy to be a power. He (Patton) gets guys like David Harrison and Richard Roby so he's doing something right but he probably won't be respected there until after he's gone.

BGB: Is Patton's job dependent on how far Roby can take CU?

Spears: It's unfortunate but that's probably the case. Roby has NBA talent but he made a good move coming back. If Ricardo would have been fired, Roby would have stayed in the draft. It's going to be tough with a young team (this season). I could see Roby being one of the nation's leading scorers. Those two need each other right now.

BGB: What has held CU back in the Big 12? Is it solely talent or is it coaching and facilities?

Spears: It's a combination of a lot of things. CU, like Nebraska, is a football school. They are decent but not likely going to be a power. The arena is not a great place. Recruits are not knocked off their feet. If CU wants to be a basketball power things are probably going to need to be stepped up money wise. Patton is probably recruiting the best he can recruit. There's a lot of fingers to point. All in all, they are where they should be.