Oklahoma City – Rick Barnes of Texas was the first to formally recognize the new leader in seniority among Big 12 Conference coaches.
“How’s it going, Dean?” Barnes said to Colorado coach Ricardo Patton on Thursday as they passed in the hallway during the Big 12’s basketball media day activities.
Patton, 177-140, is beginning his 11th full season, the only coach remaining from the original dozen who were on the job in 1996-97, the league’s first season. Patton acknowledged there is no way of knowing whether he will be back next season. About to celebrate his 48th birthday Monday, Patton is in the final season of a three-year contract set to expire next spring. CU athletic director Mike Bohn has said Patton’s status will be evaluated after the season. Patton, appearing remarkably relaxed when addressing questions about his future, said he has accepted the uncertainty.
“I have said to Mike Bohn that I am at peace with who I am,” Patton said. “I am at peace with the job we have done. I am at peace with leaving the University of Colorado, if that be the case.
“So with that being said, I don’t want to coach under any type of pressure to try to save my job. I don’t want to put that type of pressure on my players. I certainly don’t want to live with that type of pressure. When you are at peace with those three things, I think it allows you to go out and coach and have fun and enjoy the kids. That’s what I plan to do.”
CU senior guard Dominique Coleman said Patton’s contract situation has not been a distraction and players don’t expect it to become one.
“We don’t worry about those things,” Coleman said. “We just focus on basketball.”
Bill and Billy
Texas A&M’s Billy Gillispie said he still makes frequent phone calls to his former boss, Kansas coach Bill Self, whom Gillispie worked for at Tulsa and Illinois. The Aggies’ coach doesn’t expect that to change, although circumstances are different this season and Gillispie jokes he might not get as much advice about how to win games.
Texas A&M was picked second in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, behind only unanimous No. 1 choice Kansas.
Asked if they have a side bet on the league race, Gillispie said, “I learned a long time ago not to bet against Coach Self.”
Shootout in the corral
The Big 12 men’s and women’s tournaments will be hosted by Oklahoma City for the first time next spring. Oklahoma City became a viable candidate for both events when the Ford Center was built across the street from the Cox Convention Center arena (formerly called the Myriad) which will hold the women’s tournament.
To host the Big 12 tournaments, commissioner Kevin Weiberg has said the league considers only cities with two viable facilities in close proximity. The 2008 Big 12 tournaments will be played in Kansas City, with the men to play in the new Sprint Center under construction.
Footnotes
CU’s Patton raised eyebrows when he said Buffs freshman swingman Xavier Silas “is ahead of where Richard Roby was at the same stage.” … Iowa State’s Greg McDermott, on being among six new head coaches in the league: “I’m the dean of the new coaches. I was first.” … Patton, on the Buffaloes being picked to finish last in the preseason coaches poll: “With the practices we’ve had, this doesn’t look like a 12th-place team to me. I think we will be better than most people think.” … Baylor will lead the conference in nicknames that are used instead of first names. Demond Carter, a 6-foot-1 guard and McDonald’s all-American from Laplace, La., goes by “Tweety.” Djibril Thiam, a 6-8 forward from Senegal, answers to “Penny.” They are freshmen.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
