March Madness 2011: Kentucky and Coach Calipari Get Another Shot at NCAA Title

The story goes that in the spring of 2002, John Calipari, then head coach of the Memphis Tigers, ripped up the scholarship of point guard Dajuan Wagner, who was being projected as a Top 10 pick in the upcoming June NBA Draft.

His message was clear: Wagner could not, and should not pass up the opportunity of the riches that the NBA had to offer.

As head coach, Calipari has brought riches to future NBA prospects as well as the schools he's been at. Calipari has coached the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Memphis and is currently in his second season with the Kentucky Wildcats.

During his 17 seasons as head coach, Calipari has lead his schools to the "Big Dance" 12 times, the Elite Eight seven times, the Final Four twice, and the NCAA Title Game once with Memphis.

He is in every sense of the word, a winner, with a winning percentage of almost 77, Calipari has helped his schools become legitimate college basketball powers, and in the process, has brought along highly touted future NBA prospects like Marcus Camby, Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and John Wall.

For everything that Coach Cal has done, the missing link to his college basketball résumé is a National Title. Last season, lead by four freshman, Kentucky fell in the Elite Eight to West Virginia, ending what was by all means, a fabulous season in which the Wildcats finished 35-3.

This season, Kentucky is lead by freshmen Brandon Knight, Terrance Jones and Doron Lamb. Knight and Jones are first and second in scoring on the team, and have helped rally Kentucky to six straight wins, including a second straight SEC title on Sunday.

The Wildcats come into the 2011 NCAA Tournament ranked No. 11 in the country, and will square off against Princeton in the first round on Thursday.

Although many do not consider Kentucky to be a legitimate national champion contender this season, March Madness may prove otherwise. Last season, the Butler Bulldogs entered March Madness ranked No. 12 in the country and were a roll and a bounce from winning the National Title.

This year, Coach Calipari hopes he gets the rolls and bounces to do something he's never done, win a National Title.