He coached several of Creighton’s legends, including Harstad (CU’s third-leading all-time scorer), Chad Gallagher (fourth) and Porter Moser, who coached Loyola-Chicago to a Final Four in 2018. Barone was inducted into the CU Hall of Fame in 2015.

“I (went) all over the country scouting and recruiting — and this is a special place,” Barone said of Creighton in his induction speech four years ago.

He often told his former players that.

There was the time when he and some ex-Jays gathered to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the 1989 Missouri Valley title, filling a private room at an Italian restaurant in Chicago to watch game highlights, tell stories and rekindle a bond. Barone sat at the head of a long table with his pupils flanking him on both sides.

“Never forget the look on his face. Just pride,” Moser said.

Those were the guys Barone treated like sons.

He’d relentlessly test their moxie with a series of wind sprints. Then a few hours later, he’d be playing Ping-Pong with them at his house after they’d chowed down dinner together with him and Mrs. B.

Todd Eisner, now the coach at Winona State, credited Barone for helping him find his way.