University of Cincinnati men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins said earlier this week that he’s been putting in 12-hour days at the office.

Nothing unusual about that  coaches like Kansas University’s Roy Williams regularly wake before sunrise and go to bed well after the 10 p.m. SportsCenter on ESPN  except for the fact that Huggins had a heart attack less than a month ago.

“I actually feel better than I felt before. I was pretty rundown before,” the 49-year-old Huggins told the Associated Press.

Williams knows all about Huggins’ run-down feeling.

Williams spent a couple days with Huggins in late August in Las Vegas.

“Bob and I were co-coaches at Michael (Jordan’s) Fantasy Camp,” Williams revealed. “He said a few ‘expletive deleteds.’ He said, ‘I’ve got to get my blankety-blank in shape or my fat blankety-blank is going to have a heart attack.’

“A month later he did,” Williams added, somberly.

Williams doesn’t cuss up a storm like Huggins, but often is just as emotional as the Cincy coach on the court at practice and during games.

To make sure he’s not a ticking time bomb, Williams annually schedules a physical examination.

The results of this year’s?

“They said I was a fine physical specimen,” Williams said, “with one exception. My triglycerides are too high.”

Triglyceride is the principle form of fat found in foods, body tissues and blood. A diet high in sugar and starches and alcohol raises blood triglyceride levels.

It’s not alcohol in Williams’ case  he doesn’t drink  it’s the sweet stuff.

“The doctor challenged me and my wife challenged me because on the dietitian chart I put down, ‘Four to seven Coca-Colas a day for 25 years,'” Williams said.

“They (doctors) said, ‘Well, you probably can’t change that, we’ll have to give you some medicine.’ That sort of ticked me off so I’ve had four regular Cokes in the last 32 days.”

Williams admits it has been a challenge to give up soda.

“I like Cokes. I like desert a couple times a day,” the 15th-year KU coach said. “Dessert a couple times a day doesn’t necessarily keep the doctor away.”

Physical activity, of course, doesn’t guarantee perfect health, but doctors say it helps a bundle.

Williams always has tried to work out during the day, except when his bad back flares.

“My lunch routine is some kind of workout,” said Williams.

As far as the coach’s sleep patterns?

“I do not sleep much this time of year, but that’s OK,” he said.

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Deep bench: Williams has not had a shortage of bodies at practice thus far this preseason.

The Jayhawks had 18 players available at various stations at Friday’s 2-hour, 10-minute practice at Allen Fieldhouse.

There were the 10 scholarship players, plus walk-ons Christian Moody and Stephen Vinson, plus walk-on hopefuls Tim Alexander (6-foot-9 Wichita senior), Brett Olson (6-6 Chanute senior) and former Washburn player Ryan Woodman (6-11, Andover). Add to that former Jayhawks Nick Bradford, Billy Thomas and Jeff Boschee who dressed for practice Friday and that equals 18 bodies.

To nobody’s surprise, seniors Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison were all over the court on both offense and defense Friday. Hinrich no longer is wearing a splint on his bruised left wrist, just tape.

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Field trip: Neosho County Community College’s men’s basketball players attended Friday’s practice, observing from the upper deck of Allen Fieldhouse.