"It was speculation," Dunlap said of the story. "It was a call from a guy from the Chronicle because some names were on a blog."

Dunlap said he's had "zero" contact with California. Asked if he would be interested in the job if the school were to reach out, "I would have to listen to the criteria, what they're looking for."

Dunlap said he was contacted last week regarding the Loyola Marymount and Rice openings. Loyola Marymount is his alma mater.

While Dunlap did not give Rice serious consideration, he informed Nuggets officials about the contact with Loyola Marymount. And he gave thought to the job before bowing out.

"We're making a push," Dunlap said about the Nuggets. "I told Loyola my focus is trying to get this done. I feel honored. But I'm keeping my focus here."

Dunlap, who led Denver's Metro State to two NCAA Division II titles before joining the Nuggets before last season, said he's content in the pros. But he didn't rule out a possible return to college, saying he would consider it "if something out of the Big 12 or Pac 10 or something like that" were to surface.

--Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien declined comment on an Internet report calling him a strong candidate to join Donnie Walsh in New York if Walsh, as reports have indicated, joins the Knicks as an executive.

Those close to the situation say it's understandable that, regardless of whether there's credence to the report, Warkentien's name has surfaced. He and Walsh are very close and share an agent, Steve Kauffman.

Warkentien is believed to have one year left on his Nuggets deal. He wouldn't discuss his contract.

Walsh recently announced he would step down after 24 seasons as an Indiana executive.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I didn't shoot the ball well. I'm hoping my teammates didn't think I was out there point shaving or something." -- Nuggets guard Allen Iverson, who is bothered by a fracture in his right ring finger, after shooting 4-of-20 for 14 points in Saturday's 119-112 win over Golden State.