John Kuester, Larry Brown reunite tonight

The pupil meets his mentor.

John Kuester was an assistant for Larry Brown seven seasons, on staffs in Detroit and Philadelphia.

For a basketball lifer like Kuester, getting an opportunity to work withBrown was an unforgettable experience.

"Coach Brown has meant so much to my life and he's been a very special not only to me, but my family, I'm very appreciative of everything he's done for me," Kuester said Tuesday.

Now, Kuester gets to work againstBrown when the Pistons host the Hornets tonight.

Kuester hasn't talked to Brown recently -- "You're so involved with your own season it's hard to find a lot of time," Kuester said -- but has traded texts with Brown's assistant Dave Hanners.

Kuester, Brown, Hanners and Phil Ford (another Brown assistant) are all part of the University of North Carolina basketball family that extends far and wide.

But just because he's facing Brown and his former Tar Heels, Kuester insists this game isn't any more important to any other.

"Every game you face you want to be focused on what you're trying to get accomplished," said Kuester, 54. "And that's to win a basketball game."

Still, Brown's unique knowledge of the game, and his ability to get the most out of players, has stuck with Kuester.

"His attention to detail in practice and wanting to improve basketball players every day," Kuester said when asked what traits of Brown, 69, has stuck with him as a first-year coach. "His management of a basketball game itself is a wonder to watch. He's a Hall of Famer, and it was a privilege to work with him."

Make your point

A former point guard, Kuester believes it's important to maintain communication with the player running the point.

"We have two young point guards that are trying to get a sense of what I want accomplished," Kuester said. "They've worked real hard and they're the focal point in our game plan offensively and defensively. There's a lot of dialogue."

So much so that Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum have taken up residence in Kuester's office almost daily.

That's more like it

After a sluggish start, Charlie Villanueva seems to be on a roll.

Villanueva had 28 points against Orlando and 16 against Philadelphia and Toronto.

"It's me being a little more aggressive, taking the ball more to the basket," said Villanueva, who was slowed by a hamstring injury most of the exhibition season. "I try to get into the flow of the game, basically just being more aggressive."

Slam dunks

Tonight, the Pistons are hosting "Military Salute Night" in honor of people who have served or are serving, in the military.

Current members and veterans of the armed services will receive complimentary tickets to the game. Family and friends, and any fans interested in supporting the cause, will be given the opportunity to purchase upper level tickets for $11 or lower level tickets for $40.

... Richard Hamilton , Ben Gordon , Tayshaun Prince , Stuckey and Villanueva are on the All-Star ballot. This year's game is Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

By the numbers

1 100-point game by the Pistons this season, a 110-103 loss to the Magic on Friday.

8 Rebounds guard Will Bynum had Sunday against the 76ers, a career high,

14.42 Assists per game for the Pistons this season, last in the NBA.

A rare absence

Tayshaun Prince (ruptured disc) had his consecutive games streak snapped at 496 on Nov. 3. Here's how it streaks stack up in Pistons history:

The new Big Ben

The Pistons were expecting offense from Ben Gordon when they signed him -- and he's delivering. Here's his game-by-game breakdown:

Bobcats at Pistons

Tip-off: 7:30 tonight, The Palace, Auburn Hills

TV/radio: FSD+/WWJ 950

Outlook: Will Bynum scored a Pistons-record 26 fourth-quarter points against the Bobcats the last time the teams met (April 5).

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