HOUSTON

Kris Jenkins and Nate Britt, brothers in every way except blood, are giving each other the silent treatment for about 48 hours.

Maybe they will exchange a “good luck” or a fist bump before Jenkins and Villanova (34-5) face Britt and North Carolina (33-6) on Monday night in the NCAA Tournament championship game. Otherwise, “Nah,” Jenkins said, “no talking.”

It’s the biggest competition yet between a couple guys who grew up trying to beat each other in everything. While the Wildcats- Tar Heels matchup might be a no-lose situation for the Britt family, for the players involved there will definitely be only one winner.

“Whoever wins the game, obviously the other one is going to be hurt and going to feel bad,” Britt said. “That’ll be permanent bragging rights for the rest of our lives.”

Jenkins and Britt met as 10-year-olds playing AAU basketball in the Washington D.C. area. Eventually, Jenkins started playing for a team coached by Britt’s father and spending lots of time at the Britts’ home — especially when Jenkins’ mother, Felicia, was spending almost all of her time at the hospital with her ailing infant daughter. Kori was 11 months old when she died.

When Felicia Jenkins, a former college basketball player, got a job coaching at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, she felt it would be best for Kris to stay with the Britts in Maryland permanently. In 2007, the Britts became Jenkins’ legal guardians.

“It’s been the greatest decision that’s ever happened in my life,” Jenkins said.

Villanova coach Jay Wright said Britt, not Jenkins, was his priority when he took a recruiting visit to the Britt home.

“We liked Kris, but we thought he’s overweight and he’s not going to do all the stuff we do,” Wright said.

But the 6-foot-6 Jenkins, who weighed as much as 280 pounds back in high school, liked what he heard from Wright. He ended up committing to Villanova, and dropping 40 pounds, and Britt chose North Carolina.

When the Tar Heels and Wildcats played each other in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, Jenkins and Britt watched the game together, rooting for their future schools — and not talking to each other. They trash texted each other and didn’t even sit on the same couch.

NCAA men’s tourney

By The Associated Press
FINAL FOUR
At NRG Stadium
Houston
National Semifinals
Saturday, April 2
Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51
North Carolina 83, Syracuse 66
National Championship
Monday, April 4
Villanova (34-5) vs. North Carolina
(33-6), 9:19 p.m.