Ringo on slow learners, missing Roby, magic potion

The emotions are runnin' hot and many are ready to knock down athletic director Mike Bohn's door after yet another poor show on the court by Ricardo Patton's team.

Needing some insight myself, I didn't stop at Bohn's office, deciding instead to chase down Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera.

BGB: What's going on right now in Boulder, Kyle -- is it all youth and inexperience or have the wheels just come off the program?

Ringo: No, it's not entirely youth. I think it's a combination of youth, not being properly prepared, not playing hard enough, and not putting out the kind of effort, particularly on the defensive end that's required to win these kinds of games.

And I should add, in these past two games (New Mexico and Air Force), you're also playing pretty experienced teams and teams that are very well coached (Ritchie McKay and Jeff Bzdelik).

BGB: Should fans be patient and relax and think this is a process or is what we're seeing a glimpse of what the season will hold, will be.

Ringo: It's definitely a glimpse of what the season will hold. There is not anyway you can take a 41-point loss and a 39-point loss and be optimistic about it at all.

BGB: This team doesn't seem devoid of talent but how do you see it? Is it a talent issue or is it more the chemistry hasn't developed?

Ringo: It's a team that doesn't know how to play at this level right now. You have one player, who essentially has any experience in Richard Roby (picture) and he seems lost at this point. I think a lot of that has to do with so much being put on his shoulders. A lot of expectations for that guy right now. I kind of feel sorry for him.

BGB: You mentioned not being prepared to play, not playing hard enough. Who's responsibility is that, Kyle?

Ringo: You know as well as I do who's responsibility that is. Somebody is making an awful lot of money to make those decisions and make sure a team is properly prepared. This is an awkward position because it's kind of calling out coach Patton and I don't know how I feel about that.

BGB: If I'm reading between the line's of Patton's postgame comments, I get the impression he doesn't have the answers to his team's poor play, he doesn't know what actions to take. Is that accurate at all?

Ringo: There's some truth to that -- when I talk to the kids right now, they seem lost. They don't seem to have the answers. They consistentally say we need to play harder, do better, but what does that really mean?

BGB: Do you see this team over the course of the next several games finding a comfort level and greatly improving its' play?

Ringo: I don't know if it will be a lot better unless Ricardo Patton has a magic potion, so I don't know if this team will get dramatically better, no.