BOULDER - Mike Dunlap's unexpected exit Tuesday from the University of Colorado's basketball coaching search leaves Jeff Bzdelik of Air Force where many believe he has been along - as the Buffaloes' top choice to replace Ricardo Patton.

Indications point to Bzdelik being offered the job when the Falcons' run in the National Invitation Tournament ends. Air Force plays Austin Peay tonight.

Seeded No. 1 in the West Region, the Falcons could parlay three victories at Clune Arena into a trip to Madison Square Garden, site of the semifinals (March 27) and final (March 29).

If that happens, CU's vigil for Bzdelik would be extended. But such a delay is not believed to be a deterrent, and neither is the $275,000 required to buy out Bzdelik's Air Force contract.

Bzdelik, whose two-year record with Air Force is 47-15, said, "I have no plans to go anywhere else, but . . . there's always that 'but.' "

Athletic director Mike Bohn said he has not offered the job to Bzdelik or anyone else.

"We're not there yet," Bohn said after learning Dunlap, a Nuggets assistant who met informally last month with CU officials, had removed himself from consideration.

In a statement released by the Nuggets, Dunlap announced his withdrawal and thanked Bohn and search committee chairman Tom McGrath "for their interest in me. They are both first-class professionals and it was an honor to be considered for the position."

Conceding his "hot commodity" status had become a distraction, Dunlap elaborated on his decision before the Nuggets played the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pepsi Center.

He said he was not "in a rush to get (a decision) behind me. . . . I needed to be honest with myself. That's all I did; I measured things and reflected. On (CU's) side of the equation, they were tremendous. But you got to evaluate your own circumstances."

At a recent breakfast that included Nuggets staffers, Dunlap spoke of CU needing to "shore up the gap that they allowed to happen over a lot of years institutionally in order to compete in the Big 12."

Asked about that Tuesday, Dunlap said he believes CU "will get there, I just think they need some time. I think that's a factor, but it wasn't the overriding factor. . . . That wasn't No. 1 on the list (of why he withdrew)."

Bohn said Dunlap, who guided Metro State to two Division II national championships, is as "an impressive coach and person, with incredible integrity, passion and work ethic. We wish him the best."

Though he isn't actively pursuing another job, Dunlap said schools are pursuing him directly or indirectly.

"I know that I'm very fortunate; this will never happen again in my career," he said.

But he hasn't decided on a return to college or remaining with the Nuggets, an experience he said has "smitten" him.

"As witnessed by this, I'm not in a rush to leave it," he said.

Nuggets coach George Karl believes Dunlap "wants to be with us" and thought he withdrew from the CU process "just because it could get messy and ugly. I don't think he really wants it."

Karl's advice to Dunlap: "Follow your heart. Don't follow your pocketbook. Go someplace where you and your family can have a good life in basketball. My belief and my best decisions are made when I don't pursue them. It's when they come to you.

"It's kind of like when if you have too much antsy energy, the butterfly won't land on your shoulder. It's when you're in control and feeling good, the butterfly feels that you're at peace and the job comes to you."

Bzdelik could be experiencing that feeling - and soon. He said CU has not contacted him, and if that happens, he will consult his family.

"I might ask them, 'Should we listen?' Because my family comes first, period," he said. "Honest to goodness, I haven't thought much about all this. You're asking me questions that my wife and I have never even discussed. I haven't even thought about that. I just want to win (tonight). Losing four games in a row is the worst feeling."

Dunlap's withdrawal and the coaching searches underway at other Division I Front Range schools will not alter CU's process, Bohn said, noting he does not believe those schools and CU are working from the same pool of candidates.

Bohn said his search committee is intent on "keeping the integrity of the search intact," adding he has "the utmost respect for the academy, the team and obviously for coach (Bzdelik).

"We have maintained a respectful and professional dialogue all along, and there's no reason for us to change at this point."

CU has been granted permission by Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh to speak with Bzdelik. While Bohn and McGrath insist their first face-to-face meeting with Bzdelik is yet to come, CU was able to begin laying a foundation for its search shortly after Patton's Oct. 25 announcement that this season was his last.

That extended period undoubtedly allowed CU to research Bzdelik and perhaps indirectly gauge his interest in working in Boulder and coaching in the Big 12. Bzdelik makes about $400,000 annually; Patton's final CU salary was almost twice that.

Bzdelik, 53, signed a five-year contract after the Falcons' 24-7 finish last season. Before being hired by Air Force, he was the Nuggets' coach for 2 1/2 seasons.

In his own words

• Mike Dunlap, on the college coaching opportunities he has been entertaining besides the University of Colorado job:

"I'm not pursuing one job right now. Those people called me. I will not pursue a job per se. If somebody wants to talk to me, I've been open to everybody that's called.

"I've eliminated (myself) from interviewing for Minnesota, DU. . . . Same headhunter is working both those institutions. So it was the easy thing that I did last week in terms of handling it with one person as opposed to two. . . .

"There are a couple of other people that I have called. (He would not identify the schools and said he has not had official contact with Colorado State or New Mexico and has not heard from Wyoming.) . . . Certainly, I'll handle all those things probably in the next 48 hours."Chris Tomasson

Karl Licis contributed to this report. brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466

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