The whirlwind courtship of Ricardo Patton continues today in Knoxville, Tenn., where the first-year University of Colorado basketball coach will be interviewed a second time by University of Tennessee officials.
Patton, who reportedly left Colorado late Sunday afternoon, is on a list of Volunteers candidates believed to include Southwest Missouri State's Steve Alford, Illinois State's Kevin Stallings and Tennessee-Chattanooga's Mack McCarthy. Clemson's Rick Barnes no longer is a candidate.
Alford, the former University of Indiana guard, was interviewed by Tennessee Sunday for a second time. McCarthy was interviewed Saturday, and Stallings' second interview is expected to be scheduled later this week. The Vols also are believed to have an interest in Iowa State coach Tim Floyd.
After his initial interview last week, Patton is rumored to have ascended on Tennessee's list. Patton, a native of Nashville, Tenn., coached at Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee State. He continues to recruit that state and was close last fall to signing stellar Memphis point guard Tony Harris - who ultimately chose Tennessee.
Patton's Memphis pipeline might make a favorable impression on the Vols, if they seek recruiting inroads in west Tennessee. CU's current roster includes one highly recruited Memphian (Will Smith), with another (Ernest Renfroe) enrolling this fall.
Meanwhile, it might be a matter of semantics as to who pulled the lever first, but Patton now appears officially out of the University of Memphis' picture. One day after sources in Memphis and Colorado told the Rocky Mountain News that Patton would withdraw from consideration for the job, Memphis issued a news release Sunday saying Patton ``has been dropped from consideration.''
Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson told The (Memphis) Commerical Appeal that his school and Patton's Columbia, S.C.-based representatives failed to come to terms after an offer and counteroffer were exchanged.
``They didn't like our offer, we didn't particularly like their offer. So we've kind of moved on,'' Johnson said.
Unless his representatives are negotiating with another school, Patton's option - if he intends to leave CU - now hinges on today's interview producing an offer from Tennessee.
Negotiations continue between CU and Patton's representatives. The university made a counteroffer last week, but it is believed to be below the $400,000 yearly package Patton's representatives seek - until long-term compensation is factored into the annual proposal.
Critical sticking points are said to include assistant coaches' salaries and postseason bonuses and the method of team travel (commercial vs. charter).
Patton, whose current package pays $205,000, hopes for a settlement by the April 9 spring signing date. CU officials have given no indication when a settlement might be reached.
Memphis' coaching search apparently now will focus on McCarthy, New Orleans' Tic Price and possibly Stallings. Memphis officials received permission to interview Price late last week.
If one of those candidates doesn't stand out, Johnson noted Memphis isn't likely to return to Patton.
``I wouldn't think so. I can't imagine that would happen,'' he said.
McCarthy, who directed the Moccasins to their first NCAA ``Sweet 16'' appearance, currently earns $90,000 a year at Chattanooga. But he has been offered a contract extension and what he termed a ``generous'' salary increase.
However, Memphis presents a higher-profile opportunity - although McCarthy might not be the high profile coach either Memphis or Tennessee seeks.
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