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 PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ben Howland and Jamie Dixon promised to never schedule this game, even though they always secretly hoped it would happen. UCLA vs. Pitt, in the NCAA tournament. Head coach vs. former assistant. Best friend vs. best friend. Howland's old team taking on his current team, and possibly the only school he would have left Pitt to coach.
The matchup divides even the two households — Howland's daughter, Meredith, missed Pittsburgh and her friends so much after moving to the West Coast in 2003 that she returned six months later, re-enrolled in Pitt's nursing program, moved in with the Dixons and became a cheerleader.
Because of their friendship, Howland and Dixon always insisted this game would occur only in the NCAA tournament, and now it takes place Thursday night in San Jose, Calif., as part of the West Regional semifinals. In Pittsburgh, it's the game many have waited four years to see.
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