OKLAHOMA CITY -- As coach of the visiting team, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau can expect a rude welcome when he makes his head-coaching debut tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oklahoma City Arena.

But Thibodeau can expect a much warmer reception on the national broadcast of the game on ESPN from analyst Jeff Van Gundy. Thibodeau worked as an assistant under Van Gundy with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

"He's been a mentor, a friend, all of those things," Thibodeau said of Van Gundy. "It's great to have him here."

On the morning of his debut, Thibodeau seemed calm before the Bulls' shootaround.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "We have a great group, we're working hard and this will be a great test for us."