Katz

[John Hall]

Nice article on Huggs by Andy Katz:


		Wednesday, October 9

                Huggins still 100-percent coach at heart

                By Andy Katz
                ESPN.com


		Bob Huggins will make an appearance at
                Saturday's first official Cincinnati practice. But he
                isn't showing up two weeks after suffering a heart
                attack to prove he's OK. And his presence isn't a
                publicity stunt to appease the local media, the fans
                showing up for "Breakfast with Bob," or anyone
                else associated with or interested in the Cincinnati
                program.

                Heart attack? Sure, it was scary, and nearly killed
                him. But it's not going to slow Huggins down, at
                least not when it comes to his coaching style.

                No, Huggins won't be seen running up and down
                the court Saturday -- or anytime in the near future
                for that matter. And his familiar voice won't be
                heard above all others in the gym. But Huggins
                will be at the Shoemaker Center coaching.
                Without question, he will be coaching.

                "The biggest thing is his voice," said Cincinnati
                assistant Dan Peters on Wednesday, a longtime
                friend of Huggins who worked with him at NAIA
                Walsh College (Ohio) from 1980-83 and then
                again the past three seasons at Cincinnati. "He
                won't be able to raise his voice too much at first.
                But he won't have to with this group."

                Huggins can afford to let others do whatever
                yelling is required in practice, but Peters doesn't
                expect much will be needed with these Bobcats.
                Peters said this crop of Cincinnati players has been
                as obedient as any Huggins has had, and that was
                even before the heart attack gave everyone in the
                program a reality check. The Bearcats are on the
                quarter system, which means they've only been in
                school a few weeks. But so far, they've shown up
                for all individual workouts on time and the need for
                coaches to check class attendance, at least so far,
                hasn't been an issue.

                Peters is ready to handle any baby sitting chores,
                ensuring the program runs smoothly in Huggins'
                absence. But he would have been in charge of
                those duties regardless of Huggins' health because
                the head coach's full schedule during the spring,
                summer and early fall keeps him from being
                around the office much of the time.

                Peters said he was convinced Huggins would be at
                Saturday's first practice last Monday, two days
                after Huggins suffered the heart attack while in the
                Pittsburgh airport.

                "I told my wife on Monday that he would be at
                practice," Peters said after Huggins' was
                hospitalized Sept. 28, where he spent nine days.
                "She said 'how do you know that.' And I said 'I
                know.'

                "He's not going to let a little incident like this deter
                him. He'll get tired and that's to be expected but
                he's got a super attitude and he's ready to go.
                Remember, we're talking about an intelligent guy.
                He's not an idiot. He won't do anything he can't."

                Huggins has been resting at home since being
                released from Cincinnati's Christ Hospital on
                Monday. He will speak to the media Saturday for
                the first time since having surgery to implant a
                stent -- a tiny, metal mesh device designed to keep
                Huggins' once-clogged artery open. But the
                49-year-old has already had several talks with
                Peters and his players.

                The team visited Huggins at the hospital on
                Friday, and Peters said the squad nervously waited
                for their coach to enter a room. Fearing the worst
                and expecting Huggins to be wheeled into the
                room, instead, the Bearcats saw Huggins walk into
                the room and zing them with his usual banter,
                some serious, some in jest.

                "He told them that there were signs that he should
                have gone for a checkup, especially with his family
                history," Peters said of Huggins' father who had a
                heart attack prior to turning 40. "He told them to
                listen to their bodies. When we left, they were
                laughing and we had to remind them they were in
                a hospital. That's the atmosphere that Bob left
                them in."

                Peters reiterated that the scene in the office,
                outside of more phone calls checking on Huggins,
                hasn't changed. The Cincinnati program is
                running just fine at this busty time of the year,
                with recruiting going on as scheduled, as well as
                all the preparations for the start of practice. But,
                Huggins entrance Saturday will be as grand as
                usual.

                "I haven't had to say to the guys to do their job, to
                take care of business, to go to be here at a certain
                time," Peters said. "These guys came here
                because of Bob Huggins. They're thinking about
                him, they want to be coached by him. They want
                his critique of their game. They want his approval
                of their game."

                And they'll get it starting Saturday, and in the days
                following -- unless Huggins has a setback. But,
                coaching this group certainly should energize him.

                The Bearcats, who earned a No. 1 seed in last
                season's NCAA Tournament, will be a work in
                progress after losing Conference USA player of the
                year Steve Logan. Guard Leonard Stokes and
                forward Jason Maxiell are the definites in the
                2002-03 lineup, with Taron Barker getting the first
                look at the point. Newcomer guard Tony Bobbitt
                will earn time, possibly start, because of his ability
                to score and the rest of the forwards will be a
                collection of role players who contribute whether
                defensively, on the offensive or defensive boards or
                facing the basket.

                But, make no mistake, Huggins will be the one to
                piece these Bearcats together.

                "The constant with this program has been 'Hugs
                and that's not going to change," Peters said.

                Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.