The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team has still never made the Final Four, and the Houston Cougars ensured this unfortunate streak continued. Some fans are frustrated with Vols head coach Rick Barnes' offensive game plan and inability to lead Tennessee to the Final Four during his tenure.

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,

Tennessee's Rick Barnes and Houston's Kelvin Sampson have known each other since the 1970s. They are coaching against each other in the Elite Eight.