Buffs To Host Reunion This Weekend For Patton Era
February 15, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Since the day Tad Boyle took the job as Colorado's head basketball coach in 2010, one of his goals has been to engage and encourage players and coaches from past eras to stay involved with CU basketball.
Part of that effort has included holding reunions every season for all players from past eras, along with highlighting a specific coach and his players each season.
Thus far, the Buffs have welcomed former CU coaches Bill Blair, Tom Apke, Tom Miller and Joe Harrington.
This year, Boyle and his current staff will honor the Ricardo Patton era at Colorado. Patton and a host of his former players will be at Saturday's practice, then have lunch with current CU players after the workout before taking part in a Saturday night reunion function at a downtown Boulder hotel. Sunday, they will be guests at the 6 p.m. Colorado-Arizona game at the CU Events Center.
"This is about honoring the past and honoring the players that played for Ricardo and everybody in that era," Boyle said. "But it's also for every Colorado basketball player to come back. … He has a lot of time invested in this place. A lot of blood, sweat and tears so to speak. It will be great to have Coach Patton back and all those who played for him."
Patton, currently an assistant coach at Denver under Rodney Billups, was CU's head coach for 11 full seasons, compiling a 184-160 record in his tenure. The 184 wins are still second-most in Colorado history, trailing only Sox Walseth's 261.
Patton led Colorado to two NCAA Tournament appearances and four NIT berths. His 1996-97 team ended a 28-year NCAA Tournament drought at Colorado, and the Buffs then collected a win over Indiana and Bobby Knight in the tournament opener before falling to North Carolina and Dean Smith in the second round.
The Buffs also earned an NCAA berth under Patton in 2003, along with NIT appearances in 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2006 and three 20-win seasons
Patton's teams also included a number of standout players, including a pair of future NBA Draft first-round picks, Chauncey Billups and David Harrison. Another Patton player, Chris Copeland, also played in the NBA, while other standouts from the Patton era included 1,000-point scorers Richard Roby, Michel Morandais, Stephane Pelle, Blair Wilson, Marcus Hall and Jamahl Mosley.
Patton also coached four All-Big 12 players: Billups, Harrison, Roby and Jaquay Walls.
"He has a lot of time invested in this place," Boyle said. "A lot of blood, sweat and tears so to speak. It will be great to have Coach Patton back and all those who played for him."
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