Overview

• Kelvin Sampson's Houston and Rick Barnes' Tennessee, ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in defensive efficiency, respectively, will compete in the Elite Eight on Sunday in Indianapolis.
• Both coaches, nearing the ends of their careers, are seeking their first national championship to cement their Hall of Fame-caliber legacies.
• Sampson and Barnes share a 40-year friendship, rooted in their North Carolina upbringing and decades of professional rivalry, including 20 Big 12 matchups from 1998 to 2006.
• Despite challenges like NIL and the transfer portal, both have adapted to modern college basketball, maintaining consistent success with Houston and Tennessee.
• The game represents a significant milestone, as Houston aims for its seventh Final Four and Tennessee seeks its first, with both coaches expressing mutual respect and admiration.