Despite their common bonds to the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia, Bob Huggins and Gale Catlett have rarely crossed paths in coaching before today's game. After 20 years, their closest call is still in dispute.
When Catlett left UC for Morgantown in 1978, Huggins was a graduate assistant at West Virginia. He had played for the Mountaineers and hoped to stay on under Catlett. Catlett said Friday he was unaware of Huggins' interest.
Told of Catlett's remark, Huggins rolled his eyes and said: ''I guess I did a poor job of communicating.''
Huggins resurfaced at Ohio State, where he spent two seasons under Eldon Miller before taking his first head coaching job at Walsh College. Ultimately, Huggins says, the move to Columbus was probably best for his career. At the time, however, it was tougher to take.
''We never talked about it,'' Catlett said. ''Was he interested in the job? ''That was never discussed with me.
''Looks to me like you'd discuss it with the head coach, wouldn't you? I'd already told everyone I was going to hire my staff from Cincinnati so there really wasn't a slot for him.
''It didn't make any difference.
''At this point, if I slighted Coach Huggins, I apologize. But in lieu of that, he should let us win.''
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