As Houston and Tennessee clashed in the Elite Eight, the spotlight extended beyond the court to two of college basketball’s most respected coaches—Kelvin Sampson and Rick Barnes. Their relationship, spanning nearly 40 years, began in their playing days in North Carolina and continued through coaching rivalries, including their Big 12 battles when Barnes led Texas and Sampson coached Oklahoma.
Houston’s Kelvin Sampson Praises Tennessee’s Rick Barnes Ahead of Elite Eight Battle
As No. 1 Houston takes on No. 2 Tennessee in the Elite Eight, the spotlight isn’t just on the game—it’s also on the decades-long friendship between Kelvin Sampson and Rick Barnes. Their connection, forged nearly 40 years ago in North Carolina, has endured intense rivalries, including a dozen years when Barnes coached Texas and Sampson led Oklahoma.
Sampson has the utmost respect for Barnes, sharing a humorous story about their late-night calls.
“Sometimes Rick will call me at night, and he won’t even say hello,” Sampson said. “He’ll say, ‘Hey, do you still run your three twos on?’ I’ll say, ‘Yeah.’ He’ll say, ‘I’m gonna call you tomorrow to talk about that, all right?’ And then he just hangs up. Who does that? Rick Barnes.”
Despite their competitive past, the respect remains strong.
“If we don’t win it, I hope he does,” said Sampson. “That’s how much I respect him.”
“If we don’t win it, I hope he does.”
Houston HC Kelvin Sampson praises Tennessee’s Rick Barnes and unpacks a hilarious, unique phone call from the Vols’ head coach ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3GER1RfTvG
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) March 29, 2025
Barnes echoed the sentiment, though with a competitive edge.
“We would love to win it, but I would love to see Kelvin Sampson win a national championship,” he said. “Not this year, you know?”
Their bond extends beyond basketball. The two have vacationed together, played golf, and shared countless conversations over the years. Barnes, 70, and Sampson, 69, grew up 165 miles apart. Barnes earned the nickname “Little Ricky from Hickory” at Lenoir-Rhyne University, while Sampson played basketball and baseball at Pembroke State, now UNC Pembroke.
Sampson and Barnes rank among the winningest active Division I coaches. Barnes has 836 career wins—the most among active coaches without a national title—while Sampson is at 797. Both have made Final Four appearances, but a championship remains the missing piece.
When the season ends, they’ll return to North Carolina, and Sampson knows his phone will ring.
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“Kelvin, I just called to tell you I love you, brother,” Barnes will say. Sampson smiled. “That’s Rick Barnes. He’s one of a kind.”
Sunday’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium will mark another chapter in their history. During their Big 12 coaching days—Barnes at Texas and Sampson at Oklahoma—their teams met 20 times from 1998 to 2006. Sampson held the edge, winning 12 of those matchups. But despite the intensity of their rivalry, their respect never wavered.
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