Just when you think you know it all is usually when the house comes down on your head.And that's what could be happening in the CU coaching search to replace Ricardo Patton.
Read what's out there being reported and it's difficult to not think that Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik is the next man in line to lead the Buffs.
Or so many media and fans are speculating.
But there is still something, despite all that newsprint and all the bar-room or office chatter that leaves room for doubt in that theory.
Most supporters, donors or not, of Buffs' basketball, you would have to assume would like a more far-reaching sweep of candidates to be discussed before jumping off the high dive into deep waters with a hire and doesn't March Madness get every one's blood pumping fast, even athletic directors? Doesn't every school want to touch a winner in the tournament?
Those are rhetorical questions, by the way.
I just don't think this is all signed, sealed and delivered, so to speak. Bzdelik, despite co-front runner Mike Dunlap's withdrawal from consideration, is not the school's final answer, at least not yet.
Or I hope it isn't. The reason being such a move would be horribly shortsighted, no matter how impressive Bzdelik's pedigree and accomplishments. It could remind some of the Rick Neuheisel hire, when CU was blind beyond a few feet, settled for an in-house man, did so fairly quick and after initial success found out what a mess they had on their hands. Matter of fact, Neuheisel was the first to begin crumbling the Bill McCartney empire.
Of course, the next basketball coach doesn't quite have that worry to consider.
No, Bzdelik isn't Neuheisel and yes, I believe the Falcons' coach could be and would likely be successful in Boulder, maybe very much so, but let's not get all wound up and make an impulse purchase. Don't buy the first car you fall in love with, no matter how much it makes you sweat with anticipation.
Just say no.
Don't be a sucker.
Go look at a handful or two of rides, or coaches, before sitting down to make your decision.
Coaches in the NCAA Tournament are there for a reason. Yes, winning at the Academy, in the NBA and maybe the NIT are amazing feats, ones not every Tom, Tom, Joe and Ricardo could accomplish but know something, Bzdelik isn't the only good coach around. I'm pretty sure of that assertion and really, there is no need to think that unless you're his agent or family.
Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn just got a divorce. It was ugly. Take some time and enjoy being a bachelor for a while. Go on, date, get to know people again, reject what reminds you of the past, don't be so eager to screw up your life again and enjoy the attention of attractive people, quality people all over. Then, when you find the hottie with character, the one that makes your life roll smoothly and with excitement go ahead and make your move, close the deal and have some happiness, but first calculate the risk of potentially making the wrong choice or not the ideal one.
Remember the pain of having someone who was standoffish, not a people person, didn't go out to sell the university or program and didn't make others feel a part of it.
Coaching ability is paramount after the roll-the-ball out-defense-optional impression fans got from the previous regime but of equal importance is knowing your new love fully understands the challenges of the Buffs' job, such as charisma and recruiting ability, which not only includes players but fans, the community and the state.
Not saying Bzdelik isn't all that or can't achieve those demands but why roll the dice in believing others might not have the same skills or a better overall package of ability and past results.
And one more piece of food for thought. The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy told us in this space, if you remember, that an athletic director would make a terrible mistake for his school if he didn't ask a prospective new hire who his assistant coaches would be. CU, more than most, needs as close to an all-star staff, and not merely buddies as DeCourcy called them, on the bench alongside the next coach.
Model for success
If, and that's a big if, it says right here, but if CU does already plan to ask Jeff Bzdelik to the prom then here's the skinny on the possibilities of the decision.
Maybe when Mike Bohn looks at Buzz, he sees Billy Gillispie.
Gillispie is an intense, hardworking, consumed and oh yeah, successful coach who is highly structured, disciplined and addicted to defense.
Sound familiar?
Don't think Bohn hasn't noticed how quickly Gillispie made UTEP and Texas A & M relevant?
Don't think both men aren't the polar opposites of Ricardo Patton?
Yeah, I might be all washed up, full of Buffalo dung even but I'm not going to admit it quite yet.
Back to watch
With Thomas Perez shooting himself in the foot by getting sent to the showers this spring due to academics and hotshot juco P.T. Gates working overtime to get himself qualified to even get through the front gate at CU, the running back competition for incumbent Hugh Charles has shifted.
One name being thrown out by fans as well as Adam Munsterteiger at BuffStampede.com is California import Demetrius Sumler. Remember the name.
For one, he tore it up out San Diego way as a prep, piling up 5,650 yards rushing and two, he's the physical rock this offense needs to balance out the softer tones of Charles. And if one were to look at some of CU coach Dan Hawkins' recruiting efforts for the backfield, it would be evident he would prefer a little more meat on the bones of his ball carriers, Gates notwithstanding.
Sumler and Perez offer that thickness and power.
Not getting a lot of spring attention
Look for the CU tight ends to become a bigger force within the offense in 2007, now that both Riar Geer and Tyson DeVree have got their feet wet in Boulder and in the new offense.
Geer is a 40-45 catch man waiting to happen, especially now the offense has more weapons on the outside and more competition to make the quarterbacks better. DeVree may not be a downfield threat but he is big and will make plays, possibly becoming a flashing green light in the red zone.
Stirring it up
Just a thought here for you to discard, laugh at or chew on. Did you happen to catch that line at the end of a Kyle Ringo story yesterday in the Daily Camera?
"USC quarterback Mark Sanchez spent time at practice Monday. He is in town this week visiting his good friend, CU wide receiver Scott McKnight."
BGT: Sanchez, for those not aware, was one of the hottest recruits in the country when he signed with the Trojans and widely expected to be the man when Matt Leinart landed in the pros. But along the way, John David Booty became the successor to the crown and now with him being entrenched at the position as a national star, Sanchez, a third-year sophomore-to-be, could continue to collect blisters on the bench.
My guess is that Sanchez drank in the atmosphere in Boulder and subconsciously filed it in his brain should things not work out in Utopia, aka USC, either due to someone overtaking him to succeed Booty in 2008 or some crazy happening, which we know go down on college campuses everywhere. All...the...time.
Or so goes my college rap sheet.
Not saying Sanchez would look at CU if the dream dies at home but that memory of his visit here, if positive, could be there for later recall.
Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no.
Big 12 representatives
Oklahoma State was awful down the stretch during the regular season, showed some guts in the Big 12 Tournament and then got kicked out of the NIT Tournament in the opening round Tuesday by Marist, 67-64, by a coach promoted here before -- Matt Brady.
Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry looked like All-Americans at times this season for the Cowboys but went into hiding at some point and rarely came out. Against the Red Foxes, they were again poor, combining for 23 points. Rookie coach Sean Sutton flat out lost that team this season after a 15-1 start. Maybe now, he can commiserate with Ricardo Patton in some support group.
Side roads
Want a wild rumor -- started right here -- with no factual basis whatsoever that maybe I can be slammed about one day. Former Metro State coach and current Nuggets' assistant Mike Dunlap replacing his boss, George Karl, on the Denver bench. Far-fetched, yes, but maybe possible next season if the Nuggets get off to a slow start. Dunlap would be a reach but he might have the tools in the box to be a winner if he can be the therapist you need to be at the NBA level. Remember, you didn't hear it here. This, of course, might make me the town fool if Dunlap takes a college post this spring.
Kansas State has hired Greg Burns as its' new defensive backs' coach. Last season, he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers DBs and before that, coached at Southern California. This is a positive move for Wildcats' coach Ron Prince on both a coaching and recruiting level. Big time. Burns will definitely have street "cred." Look for the results on the field soon.
Allen Iverson was spectacular and the Denver Nuggets had offensive balance Tuesday at home against the talented but youthful Portland Trailblazers and look what happened -- a 106-99 win. Iverson and Carmelo Anthony usually get "theirs" but if Marcus Camby and Nene or someone else don't get their slice of the pie, this woeful defensive team is just a bunch of chum for opponents. This season, book it, is over but there are pieces there for success come next November with health, togetherness and some tinkering.
Enough of the crying already, alright? College basketball coaches are complaining that not enough schools are making the NCAA Tournament. So what do we do -- let everyone in? See, what coaches don't get but we do is this -- the more you expand the tournament the more administrators and fans will expect. More teams get in, well then merely getting to the tournament won't be as celebrated. The bar will be raised. Win two or three games and yeah, we consider it a good year. Lose in round one or two and "hmm, what is that smell?"
Phil Jackson is one smart guy. Maybe too smart to be making dumb comments like the one he made to Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times when he said Jesus Christ couldn't save the Lakers' team this season. Jackson is intelligent enough to make his point without drawing Jesus into his comedy act. Besides, hasn't the Zen Master seen the scouting report on JC? Parting seas, walking on water, healing. Come on now, you don't think he couldn't play a little point for the Lakers, get everyone on the same page, face up selfish people when necessary? He can even bring the bread. If all that doesn't create team unity, well LA should lose its' franchise as its' hopeless.
Did you see or hear that the Green Bay Packers might be interested in looking at trading for wide receiver Randy Moss? They don't get Terrell Owens' games up there? Oakland trading for Moss was supposed to potentially change the balance of power in the AFC West. All that's happened is its' killed Moss' desire for greatness. Now he's seen as a character risk. Maybe not on the level of Owens but he's certainly not a Man-of-the-Year candidate either.
Taylor Buchholz is now a Colorado Rockies' bullpen hand after having his resume to be a starter thrown in the trash. Why is it the Rockies are usually the last to know on such things? Could have told them at the time of the trade that a strong-armed thrower with little feel for pitching doesn't cut it as starting quality.
Here's another one for that franchise that wants to emulate the Chicago Cubs. Jeff Baker can hit. He might not be Matt Holliday or even Garrett Atkins but he will be better than Brad Hawpe with the stick. Of course, Hawpe has one of the strongest, most accurate outfield arms in the National League so Baker will have to scrape for playing time out in the Rockies' pasture.
Finally, had to share this, just because it's one of the great names out there. Should be a rapper or athlete's alter ego. Here you go. Also read this country's view of philanthropy compared to their U.S. counterparts.
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