HOUSTON – Kentucky coach John Calipari's father, Vince, has turned into a good luck charm for the Wildcats during the NCAA tournament.
The 78-year-old Calipari has been with the team every step of the postseason and will be in the stands at Reliant Stadium on Saturday night when Kentucky faces Connecticut in the Final Four.
The journey has been both therapeutic and bittersweet for the Calipari family. Donna Calipari, John's mother and Vince's wife of 54 years, died in November after a long battle with cancer.
John Calipari says "it's been a hard road" over the last four months and is pleased his father opted to come on the road so the two could spend time together.
Vince Calipari says he never doubted his son would succeed and predicts Kentucky will be playing for the national championship Monday.
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