BGT and Woelk meet to talk coaching

Colorado has no choice. The games don't quit coming in 2007 no matter how painful a season its' been to this point.

The Buffs hit the court again tonight, looking for their first win in the Big 12 against Iowa State.

With every game CU plays the talk grows louder, more so about next season after longtime coach Ricardo Patton walks away and is replaced by the next in line to attempt to build the pyramids, so to speak, in Boulder.

The Black and Gold Truth has long thought that Neill Woelk of the Daily Camera has had a unique view on the program, his fingers on the pulse of the reality in Boulder, so his phone started ringing, he picked it up, and quickly we were engrossed in Buffs' basketball and discussing the process of breaking new ground.

Today is the first of a two-part interview.

BGT: About time we got you in here, Neill. Welcome. Let's tip this off -- there are many who follow this program as fans who feel Colorado is seriously limited in what it can achieve in the Big 12 and nationally because of a long laundry list of obstacles. You name it, it gets brought up, from an unsupportive administration, student body and community to academic requirements, a dearth of local talent, substandard facilities, and on weekends, the slopes and snow bunnies. You, however, believe success is possible. What has to happen from the top down for that to actualize itself?

Woelk: You have to find a coach who's going to work 24/7 and have the passion, energy and enthusiasm to build a program virtually from scratch, you have to have an administration that's going to work with that coach and I think half of that is already in place.

BGT: You're the athletic director for the purpose of this discussion, Neill. What are all the characteristics of your ideal candidate?

Woelk: Somebody who has more passion for the game than they do a need for a paycheck. Someone who wants to be at the University of Colorado, have a hand on it and put his name on it; who wants to be that guy -- known as the one that built Colorado.

In terms of personality, a Dan Hawkins' guy. And you have to find a great x's and o's guy who can also recruit.

There's no secret recipe, no secret formula. But finding that right guy is not going to be easy.

BGT: Many think that names with local ties, who also happen to be accomplished, are assumed interested in the position, people like Jeff Bzdelik at Air Force, Mike Dunlap with the Nuggets, Bob Hofman, all guys you've written about and now, Alvin Gentry of the Phoenix Suns. Is this job more appealing than most fans and national media give it credit for being?

Woelk: I think it is because I know nationally-known coaches who have called on behalf of their assistants or on behalf of someone they know at a smaller school.

I know for a fact that (Texas coach) Rick Barnes has told a couple of people that this has the potential to be a great job.

(Southern Methodist coach) Matt Doherty, a couple of years ago when he was working in TV -- I stopped and talked to him -- and he said there's potential here for a gold mine. He said it had never been tapped.

It can be done. It's been done at tougher places.

BGT: So how much pressure is there on athletic director Mike Bohn, considering CU's history, to find that person?

Woelk: I think there's a lot of pressure on Mike but I think the flip side of that is the expectation level is so low on the next coach, especially after this year.

(Colorado) is not replacing a legend. They're not looking for someone to replace Bill McCartney.

BGT: You have written of coaches doing great things at schools, building powerhouse programs, people like Jim Calhoun at Connecticut. With the right hire in Boulder, how far away would this program be from being a fairly consistent NCAA/NIT school?

Woelk: Basketball is the easiest thing in the world to rebuild. You're not talking that you need 30 or 40 great players, or good players. You're not even talking 20 good players. You're talking two to three good players to get good overnight.

I point to Billy Gillispie at Texas A & M -- (success) had nothing to do with facilities, nothing to do with anything but a good coach coming in and teaching those guys how to play.

Now, obviously, most of those players were there already but they were not successful under (former coach) Melvin Watkins. (The school) bring Billy Gillispie in and 'boom,' it turns around.

If you look at the freshman class that Colorado has -- there's a possibility of some good things.

Today's BGT previews

CU will not face a player of Kevin Durant's stature nor an offense like Texas. It won't face a top-10 team in Texas A & M or even a school on the road where it hasn't won in ages, like Oklahoma. It will, however, meet up with an Iowa State team that has 11 wins and one of the best freshman in the Big 12 in forward and rebounding-machine Wesley Johnson. He's not alone though as the Cyclones possess a 6-foot-11 center in the middle who is no stiff (Jiri Hubalek) and a solid scoring threat on the perimeter in guard Mike Taylor. Rahshon Clark will be a load down low off the glass, as well.

That said, this is a game the Buffs must look at, as in have to look at, as a rare opportunity to win a game in the conference this season. It won't be easy considering CU is defensive about playing defense and has little confidence going for it currently but it has to believe tonight is the night for something special.

In other games, underrated Baylor is at Kansas State in what should be a tight matchup (BGT is picking the confident, offensively-consistent Bears) and Oklahoma hosts Nebraska (Huskers upset the Sooners with Alexs Maric scoring inside and their young guards hitting shots).

Upcoming posts

Coming to the BGT will be the second part of my interview with Neill Woelk and a look at CU-ISU. Coming soon will be some recruiting stories that Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com shared with me when we spoke last week, some ones that are significant in impact. Today, BGT will meet with Tom Kensler, who works the CU beat for the Denver Post. That discussion will be on your desk in the near future.