Barnes, Sampson reflect on bond ahead of clash

INDIANAPOLIS– Rick Barnes and Kelvin Sampson are such old good friends that they bet each other in college in North Carolina nearly 50 years earlier, back when Barnes had long, flowing hair.They’ve coached long enough that Sampson remembered them going on trips together sponsored by Reverse. Their relationship made it through 8 years of overlap in the Red River Rivalry with Barnes at Texas and Sampson at Oklahoma.And as Sampson’s No. 1 seed Houston group squares up versus Barnes’No. 2 seed Tennessee group in the Elite 8 on Sunday, it’s clear that their relationship goes beyond the conventional trading of compliments that works as an annual March rite.”I love Kelvin Sampson,”Barnes said Saturday. “I like Rick Barnes,”Sampson stated.

“That’s my guy.” He then paused and smiled:” Except for the two hours tomorrow.”From both maturing in North Carolina to training in the Big 12 to prospering past adversity late in their profession, there’s ample connective tissue in between the old pals. Sampson teases that Barnes’ North Carolina twang is strong due to the fact that he’s from the mountains– Little Ricky from Hickory– and Sampson is from closer to the coast.Along with relationship and dialect, they are also the active coaches with the most wins without a national championship. That’s a distinction that highlights their Hall of Fame-caliber professions and underscores the seriousness of the opportunity Sunday.Editor’s Picks 1 Related Barnes, 70, has 836 wins. He has the most Division I wins of any active coach without a title. He’s 33

wins behind Bob

Huggins, who has the most all-time wins without a nationwide title. Sampson, 69, has 797 wins, that includes his time at Montana Tech early in his profession. That puts him second on the active list without a title.”If we don’t win it, I hope he does,”Sampson said.”That’s just how much I appreciate him.

“Sampson has 2 Last Four journeys, back in 2002 at Oklahoma and one at Houston in 2021,

which was played here at Lucas Oil Arena. Barnes last reached the Last Four in 2003 at Texas, a team led by T.J. Ford. He has Tennessee in the Elite Eight for the second-straight year, as Tennessee again discovers itself one game from the school’s very first Last Four.Both task as Hall of Fame coaches, however they ‘d push through the process quicker by burnishing their excellent résumés

with a nationwide title.Each has an unique style, specified by a tough edge and intensity that permeates from the sideline to the flooring. It’s not unexpected that Houston has the nation’s No. 1-ranked defensive performance on KenPom.com and Tennessee is No. 3. Both groups have actually prospered this season because of stronger-than-usual offenses– Houston is No. 12 and Tennessee is No. 17– but this game will far more likely be in the 50s than the 90s. The winner will be among the Final Four’s feel-good stories, a veteran coach searching for that shining moment. A win for Houston would mark its seventh trip to the Final Four; its six looks currently mark the most by a program without a national title. The Vols, meanwhile, are eager for a breakthrough.” It would be a fantastic honor for us to do that,”Barnes said.Each coach has done some of their best operate in what’s presumed to be their final stop, as Sampson has actually led Houston to six

successive Sweet 16s after his shooting at Indiana caused a stint in the NBA from 2008 to 2014. While that’s the longest active Sweet 16 streak, Sampson states that number would be 7 if not for Michigan’s Jordan Poole striking a wonder buzzer-beater against them in 2018. Barnes has Tennessee in a golden age, as they’ve reached seven successive NCAA competitions and never been seeded worse than No. 5. Sampson and Barnes’success comes at a time when a lot of their peers have become turned off by the transient nature of the transfer portal and NIL. Sampson stated he has actually tried to stay positive and see the positives in the sport.”Tomorrow’s going to be a great game between 2 really happy programs in Tennessee and Houston, “he said.”I hope simply for 2 hours people realize it’s still a fantastic game.” One will stroll off the court a winner, but a relationship is particular to withstand.”Warmed my heart last night to see him holding his grand son,”Barnes said of Sampson.”We’ve grown up together and we’re aging together.”