Final Four 2012 Schedule: Why John Calipari Needs Kentucky to Beat Louisville

John Calipari is one of the best basketball coaches in the country. He has done it all in his 20-plus years in the sport—except win a national championship. That is why this Final Four is the most important in his storied career. 

And what better opponent for Calipari to go up against than Rick Pitino? These two have had a somewhat contentious relationship, though they insist that all is good between them heading into this matchup.

Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News put it best in his article, comparing Calipari to Alabama football head coach Nick Saban:

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Saban had to beat Les Miles, the man who followed him, proved capable of beating him and was trying to equal him. Calipari has to beat Pitino, the man who preceded him and already has beaten him once in a national semifinal, to equal him.

For all the games he's won at different programs, Calipari doesn't have any national titles.

It's time to correct that oversight. It's time to win the only game he's never won. The one that matters most. The last one.

All he has to do is have his team at its peak early Saturday evening in the Superdome the way Saban did on that Monday night in January.

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Legacy games don't come around very often. Calipari's most recent came when he was at Memphis, leading the Tigers against Kansas in the NCAA championship game in 2008. 

That was the game where Mario Chalmers hit the miracle three-point shot for the Jayhawks to send it into overtime. Memphis was outscored, 12-5, in the final five minutes to finish the season as the runner-up. 

Playing against a Louisville team that is coached by a Kentucky icon like Pitino gives Calipari his best chance to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in that elite category of coaches. 

Sure, Kentucky will still have to win a championship on Monday, but this game on Saturday night is the one that Calipari has to win. We have seen how great he can be. Now, he just has to prove it against Pitino in the Final Four. 

Final Four Schedule (Game Times EST)

No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Louisville at 6:09 p.m. on CBS

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Kansas at 8:49 p.m. on CBS

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