BY MIKE DeCOURCY
and MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Who would have thought that Bob Huggins would be quoting his old rival Pete Gillen?

But the UC basketball coach did just that when asked Tuesday whether he would be interested in the Ohio State job, which opened after Randy Ayers was fired Monday.

''A wise philosopher in this town once said, 'Never say never,' '' Huggins said.

That was Gillen's line when the former Xavier coach was asked about job openings almost every offseason.

Huggins, a former Ohio State assistant, and Xavier coach Skip Prosser may be candidates for the OSU job. Huggins said he has had no contact with Ohio State officials or boosters, and XU Athletic Director Jeff Fogelson said he has not been asked for permission by any school to talk to Prosser.

''I haven't even thought about it,'' Prosser said Tuesday. ''All I'm worried about now is Vanderbilt ... Any time I spent worrying about what's going on with Skip Prosser would be a disservice to our players.

''I feel badly for Randy Ayers; that's my only thought. I think Randy's a good guy, and I hate to see it happen to anybody.''

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FORTSON ALL-AMERICAN March 11, 1997
WILLIAMS PREPARES TO START March 11, 1997
MARSHALL HAS THE MUSCLE TO CHECK FORTSON March 11, 1997
MARCH 10, 1997
UC, XU ON COLLISION COURSE IN SWEET 16 March 10,1997
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BUTLER ROSTER HAS LOCAL FLAVOR March 10,1997