Bob Huggins runs practice Tuesday. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Bob Huggins has had to be patient with this University of Cincinnati team. For the sake of his health. And for the sake of all the new players.

        There are six first-year Bearcats, including Derek Hollman who redshirted last season, and a seventh (Eugene Land) who has not been with the program since 1999-2000.

        Take away senior Leonard Stokes and there are just two other players who have ever started (sophomore Jason Maxiell three games, junior Rod Flowers one).

        “Some years it's like a day-by-day thing; with these guys it's minute by minute - who's going to do something right or who's going to do something wrong,” Huggins said.

        “Lenny and Max are the only two who know what they're doing. We're playing hard. There are just so many out there who don't know what they're doing. They're overwhelmed right now.”

        Huggins, who suffered a heart attack Sept. 28, on Tuesday met with the media for the third time.

        He admitted to working a couple 12-hour days this week but said he has delegated more duties to his assistant coaches.

        “We haven't lost any games yet, so it's a little easier (to be patient),” Huggins said. “I have a hard time being patient when we're throwing it out of bounds when we have people in the stands.

        “Honestly, I don't think you ought to applaud them for trying. That ought to be a given. If we go out and lose games, people don't care if we're trying. I think we're past that point.”

        Huggins, who said he has lost about 20 pounds, sees no reason why he won't be coaching UC for its Nov.9 exhibition game against Northern Kentucky.

        He has plans to fly to New York on Oct.29 for a JimmyV Foundation dinner and to Chicago on Nov.3 for Conference USA Media Day.

        “I actually feel better than I felt before,” he said. “I was pretty run-down before.

        “I'm fine during the day. I just get tired at night. I'm used to going home and watching tape or watching football games or something 'til 2. I've never been one of those guys to go to bed very early, but I have to now. I can't stay awake.”

        Last week, Huggins, 49, underwent a series of tests and also had an internal defibrillator surgically placed in his chest.

        “Just about everything's normal except for a few things, and I think those things you can't tell right now,” Huggins said. “It's going to be probably another four or five weeks before we'll really know.

        “I don't know if I have a green light, but they're not really restricting me from doing anything. I've got to get more rest, that's all, and continue to heal that way.”

        E-mail mperry@enquirer.com

UC's Maxiell drawing wows Huggins exercising patience

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