PROVIDENCE -- The relationship between Rick Pitino and John Calipari stretches back decades to their time at the famed Five-Star Basketball Camp in Moon Township, Pa.. And the two men have been linked ever since across decades of coaching in college and the NBA.

Close friends? Nope. Rivals? Not according to them. So how do you describe Rick Pitino and John Calipari's relationship? "We're both Italian, we both love the game. I think that's where the similarities end.

Though they downplayed the animosity, the coaches also noted that they are not friends. Earlier in the week, Calipari waxed on about his relationship with Self, and how it's hard to play against friends; Pitino did the same about coaches like former UConn coach Jim Calhoun who have been important to him.