LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Back in November, when Creighton set out for the Maui Invitational, the Bluejays stopped in San Diego and the next day shared a charter jet with the San Diego State team on their flight to Hawaii. Memories of Creighton’s overtime win over San Diego State in the first round of the men’s N.C.A.A. tournament the previous March might have led to some awkward moments.
But the two coaches, Greg McDermott of Creighton and Brian Dutcher of San Diego State, sat across the aisle from each other, poring over film on their laptops, trading scouting reports and ruminating about the possibility of playing each other again in the early-season tournament.