Odd Couple: Pete Carril & Tyreke Evans

LAS VEGAS -- It's funny thinking about Pete Carril coaching Tyreke Evans.

Carril, the longtime Princeton head coach and current Sacramento Kings assistant coach, is 79 years old. Evans, who played one year at Memphis, is 19. Carril was known for getting the most out of his under-talented Princeton teams by playing a relentlessly fundamental style of basketball that often frustrated opposing teams.

Evans is a freakish athlete who has a lot to learn and plenty of room for growth. But there seems to be a bond taking place between the old guy and young kid. Call it the NBA version of the odd couple.

Carril acknowledged he's taken to Evans.

"I taken an interest in anybody -- and this is a selfish motive on my part -- who I see has a great future," Carril said. "And if they let you in the door, then you can help them. If they don't, then of course ..."

Carril doesn't have to worry about the rest of that. Evans is letting Carril in.

"I just met him but he's great coach," Evans said. "He tries to help you. He started the Princeton offense. He knows about the game. I look up to him and listen to everything he says and try to learn from him."

That's a heck of a start for Evans, who wasn't even born when Carril nearly guided the Tigers to an upset of No. 1-seeded Georgetown in the 1989 NCAA Tournament.

"I guess I can't use that as a reference point then," Carril said.

Evans finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Evans did have five turnovers, but it didn't stop Carril from answering definitively when asked if Evans could be a full-time point guard: "I think so. I don't see any problem there."