Veteran Coaches Sampson and Barnes Face Off in Elite Eight Clash

Longtime friends and rivals Kelvin Sampson and Rick Barnes lead Houston and Tennessee in a pivotal matchup for a Final Four berth.

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.