ATLANTA — When the California University Condors take to the floor in tonight's NCAA men's basketball championship game against upstart University of North Eastern California, the action won't be limited to the court. The game taking place on the sidelines could be just as intriguing.

That's because the Condors, making their first appearance in the championship game since the David Silver-led squad fell to Hillman College in 1995, are led by long-time coach Ken Reeves. The UNEC Fightin' Judds, a number-five seed making their first appearance in the finals, are coached by Warren Coolidge -- once a player and an assistant to Reeves and now a bitter rival.

"No one knows when things fell apart between Coolidge and Coach Reeves," said Mario "Salami" Pettrino, another former Reeves player who's now the basketball analyst for CSC's Sports Night. "Maybe they had grown apart after their days at Carver High. Maybe Coolidge felt resentment over those years he was out of basketball and had to take a job as a hospital orderly to make ends meet. Or maybe he just thinks Coach Reeves is a turkey."

After putting his Judds through a brief workout Sunday afternoon, Coolidge addressed the smoldering controversy. "Let's just say that if there were turkeys as big as Reeves, no one would ever go hungry at Thanksgiving," Mr. Coolidge said.

When asked about Coolidge's remarks later in the day, Reeves declined to comment specifically. "In all my years of coaching, I've taught my kids a lot of lessons," the often-fiery Reeves said. "Play hard. Hit the books. Don't run away from your problems. Stay away from gamblers. Anyone who doesn't do all that... well, they're the real turkey in my book."