OKLAHOMA CITY — Growing up in a Chicago suburb not far from Wrigley Field, Jeff Bzdelik couldn’t help but develop a sense of humor — and eternal optimism.
It proved to be good training for his current job as the men’s basketball coach at Colorado.
“I want you to stick with these guys,” Bzdelik told CU fans after the final home game, yet another loss. “They’re headed for better days, trust me.”
For the third consecutive year, Colorado (9-21, 1-15 Big 12) is seeded last in the Big 12 Tournament, with the past two on Bzdelik’s watch. Hired to make CU’s program competitive, Bzdelik has been unable to get it out of last place. If anything, the Buffs have gotten worse, finishing with one conference victory this season, their fewest since going 0-14 in Big Eight play in the 1985-86 season.
Far from being down, Bzdelik, like the eternally optimistic Cubs fan, believes big things are around the corner.
“You choose your attitude about each day,” said Bzdelik, as his Buffs prepared for today’s opening-round Big 12 Tournament game against Texas. “You can choose doom and gloom or you can choose glory and optimism.
“Losing beats you up; there’s no question about that. It affects players, coaches, fans, everybody. But as I’ve said many times, successful people are only momentarily discouraged.”
With the enormity of the rebuilding chore facing him, few would be surprised if the former Nuggets coach and longtime NBA assistant entertained thoughts of returning to the big league. But Bzdelik, 56, insists he’s at CU for the long haul.
“Call me crazy, but I love challenges,” he said. “Believe me, I am committed. I am excited about the future.”
He points out that if he were merely coasting until a cushy NBA job came along, why wouldn’t he just let his assistants do the heavy lifting?
Improvements in works
After last Wednesday’s loss to Texas A&M in Boulder, for instance, Bzdelik had a late dinner with signee Keegan Hornbuckle and his father, who were visiting from Los Angeles. Bzdelik got to sleep about 1 a.m. His alarm went off at 4:30 for a recruiting trip to California. He was back home by midnight and in his office early the next morning.
“Everybody sees the commitment and the passion and the incredible work ethic that Jeff has,” athletic director Mike Bohn said. “Where this program was when he inherited it did not happen overnight, and we’re not going to get out of it overnight.”
His players don’t sense that he is about to leave.
“I think he’s enjoying coaching college ball, but who wouldn’t want to go back to the NBA?” said forward Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, the only senior on CU’s roster. “If he can, he may take that opportunity someday, but I think he’s enjoying this while it’s happening.”
Fans fed up with the program’s futility might support Bzdelik going back to the NBA, where he spent 15 years before guiding Air Force to 50 victories in two seasons.
Bzdelik understands fans’ frustration but points to a youthful team with one senior that showed encouraging signs with eight conference losses by an average of 5.2 points — including making league powers Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas sweat until the final minute.
Off the court, things are going better than in the won-lost column. When Bohn hired Bzdelik, the new coach was promised that construction of a practice facility adjacent to the Coors Event Center must begin by his third year. Bohn said that deadline will be met and that an architect was hired last week.
Also, Bohn heard Bzdelik’s plea and will move a strength-and-conditioning coach from the Dal Ward Center to the basketball arena to work primarily with the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Patience, please
Bzdelik realizes Colorado basketball will never be Kansas. But, he said, the facility upgrades give him a fighting chance to compete in a powerhouse conference. Since Bzdelik arrived in Boulder in April 2007, the men’s and women’s basketball offices were moved from Folsom Field to the Coors Events Center, the men’s locker room was upgraded to NBA standards, a new basketball floor was installed and an upstairs meeting room was converted into a weight room.
“I had both eyes open when I took this job. I knew what I was up against,” Bzdelik said. “This league is as good as it gets, top to bottom.
“Changing the culture is harder than changing the X’s and O’s. But I feel great about the building blocks that are already in place and the players that are coming into the program.”
Three players signed in November, and Bzdelik hopes to add another in April.
In the meantime, some fans are understandably restless. But they knew this was going to be a rebuilding year. But one conference victory?
“Maybe Bzdelik should have stayed at Air Force,” Keith Francis, a Golden-based scientist and a 20-year season-ticket holder, wrote in an e-mail to The Denver Post. “Even (Ricardo) Patton could pull out more wins with less talent, and that upsets me because I thought CU hung onto Patton too long. Going from four conference wins last year to one win this year isn’t even a building year.”
The Buffs’ best player, Cory Higgins, like his coach, asks for patience.
“We can only go up from here, obviously,” he said. “And I think people seeing this year should be encouraged, not discouraged. Expect big things from us.”
Spoken like a Cubs fan.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
