BOULDER, Colo.-
In a timeout late in a close game against Nebraska, Colorado players stared into the eyes of coach Ricardo Patton.
Instead of the usual intense passion, the Buffaloes saw tears.
It was the only time in Patton’s last home game—a 73-69 win over the Cornhuskers on Saturday—that he lost his composure.
Patton announced on Oct. 25 that he would step down as coach at the conclusion of the season. He ranks second on the Buffaloes’ all-time coaching list with 184 career wins.
With ceremonies for him going on before, in the middle of and after the game, Patton had a difficult time keeping his emotions in check. He was just hoping his players were doing a better job.
“I hoped the game wasn’t lost in all the festivities,” Patton said.
Freshman Kal Bay’s 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining ensured Patton’s last home game at Colorado ended better than it began—with a home loss to Kansas on Jan. 20, 1996.
“I was ready to shoot that ball,” Bay said of his shot.
Richard Roby scored 23 points and senior Dominique Coleman added 15 as Colorado (7-19, 3-13 Big 12) ended a six-game losing streak. Coleman grabbed 15 rebounds to tie a career high.
“Just another basketball game,” said Coleman, who played in his final home game as well. “I just wanted to win. No matter how we won I wanted to win.”
Aleks Maric had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Nebraska (16-13, 5-10) and Marcus Perry added 17. Charles Richardson had eight assists.
The Cornhuskers trailed by as many as 10 midway through the second half but took the lead on a 3-pointer by Perry with 1:39 remaining.
Coleman hit a reverse layup to restore the lead for Colorado. Nebraska’s Sek Henry tied the score at 69 with 38 seconds left by hitting one of two free throws, setting the stage for Bay’s winning 3-pointer. Jermyl Jackson-Wilson iced the win with a free throw with 6.4 seconds left.
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler didn’t think the emotions of the day had a bearing on the game.
“Emotion is only so good,” he said. “You know that they are going to compete hard. Ricardo is a hard working guy. He’s a special, special person.”
Patton was presented with a plaque for outstanding leadership before the game by athletic director Mike Bohn.
Patton guided the Buffaloes to two NCAA tournament appearances and four NIT berths in his 11-plus years in charge. He took over on an interim basis midway through 1996 and then in his first full season in charge in 1996-97, Patton, behind the play of guard Chauncey Billups, had the Buffaloes in the NCAA tournament for the first time in 27 years. The team’s 22 wins that season were most in school history.
“Over time, he has shown the ability to continue to find ways to build the stature and strength of the program nationally,” Bohn said. “He’s provided a strong platform which the program can build on from there.”
When asked if he was any closer to naming a replacement for Patton, Bohn said, “The process is progressing.”
After the game, Patton stood at midcourt, surrounded by current players and former players like Jamahl Mosley and Jose Winston, and gave an emotional speech. He was touched by all the support.
“I was happy to see the former players and see some of those guys now that have kids of their own,” said Patton, who read a poem to the crowd. “It felt good for the fact that we might have touched their lives with more than just basketball.”
Colorado’s Xavier Silas and Nebraska’s Ryan Anderson were both ejected after an altercation with 8:22 remaining in the first half. They were wrestling for the ball and fell to the floor as tempers flared. Patton came onto the court and pulled Silas off Anderson. Both had scored seven points before the ejection.
Official Larry Rose wouldn’t comment on the ejections. Both players may end up with one-game suspensions.
“It’s supposed to be (an automatic suspension) if it’s ruled a fight,” explained Patton, whose team will play Texas Tech on Thursday in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. “I’d have to look at the film and see exactly what happened.”
Sadler thought it was a big play in the game.
“We’re already a thin basketball team. Now we’re more thin,” he said.
While a close win was nice in his home finale, Patton would’ve preferred a 20-point blowout.
“I would’ve liked to have not caught a stomach cramp over sweating the game,” Patton said. “But it was a great game for our fans. I thought it was a great game for our players to have to grind out and learn how to win at the end.”
Being the only senior on the team, Patton had some pointed advice for Coleman.
“Coach told me to get my degree,” said Coleman, who’s close to his degree in sociology. “He said, ‘Don’t leave here without your degree.'”
