Boulder – Having grown up in the shadow of the Flatirons, Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn remembers when he would join some freckle-faced pals to watch the hometown Buffaloes play basketball at old Balch Fieldhouse.
“We’d walk right in and sit in the front row,” said Bohn, 45. “It wasn’t a big deal then. The Boulder High-Fairview game was the only time Balch was filled.”
Decades later, Colorado basketball still isn’t a big deal. Or at least a big enough deal for Bohn, who was hired as athletic director last April. He aims to change that.
“How many basketball programs that are competitive across the country have their basketball operations in the football stadium?” Bohn said. “Well, we do.”
On the floor, these are heady times for the men’s basketball team, which is 15-3 and made the coaches’ top-25 poll Monday. The crowds, too, have picked up at recent games.
Off the floor, however, Bohn sees a program that has too long been neglected, making it difficult to build on success, let alone generate significant income for a cash-strapped athletic department. CU ranks last among Big 12 schools in attendance this season, by a wide margin, and CU projects the men’s program to lose $347,715 this season.
Bohn isn’t sure what it says to basketball recruits when they visit CU, but it can’t be positive. He has promised to move the men’s and women’s basketball offices to the Coors Events Center – converting conference rooms and space used by the School of Banking.
“I don’t believe administratively that we have provided the full level of support and energy and emotion that men’s and women’s basketball deserve at Colorado,” Bohn said. “Obviously, the challenge I have is to try to enhance that.”
The new offices could be ready by next season. Also planned is a weight room at the Coors Events Center. Players now use the weight facilities in the Dal Ward Center, a half- mile from the arena. Those physical plant improvements could be construed as mere window dressing in a program annually mired near the bottom of the Big 12 in attendance and revenue. But Bohn believes they are necessary first steps in reversing the widely held perception that basketball isn’t important at CU.
Men’s coach Ricardo Patton has complained in the past about a lack of commitment from the administration, including items such as team travel. CU flies commercial to many road games while many Big 12 teams fly charter, so players miss fewer classes.
While Bohn publicly supports his coach, he isn’t tipping his hand about Patton’s future.
Patton, in his 10th season, has one year left on his contract after this season. Even with the recent surge, Patton has a 73-89 overall record in conference play. Patton says his program is making steady progress. He’s getting into the living rooms of more quality recruits. He cites the six-man recruiting class signed in November as the best in his tenure.
“Some businesses take longer to get off the ground than others,” Patton said. “I have a buddy in Georgia who just opened a bank. Should he be expected to compete right away with Wells Fargo? It takes time.”
As for Patton’s contract, Bohn said he has no timetable to begin discussions. “Right now the focus is on the play of Ricardo’s team,” he said.
Leaving Patton in limbo makes it difficult to recruit because he is unable to assure prospects he will be around beyond next season. Patton said the uncertainty over his future weighs on his family, his coaching staff and himself. While meeting with reporters after a recent victory at Oklahoma State, Patton became teary- eyed as he answered questions regarding his job status.
“A lot of things have affected my family, and when it affects my family, it affects me,” Patton said. “You try to dress it up and then you go to work the next day. But it’s there.”
With an overall record of 172-133, Patton ranks behind only the late Sox Walseth (261-245) in CU victories.
“I really respect Ricardo for what he’s done there,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “It’s a tough situation. The recruiting base in our state is different. And there are so many people up there that want to ski (rather than attend a college basketball game). I’m safe to say that our budget is a little different than Colorado’s. We’re not all on the same playing field. Money does matter.”
Bohn agrees. That’s why, he said, it’s imperative revenue is increased by boosting attendance. Upon becoming AD he was appalled to discover the school lacked a grassroots strategy to attract fans. Bohn’s plans include more corporate and community nights and a greater push for student attendance. The student section has grown in number and volume this season.
“There are fans on the Front Range interested in college basketball,” said Ceal Barry, CU associate athletic director and former women’s basketball coach. “They like to read in the newspaper about it and listen on the radio. But somehow the disconnect is getting them to the games.”
Patton’s team appears on the verge of making a breakthrough. An enthusiastic crowd of 8,074 attended Saturday’s victory against Kansas State.
Bohn said the key is making the home games a better fan experience: “The onus is on us, and we’re going to look at everything. Emotion is a big part of college athletics. We’re going to fuel that as much as we can. To insinuate it’s all on the coach is a mistake.”
Patton has his detractors. In nine seasons, his teams have made two NCAA Tournament appearances. CU fan Kurt Bohn of Denver (no relation to Mike Bohn) said he would be disappointed if Patton receives a contract extension.
“Nobody talks about college basketball around here and it’s because of Patton,” Kurt Bohn said. “Ten years ago, I thought he was a great hire. He’s young and energetic.
“But the bottom line is he’s never won anything.”
As a Kansas alumnus, Bohn is accustomed to seeing quality hoops and knows how much a big-time program can boost excitement about CU athletics, but also help the bottom line. Bohn said he doesn’t know why CU can’t routinely field a team in the upper half of the conference.
“For basketball in the Big 12, that’s a lofty goal. But Ricardo has done it before,” he said.
Former CU star Chauncey Billups believes “the sky’s the limit” for Buffs basketball. The NBA standout recently committed $100,000 over four years for “Chauncey’s Kids Roundup,” a program to fund at least 10,000 tickets per season for underprivileged youths.
“The potential for the CU program is unbelievable,” Billups said. “You’ve got a great coach in Coach Patton. The school is great. Boulder is a fun town. You’re close to a major city in Denver. We’ve got to start selling that more.”
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
