Long-time friends face off as Texas meets Miami

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Ticker) -- It will be teacher vs. pupil when Rick Barnes leads No. 2 seed Texas against Frank Haith's seventh-seeded Miami squad in the second round of the NCAA Tournament South Regional on Sunday.

Haith, who spent three seasons as an assistant to Barnes at Texas before leaving to take the job at Miami in 2004, said the game will be difficult emotionally.

"In the tournament setting, if we weren't winning, I would be pulling for Texas," Haith said.

"So that obviously makes it very difficult because both of us can't win (Sunday) afternoon. But, you know, it's almost like your dad. You're trying to please your dad, too. So I think it will be a little bit like that. But Rick likes to look at us as brothers. I still look up to Rick."

Haith has done a fine job this season, helping the Hurricanes rebound from the 12-win season they suffered through in 2006-07.

Because of that poor showing, Miami (23-10) was picked by many to finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference. However, it is one of two ACC teams still in the tournament.

The Hurricanes advanced to the second round as Jack McClinton scored a career-high 38 points in a 78-64 win over No. 10 seed St. Mary's on Friday. They are looking to reach the "Sweet 16" for the first time since 2000.

Texas (29-6) is no stranger to the regional semifinals. The Longhorns are bidding to advance to the "Sweet 16" for the fifth time in the last seven years.

A.J. Abrams scored 26 points as Texas advanced to the second round with a 74-54 win over Austin Peay on Friday.

The winner will face No. 3 seed Stanford in Houston next week.

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