By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer

The University of Cincinnati men's basketball coaching staff continued to conduct business Wednesday afternoon, but it was anything but business as usual.

The sign on the door of offices in French Hall informed the players of a mandatory meeting next Monday, when they will be addressed by former UC great Oscar Robertson, their new interim head coach.

At the bottom of the sign was a reminder: "Players are not to speak with the media without a rep from the (sports information) office present."

Inside, Bob Huggins' office was vacant, the UC coach still suspended until Aug. 27 because of drunken driving charges.

Dan Peters was cleaning out his office, putting the finishing touches on five years at UC, the last three as associate head coach.

Peters has accepted a job as associate head coach at Ohio State, where he will work under former Xavier coach Thad Matta beginning today.

On the day after UC athletic director Bob Goin named Robertson as the interim head coach to replace Peters, several players stopped by to say goodbye to Peters, including incoming freshman Vincent Banks.

Peters shook hands with Banks, wished him well, told him how much potential he had and urged him to work hard.

"I won't get to coach you now," he said.

Former UC player Erik Martin also paused to have a few words with Peters, who admitted to bittersweet feelings as he packed.

"You're excited about getting started (on a new job)," Peters said. "But there's an empty feeling, too. You realize in life you're just a blip on the radar screen. There will be somebody else sitting in this desk. You just kind of go on."

Peters, who left a head coaching job at Youngstown State to work under Huggins at UC, said he has never regretted leaving Youngstown.

"It was absolutely the right thing to do," he said. "I wouldn't trade my five years here. I wouldn't trade them at all. This is a great, great basketball job because you've got strong interest and great fans."

Before leaving, Peters had a few words for fans who might be wondering about the future of the UC program.

"He has always been at his best when his back is up against the wall," Peters said of his friend, Huggins. "He's one of the top five coaches in the United States to begin with. You put his back up against the wall and I'll take him against anybody."

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com