PROVIDENCE, R.I. — John Calipari exited the tunnel and immediately made his way to half court.
Rick Pitino made the same trip, walking past his bench as warmups persisted, both finding themselves at the midway point for a meeting they’ve now had 24 times as college coaches.
It was like many of those past handshakes — smiley, filled with laughter and lasting only a few moments. Calipari and Pitino, now leading Arkansas and St. John’s, have long had one of the most prominent coaching rivalries in college basketball.
They claim not to hate one another, but they make certain to let everyone know they are not friends.