Jan. 25, 2007

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -Outgoing Colorado coach Ricardo Patton will complete the season with the struggling men's basketball team, athletic director Mike Bohn reiterated Thursday.

Patton, upset that he didn't get a contract extension before this season - his 11th with Colorado - surprisingly announced on Oct. 25 that this season would be his last in Boulder.

The Buffaloes are 5-11 overall and last in the Big 12 at 1-5 following a 15-point loss at home Wednesday night to Missouri.

Bohn has said he didn't replace Patton immediately because he didn't want to disrupt the program, and he reiterated that position during a discussion with reporters Thursday.

"Our kids, our coaches and our fans of our program, we need to keep as much continuity as possible," Bohn said. "And to be honest with you, I think our kids deserve the opportunity to be around the people that recruited them and the people that are a part of their basketball lives."

"Plus, I have confidence in Ricardo to continue to be a professional and hardworking and continue to represent us and this university in the best light possible."

"But I think it would be unfair to our student-athletes to put them through more change and turmoil."

Bohn said the athletic department was planning a tribute to Patton at the Buffaloes' last home game, against Nebraska on March 3.