Saturday night, at 7:00 PM ET on CBS, Kentucky coach John Calipari is looking to join some incredibly elite company. 

With a victory over West Virginia, Calipari will match Louisville coach Rick Pitino, as the only two coaches to take three different schools to the Final Four. 

Calipari has led UMASS and Memphis to college basketball’s biggest stage.  Pitino took Providence, Kentucky and Louisville to the illustrious round of four.  

While Pitino has won a national championship, Calipari is still chasing that elusive goal.

It should be noted that both of Calipari’s Final Four appearances have been declared null and void, after the NCAA discovered a violation of rules at both UMASS and Memphis.  Calipari was not implicated directly in either case, but these instances have worked to tarnish Calipari’s coaching legacy.  Taking Kentucky to the championship round would hopefully come free of any legal issue for Calipari or Kentucky.

This season represents Calipari’s first campaign in Lexington.  Kentucky’s historic hoops program had fallen on hard times under the direction of former coach Billy Gillispie.  UK and its powerful band of boosters decided it was time to restore the Wildcat program to its true glory.

Calipari has won at every stop during his college coaching career.   Aside from his less than memorable stint in the NBA, with the New Jersey Nets, Calipari has been remarkably successful at building ultra-competitive programs.

The below video displays the enthusiastic response of the Kentucky faithful, on the day Calipari was hired.  Calipari signs autographs and says hello to his new fan base.

The setting is outside of the Joe Craft Center, on UK’s campus in Lexington.  

 Photograph Source: Memphis Flyer