We had a nice conversation and you can read about most of what he told me in today’s Eagle or Star. But there were some interesting notes I couldn’t squeeze into the print edition, like how long he expects Bill Snyder to coach this time around.

The answer: “He’ll be around as long as he wants to be.”

Currie went on to say, “he is a terrific ambassador for the university. He is the epitome of a loyal football coach. He is very loyal to his university. Certainly there were a number of times in the 90s when he could have left and made a lot more money but he always stayed loyal to the program that gave him his first opportunity.”

Currie only hopes he can follow that example.

“I feel the same kind of loyalty to Kansas State,” Currie said. “This is where I got my opportunity. I hope I can build a tenure like he’s had.”

Snyder and Currie seem to have a good relationship so far. Currie said the living legend even asked him to give the football team an inspirational speech a few weeks back. He said he knew exactly what to tell the players.

“I came from Wake Forest, and when I was there Wake Forest was the second losing-est football program in America,” Currie said. “Kansas State was the worst. Bill Snyder has rectified that in the last 20 years. What I talked about was how I experienced the Cotton Bowl when they played there in 2001 against Tennessee. I was at Tennessee and certainly there was an unbelievable passion and energy from K-State fans that day. It was cold and snowy and icy, and then the way the team played …

“Tennessee had a lot of great players and a lot of first-round draft picks on that team, but the way Kansas State played on that particular day was so focused and disciplined and organized and tough. It was tough as nails. I’ll never forget how that K-State team played that day. One of the things coach Snyder is intending to do, and will do, here is to rebuild that sense of toughness and pride and discipline that he instilled previously. It’s what led K-State to the previous heights it enjoyed.”

One other thing I asked him: Will he follow the lead of so many others and consider naming a “coach in waiting” while Snyder is still on the job?

“We’ll make sure we consider all our options,” he said. “As athletic director, one of your main priorities is to make sure that you have good transitions. It’s hard to have good transitions. Especially when you have a person like coach Snyder who has set such high standards. Right now I’m just focusing on enjoying the program and supporting him (Snyder)in anyway that I can. I’m going to do that for as long as he feels he is productive as our football coach, and I feel that will be a long time.”

According to Hutch C.C. coach Ryan Swanson, Floyd — who had recruited a few of Swanson’s players when the coach was at Garden City — recommended a lively, good-sized prospect he’d seen in the Los Angeles area during a workout.

But Bowman thought he was Division I material — even though he wasn’t going to qualify.

A year later, and a year away from the game, Bowman touched down in the Sunflower State.

“He was really rusty,” Swanson said. “You could see there was a lot of skill, though.”

There was also some extra weight. But since then, Bowman has lost 20 pounds, adding muscle. He’s now 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds.

Here’s Swanson’s take:

“He’s a good athlete, very skilled. He’s a power forward. He can shoot it out to three-point range, and he’s good with his back to the basket. He can put it on the floor… We run a flex offense, and in our version, our bigs step our and face. We don’t lock him inside. It’s important for us to have bigs who can face up, and that’s what he can do.”

Bowman does it so well, in fact, he’s drawing high-major interest. His primary targets are Maryland and K-State, although Bowman — who is originally from Phoenix but attended high school in L.A. — was impressed by Greg Marshall during an unofficial visit to Wichita State.

“He’s being recruited at the highest level, but weirder things have happened,” Swanson said.

Bowman, who is averaging approximately 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks for Hutch (18-6 overall, tied for first in the Jayhawk West with Seward County at 8-2), took an official visit to Maryland.

It was a one-day trip, but the Terps were playing Duke. Although Maryland lost, 93-84, the experience still left an lasting impression.

“They’re at the top of his list — as they should be as that’s the only official visit he’s taken,” Swanson said.

A trip to Manhattan could be forthcoming, Swanson said, once the season is over.

With two Division I schools in Kansas in the mix, Bowman is obviously not opposed to remaining in the state.

“Kenny can survive anywhere,” Swanson said. “He’s had good experiences here at Hutch. A lot of good things have happened to him here…

“He likes the Midwest. I wouldn’t be shocked if he stays here.”

Bowman has posted 10 double-doubles for Hutch. An added dimension he provides now, that he didn’t a year ago with the extra weight, is blocking shots. He has swatted a total of nine in his last two games.

Swanson expects Bowman to have an impact regardless of where he lands.

“I’m not saying he’s going to be playing in the NBA,” Swanson said. “But for being 6-foot-9, and having a good frame — and at the Division I level he’ll get bigger — you don’t find guys with his skill set and basketball IQ very often. As much improvement as he made this year, I can’t imagine him not improving even more next year.”

In Largo’s last game, Sutton scored 33 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked 12 shots. And Largo lost, 91-86.

Sutton is on Kansas State’s radar.

His mother, Gwen, confirmed Monday that K-State is interested in her son.

“He’s a late bloomer,” she said.

There is plenty of room on his rail-thin body for growth, and he has good bloodlines. His older sister, Candace, played for North Carolina. Gwen Sutton played at North Carolina State in the ‘70s. His cousin, Chris Gatling, is an Old Dominion alumnus and was a part of several NBA teams.

Per Scout.com, the three-star, No. 31 center in the Class of 2008 has been offered by Marquette, Duquesne and Tulane. Sutton said he’s also being pursued by South Florida, Clemson and Seton Hall — all with offers.

And then there are K-State and Kentucky, who have yet to offer, although Sutton believes UK is close.

What about K-State?

There have been discussions. Most of the D.C. guys — Michael Beasley, Jamar Samuels and Ron Anderson — have already called, pitching the school’s and program’s virtues. Turns out one of the biggest draws — or at least the reason he started paying attention to the Little Apple in the first place — now resides in Morgantown, W. Va.

“I love Coach (Bob) Huggins,” said Sutton, who said he will make a decision at the end of the season. “I just like the way he coaches. But now that Mike is there, I’ve been watching… I look at the playing style and try to figure out how I’d fit in. What role would I play?

“I’d probably be boxing out, rebounding, blocking shots, just running up and down the court.”

The book on Sutton, based on Scout.com’s evaluation, is he’s long, and he rebounds and defends well. Predictably, based on his thin frame, he has trouble finishing and his counter moves need work.

Maybe a bit of a project, but with some work in the weight room — paging Scott Greenawalt — he sounds like a good get.

Perhaps at K-State?

“I wouldn’t mind taking a visit to K-State,” he said.

ALSO

- IN Dick Weiss’ blog on the New York Daily News’ Web site, Sean Kilpatrick’s family adviser — whose younger brother has already committed to West Virginia — said the White Plains (N.Y.) shooting guard would definitely take a visit to Kansas State. Kilpatrick, however, grew up a St. John’s fan and is from NYC.

- ACCORDING to Hutch C.C. sports information director Steve Carpenter, who spoke with Ken Bowman on my behalf because the 6-foot-8 forward isn’t available at this point of the season, Bowman is down to Maryland and Kansas State. Teammate Bobby Maze is a Terps commit, so that might be the allure.

- AND, it ain’t over just yet for Wesley Witherspoon, the 6-foot-7 wing from Lilburn, Ga. Guess “wide open” truly means wide open.