John Haskins and John Calipari used to watch Monday Night Football together, back when the pair were UNC Wilmington men’s basketball teammates in the late 1970s.

This Monday night, over three decades later, Haskins and Calipari have different plans.

Haskins will lead UNC Pembroke women’s basketball individual workouts, as the head coach of the Lady Braves. Calipari will lead the University of Kentucky men’s basketball program’s efforts to win a national championship in New Orleans, as one of only two coaches to pilot three different programs to Final Four appearances.

The two are connected in history as members of the same recruiting class. Calipari played one season for the Seahawks, seeing time in 25 games and scoring a total of 29 points. He shot 4-of-17 from the field and 21-of-25 from the free throw line.

Stuck on the depth chart as a backup point guard, Calipari transferred to Clarion State for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. He led the team in free throw percentage and assists.

“Probably wasn’t quite as athletic as he needed to be,” Haskins said. “The one thing that John did was he had a good feel for the game…He could be more successful at Clarion.”

Haskins fared slightly better, averaging about eight points per game in two seasons after coming to UNCW by way of the junior college route. He served as team captain his senior year for then-coach Mel Gibson. He graduated in 1980.

“We were all pretty close. I think there was five of us,” Haskins said of that class. “We were all pretty good friends.

“He’s funny. He still is funny,” he continued. “Great people-person, very ambitious, very self-confident guy.”

The former teammates still talk on occasion with their most recent conversation coming on the phone about a month ago. Calipari recently autographed basketballs for Haskins to use at a UNCP auction.

Although Haskins insists he isn’t surprised that his former teammate has been successful, the amount of success has taken him aback. “I don’t care who it is, you’d be surprised,” he said. “You’re always surprised when it’s somebody you used to hang out with.”

Haskins expects Kentucky to win, but admits the tournament is unpredictable, which is why he never fills out any brackets. “They’re more talented,” he said. “I’d be a little surprised if Kentucky didn’t win.”

Haskins probably won’t get a pregame phone call from Calipari seeking advice, but if he got a chance to talk to him prior to tipoff, he said he’d tell him just to enjoy the atmosphere. “We’re both getting close to our mid-50s,” he said. “What a great accomplishment and a great moment.

“And keep getting it (the ball) to Anthony Davis. That guy is pretty good.”