By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Shoemaker Center was fairly quiet. Then a shout came from the stands.

"Glad to see you!"

PHOTO GALLERY

An estimated crowd of 3,200 at "Breakfast with Bob" stood and applauded. Bob Huggins, wearing a black Jordan sweat suit, looked up. He was sitting in the middle of the basketball court on a wooden swivel chair, making his first public appearance since suffering a heart attack exactly two weeks ago.

"I just want to thank everybody for everybody's concern," the University of Cincinnati basketball coach said. "It's overwhelming."

Then, it was business as usual. He introduced his team. Got off his chair to shake hands and hug each Bearcat. Made jokes about the players. Took shots at the media.

If anything had changed about Huggins, it wasn't apparent Saturday.

"I had fully intended to be here from the time it happened," Huggins told the media later during a news conference. "... If it's your time to go, it's your time to go. God decided it wasn't my time to go.

"... I feel good. I've been exercising a little bit. I'm going to do what I've always done. I'm just not going to be able to be in the office as much."

Before a 20-minute scrimmage, there were taped messages played on the scoreboard from Louisville coach Rick Pitino and UC football coach Rick Minter.

"We are so pumped up and so excited and happy to see you back," Pitino said.

The cheerleaders and dance team performed before the Bearcats came out to take the floor for layups.

But the man everyone came to see remained in the basketball office.

Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson sat courtside next to UC President Dr. Joseph Steger. Members of Huggins' family, including his parents, were a few chairs down. The TV cameras were aimed and ready. And out strolled Huggins with his wife June.

He shook hands with Robertson, the Bearcat mascot, then went out to center court, where he sat for most of the program.

"This wasn't my idea," Huggins told the crowd. "I'm a laid-back guy."

E-mail mperry@enquirer.com