During Monday’s Big 12 teleconference, newly promoted Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Pat Knight all but dismissed any speculation that his father might someday consider taking over another program.
Bob Knight, 67, unexpectedly resigned on Feb. 4 with 10 regular-season games remaining. The NCAA Division 1 all-time leader with 902 victories in 42 seasons, Knight said he wanted to give his son an opportunity to coach the team and get a head’s start on next season.
“Right now, I’d say no,” Pat Knight said, when asked if Bob Knight might ever consider another coaching job. “A lot goes into it. You’ve got the recruiting aspect. And he was tired, he was really tired of the whole side of basketball – on the court, off the court, everything.
“I think he looks better than he has for a long time. He feels good. I told him he’s going to look better than me in about a week.
“Then again, there’s a great mind out there. Who knows after a couple of years? Maybe. But now, I don’t see it. I know how miserable he was and just how bad he was feeling when he got out.”
Pat Knight, 37, had been named Tech’s “head coach designate” on Oct. 1, 2005. Since taking over, he is winless in two games for the Red Raiders (12-10, 3-5 Big 12).
Texas Tech plays at Colorado on Feb. 20.
Mid-week bye
The schedule doesn’t exactly lend itself to Colorado building momentum off its 72-58 home victory over Oklahoma on Saturday. The Buffs (10-13, 2-7) do not play again until Saturday, when they travel to Kansas. CU hasn’t won in Allen Field House since Feb. 10, 1983.
With Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik returning Monday from a recruiting trip, assistant coach Steve McClain represented CU on the teleconference. Buffs players will get two days off this week instead of the usual one.
“This gives us an opportunity to go back and work on some things, both offensively and defensively,” said McClain, the head coach at Wyoming for nine seasons. “This allows us, during the first three days early in the week, to really put the focus on us.
“It also gives the guys that have been playing 38 or 39 minutes to maybe have a chance to breathe a little bit.”
Patterson progressing
McClain said coaching staff remains high on the potential of Caleb Patterson although the 6-foot-11 freshman center has only played in 12 of 23 games.
“Caleb is coming along,” McClain said. “There are certain games where we feel like, OK, he can come in and play. And then there are certain games where we feel like he’s not quite ready for it.
“Maybe it’s the physicalness of a game. He’s still adjusting to that. That will come with time and maturity and getting into the weight room. That’s why there are games where we put him in and other games where we say, ‘It’s not a good night for him (to go in).” He’s handled that well.”
Patterson averages 1.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 8.7 minutes per game. He did not get off the bench Saturday in the 14-point victory over Oklahoma although the former Ringwood (Okla) High School athlete no doubt would have loved to have played his home-state school.
CU coaches apparently figured the 225-pound Patterson would have been pushed around by Oklahoma’s brother duo of 6-10, 243-pound Blake Griffin and 6-7, 230-pound Taylor Griffin.
“Especially with a freshman, you want to put Caleb in where you feel like he can have success,” McClain said. “Confidence in kids is such a big deal. We’ve tried to be very careful of when we play him and when we don’t.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
