More time for Kung Fu

Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss
The rhymes from the microphone soloist
And you sit by the radio, hand on the dial, soon
As you hear it, pump up the volume...

The 11+ year tenure of CU Hoops coach and tenth degree, smack-ya-mama up black belt Ricardo Patton came to a forgettable end yesterday, and no one really seemed to notice. In the college basketball wasteland known as Colorado, Coach Patton would have to beat Kansas (which he did once, versus 24 losses) or have an LSU-style sexual affair with one of his players.

Hoops has never been at the forefront at CU. Coach Patton was a TV cameraman before he came to CU, the man he replaced is now a real-estate agent. Wow, the resume background checks that must’ve went into both of those hirings. Of course, both of those coaches were hired by the “old” regime. The “old” regime of stereotypical Boulder snobby-nosed, do it the same way for 50 years, all talk no cattle brainiacs. The same “old” regime who let the football program slip from the top 25, the women’s hoops team slip to rock bottom, facilities get antiquated, obsolete, or downright unsafe.

In swoops new CU AD Mike Bohn, replaced along with the rest of the “old” regime in the drawn-out wake of the football recruiting “scandal” that really wasn’t. Mr. Bohn has his mark already with a new football coach, a new women’s coach, and a soon new to be men’s coach. Add to it a new customer service approach, outreach programs, a new attitude, and improving facilities. As Dan Hawkins said, “it’s the Big 12!”

Bohn has his most formidable task ahead with the new hiring. He’s not satisfied with CU Hoops playing to 2500 fans a night. He’s not liking the look of the 1970’s edifice of the arena (seriously, are there a few cans of paint up there?) If he’s like me, he’s damn freaking tired of 5000 Jayhawk fans with their “rock chalk” chants in that bitch every time they play there.

Early signs point to the same two candidates that were at the forefront last October: Air Force head coach and former Nuggets head coach Jeff Bzdelik and his butt-crack haircut and Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap. Neither of those hires would get more than a cursory yawn or a five second crawl on the bottom of ESPN2. CU would have to dig up Hank Iba or offer Phil Jackson a billion dollars to get any dap for their basketball program.

The thinking here is to proceed quickly with Patton’s successor, but still make an inspired choice. Bzdelik’s star may be fading, four straight losses and maybe missing the tourney. Plus, maybe call Carmelo Anthony to see how he relates to today’s young athlete. Dunlap is intriguing, but this is his first year with the Nuggets and their suddenly 28-29? Again, another call to Melo. Duke’s Steve Wojohowski is young, has coached the US team, and has the Duke ties. Then again, so did Quin Synder. Alvin Gentry has Colorado connections and on the Suns staff. UNLV’s Lon Kruger is interesting, with successful stops around college hoops and a forgettable Atlanta Hawks adventure.

Bottom line: fuck it, dig up Hank Iba, and then call Melo. Does it really matter? As someone asked on this lame blog once, “CU has a basketball team?”