One day after John Chaney ripped into the University of Cincinnati basketball program for what he called “scandalous” recruiting, Bearcats coach Bob Huggins said he spoke with Temple's Hall of Fame coach on the telephone.

        But that's all Huggins would say on the matter.

        “That's between John and I,” Huggins said Thursday. “I'm not going to make any comments. It doesn't serve any purpose.”

        Chaney told Philadelphia reporters on Wednesday about a fax sent by UC on Nov.5 to Celestial Christian Academy, a prep school in Philadelphia, regarding 6-foot-11 recruit Keith Butler.

        Butler, who visited UC the weekend of Midnight Madness, orally committed to Temple on Nov.8 and later signed a national letter of intent. He also considered Illinois, North Carolina and Miami, Fla.

        According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the fax sent by first-year UC assistant coach Andy Kennedy started with, “Following are some "thoughts' on Keith's options ...” It then addressed questions about Chaney's age (69) and how much longer he will coach the Owls; how many former Temple big men are in the NBA, and the underachievement of Temple senior center Kevin Lyde.

        It also raised the question: “Would Temple be so involved if Keith wasn't in Philly?”

        Butler played last season at North Cambridge (Mass.) Catholic High School.

        Chaney said Wednesday that he planned to send a copy of the fax to the NCAA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches with a cover letter of his own, saying: “This type of recruiting is beyond "negative.' It is scandalous. It is a testament to a program and a university that is out of control and out of touch with ethical behavior.”

        He told reporters: “Someone has to stand up against this kind of stuff ... This is not cheating. It's just not ethical.”

        The Philadelphia Inquirer ran the story on its front page.

        In his postgame news conference Thursday night after the Owls' 72-64 victory over Charlotte, Chaney said he took Huggins' call earlier in the day, adding: “His assistant coach had the nerve to put his signature on school stationery. But I accepted (Huggins') apology. He said he was sorry ... He's going to deal with it. OK, fine, you deal with it, and I'll leave it alone.”

        Kennedy, reached while on the road recruiting Thursday, said: “Coach Huggins had no knowledge of the fax. I regret the perception this incident shows Cincinnati in any bad light.”

        Though Huggins said he has always had a good relationship with Chaney, some bad blood developed between the school's athletic departments within the past year.

        UC had to back out of a return game at Temple last season because it accidently had overscheduled. It agreed to play twice in Philadelphia to make up for the error.

        “Who did they overbook with when we were on the schedule three years before?” Chaney said Thursday night. “Bobby didn't call me. And certain guys in this business, I would expect a call. So he lost my trust then.”

        UC athletic director Bob Goin received a bill from Temple last summer for $85,000 to cover losses from the Bearcats' backing out of the game. Goin paid the bill and said UC would not play Temple again.

        “That story's an old story,” Goin said Thursday. “The facts are that they got a very substantial check from us to cover all the damages and we weren't going to pay damages and still return the game.

        “I am not talking about Temple.”

UC target of Temple coach's criticism Tickets on sale for C-USA Tournament

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