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Mellower Huggins no longer treating wins/losses like life-and-death

BOSTON — Watch his eyes steam when Sagaba Konate attempts to dribble through a zone. Watch his mercury boil when a ball-side defender helps off a good 3-point shooter. Watch Kansas shoot 35 free throws to West Virginia’s two.

In those moments, when all 43 facial muscles are grimacing at maximum torque, it’s hard to buy the theory that Bob Huggins has mellowed.

Yet assistant coach Erik Martin insists it’s true, because Martin played for Huggins during his high-revving heyday at Cincinnati.

“When Huggs coached me I think he was like 39 or 40,” said Martin.