North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski lead two of the most high profile college basketball programs in the nation. They have an influence on the sport and because of this often consult each other on topics and issues related to the sport. But that is the extent of the relationship. It's a friendly one, but a professional one.

"I am not inviting him to my birthday party and he is not inviting me to anything that goes on with his family," Williams said on Thursday. "So we see each other on the road and we always talk. I think it is a healthy relationship. I really do."

Coach Williams will admit the two aren't buddy-buddy, but it is a relationship built on respect. It's an intriguing relationship. The career of the duo will forever be intertwined. They face off twice, maybe three times, every year, and also compete for prospects on the recruiting trail. They coach and live just miles from each other.

"Before the game, I say, 'Good luck' and then after the game, I say, 'Congratulations' and then we do it again the second time," Williams said. "We talk at the conference meetings and it there is an issue in college basketball he and I talk about it a lot because we have that much respect for each other. He called me a couple of months ago about something else related to basketball and we talked about that.

"If there is a big issue or something that we are concerned about we talk about it. It is complete and total respect. Complete."

Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams in 2018

Still, it's not like Coach Williams and Krzyzewski are hanging out on the weekends.

"I have said this before, guys, we don't get together and put our hands together and sing 'Kumbaya.' God almighty," Williams said. "You're working your butt off for your school, with your team, with your program. He doesn't play golf, so I don't get with him like I do with Tubby Smith or Lon Kruger and some of those guys. If we are together on a Nike trip, I haven't been the last several of them and he hasn't either, but when we go I play poker at night and he doesn't play and I play.

"If it relates to basketball, I have total confidence in his look on things and if I'm confused I'll call him and I think it's probably the other way around. In the offseason, guys, I am either working, I am with my family, or I am teeing it up. I am not inviting him to my birthday party and he is not inviting me to anything that goes on with his family. So we see each other on the road and we always talk. I think it is a healthy relationship. I really do."