WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It was the first thing on their minds after they won the national championship.

"This team, when they won that championship on that court, they were jumping up and down, not saying , 'We did it, we won!' They were saying, 'We're going to the White House,' " John Calipari said Friday just moments after President Barack Obama congratulated his team on a national championship.

But Friday's visit to the White House was also likely the last thing the 2012 national champions will do together as a team.

"It's exciting and sad at the same time just because it is going to be one of the last things we do together," sophomore forward Terrence Jones said. "I'm not trying to think about that right now though. I'm trying to think about this being a great memory."

It was a memory they'll never forget.

The Kentucky Wildcats, just over a month removed from winning the program's eighth national championship, visited the White House on Friday to meet Obama and receive some executive congratulations.

Speaking with the 2011-12 national champions to his back, a packed East Room full of Wildcat fans and alumni to his front, and a national TV audience watching online and on ESPNU, Obama congratulated the Wildcats while admitting a lapse in judgment in not picking UK to win the title.

"This was the fourth year that I've filled out my bracket on ESPN," Obama said. "And what I've learned is that if I make the right picks, I look like a genius. And if things go the other way, a team like Kentucky gets to come to my house and remind me that I was wrong. It's sort of a double-edged sword."

Obama picked North Carolina to win, but ultimately, as Obama said Friday, "sometimes talent trumps experience."

"Keep in mind, this time last year, three of the Wildcats' five starters were still in high school," Obama said. "Michael Kidd-Gilchrist couldn't even vote yet."

And yet there Kidd-Gilchrist was, not even 20 feet behind Obama, smiling from ear to ear. The Cats, touring the White House for winning the national championship, soaked in every moment of an opportunity they may never get again.

"I never thought I'd have an opportunity to do something like that," senior guard Darius Miller said. "Being able to do that was a special feeling."

Miller had the honor of giving the president a jersey bearing his number. Fellow senior Eloy Vargas presented Obama a signed ball from the team by firing a chest pass at the president (it may be the first and only time someone throws something that hard at the president without getting taken down by a Secret Service member), while Anthony Davis awarded Obama with a national championship ring, the first one made.

"Everybody doesn't get a chance to come to the White House to meet the president," Davis said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially being from Chicago and him being from Chicago. It was like an added bonus."

Davis, like the rest of the players, was in awe of the history of the White House and the presence of the president. During their 30-minute tour through the bowels of the most important residence in the country, the players took pictures, asked questions and waited to meet one of their heroes.

For one day at least, they weren't the stars of the show. At least, they didn't feel like it.

"Everybody felt like he was the man and wanted pictures with him," Davis said. "It was the one time we weren't in the spotlight. It was cool for us."

As Obama gushed about the Cats' unselfishness, cohesiveness and ability to overcome inexperience, Obama singled out Davis for his talent to affect the game without scoring a point.

"They did it as a team, and nobody, I think, was better at that than Anthony Davis," Obama said.

Davis has been showered with accolades and awards, trophies and honors, but the presidential compliments were in a different league for the soon-to-be No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

"It brought a smile to my face," Davis said. "Everybody was looking at me and I couldn't' stop smiling. For someone like the president of the United States to talk about you, it was great and humbling."

It also meant a little more to Davis because of their similarities. Obama's meteoric rise from a senator started in Chicago, and Davis grew eight inches in the matter of a year at a small charter school in the Windy City. Obama even joked with Davis that he had grown an inch since arriving at the White House.

When it came time to shake hands with the president, Obama brought Davis in close and gave him a hug.

"It's just something being from Chicago, you've always got to bring it in and don't do a formal handshake," Davis said. "You can tell he was from Chicago."

When the team left the White House and boarded the bus, there was almost a bittersweet feeling in the air. Kidd-Gilchrist stayed behind to get ready for the draft, Sam Malone and Brian Long remained in the Northeast to begin their summer, and the rest of the players boarded the team plane back to Lexington, several of them headed out of town for an extended time as soon as they landed.

Friday was the final day of the school year and Miller and Vargas will graduate Sunday. In all likelihood, it was the final time the entire team would be together.

"We've done so much together all year and just had so much success together," Jones said. "To end it on this note has been a great experience. Down the road it's going to be a great memory I have. Just remembering what we did the whole year and having this moment right here is going to be great to have."

As Calipari left the White House and boarded a separate plane for the Barnstable Brown Party, what had dawned on the rest of the team finally hit him: This was it. The 2011-12 national champions were headed their separate ways.

But by winning together this year, they got to celebrate together one last time, in of all places the White House.  

"I'm really going to miss this team," Calipari said. "What a way to end the season."

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Days flew by during Kentucky's run to an eighth national championship, but none faster than the one the Wildcats spent traveling to Washington, D.C., for a visit to the White House with President Barack Obama.

Within a few hours, the national champions boarded a plane in Lexington, flew to the nation's capital, toured one of the world's most famous buildings and met its most powerful man. Even for a team that had experienced a whirlwind two months, this was something special.

And I was lucky enough to be along for the ride. In an effort to chronicle the unforgettable moments, Cat Scratches and CoachCal.com brings you this running diary of UK's trip to D.C.

1 p.m. - Wheels up

At noon on Friday, players gathered at the Joe Craft Center to catch a bus that would drive them to TAC Air. There, they met coaches, staff and families to form a group that totaled around 50. A chartered jet awaited them to shuttle them to Washington, and not a seat would be empty.

Even before the festivities got going, it became clear the day would be a special one. The players looked good, all dressed in suits, but more meaningfully, they were all together.

From October to the first days of April, this group of players and coaches spent countless hours in the company of one another. But since the national championship celebration, occasions have been few and far between that they have all been in the same place at the same time, and there may not have been any at all. To take it a step further, this trip may have just represented the last time they are all together.

Even though it had been a while since they'd last assembled, it didn't take long for them pick up where they left off. John Calipari made the rounds before takeoff, catching up with the players who had won him his first national title. He talked with Marquis Teague, reflecting on a big shot Teague's brother Jeff had hit in an NBA playoff game. Next, he chatted with Anthony Davis about being named a finalist for Team USA, with Coach Cal trying to put in perspective the enormity of the achievement.

Entertainingly, a flight attendant was waiting to talk to Davis since he was sitting in the emergency exit aisle. It turns out even national players of the year need to be briefed on air safety protocol.

Everyone took their seats when the fasten seat belt sign was turned on and the plane was in the air soon after. Lunch was served during the flight while a few support staffers circulated the plane to have players and coaches sign basketballs that would later be gifts for the president.

After an hour-long flight, the Cats were on the ground at Dulles Airport to change modes of transportation.

2:20 p.m. - Coach Cal plays tour guide

Just minutes after landing, a bus was on the tarmac to carry UK into the heart of Washington, D.C. After loading a few bags and gifts, the team took to Interstate 66. Reunited, the players were still enjoying each other's company quite a bit, most notably by watching Terrence Jones' live performance of "Teach Me 'Bout Kentucky" from a few nights ago.

As the bus entered the city, Coach Cal took to the speaker system to point out a few of D.C.'s most famous landmarks. To limited heckling from the back of the bus where the players were sitting, he directed attention toward the White House off in the distance, the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. His only misstep, which he corrected quickly, was calling the Washington Monument the "Washington Memorial." It's fortunate he just signed a new deal as UK head coach, because he might have pursued a future as a tour guide otherwise.

Navigating the D.C. traffic, the provisional plan was to make a quick pit stop at the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial for some pictures, but things needed to be moved along. It was time to head to the White House.

3:20 p.m. - Security

You may not have realized this, but they don't just let anybody onto the grounds at the White House.

UK's bus turned onto a barricaded road with a checkpoint and a member of the Secret Service boarded to brief the team on security protocol at the White House, which is called "The Rock" by those who work there. Before he did, he had a question.

"Where's number 14?" he said, looking for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

It turns out he was Kidd-Gilchrist's uncle. Davis wasted no time in coming up with a retort.

"How many uncles you got?"

After that, the team went through baggage checks and security scans, which I would best compare to a much more intensive yet much more efficiently run version of airport security. Everyone quickly passed through that and most of the team moved inside for the tour, but Davis, Teague, Kidd-Gilchrist, Darius Miller, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Coach Cal stayed outside momentarily for an interview with Andy Katz, who was filming a special on UK's visit which will air May 11 at 11:30 p.m. Once they were finished, they caught up with the rest of the group.

VIDEO: CATS CHAT WITH ESPN'S ANDY KATZ

3:55 p.m. - Tour time

Tours of the White House are limited these days to a smaller portion of the building than in the past, but there were still ample sights to be seen.

The Wildcats went room by room, as Secret Service officers described the historic nature of each. The first that really caught the players' eyes was the movie room, a beautifully appointed small theater with seats that looked like beds. As the tour moved on, plenty of pictures and videos were taken, many of which figure to end up on Twitter in the coming days.

In my opinion, the most interesting room we had a chance to see was one in which the president customarily hosts foreign dignitaries and places important phone calls. Most famously, it was the place where he called fellow world leaders to pass along the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed last year.

Before no time, the tour was over and it was time to start planning for what was next.

VIDEO: TERRENCE JONES BEFORE MEETING THE PRESIDENT

4:30 p.m. - Prepping for Mr. President

First, it had to be decided which players would fill which roles in the event with President Obama. There were plenty of takers, but eventually it was decided that graduating seniors Miller and Eloy Vargas and recently named Team USA finalist Davis would do the honors. Kyle Wiltjer wanted to be involved, but Coach Cal had some reassuring words for the freshman.

"You can do it next year, Kyle," Calipari said, words that are sure to thrill Kentucky fans.

From there, the team and coaching staff was shuffled into another room, where they would make some final preparations and await the president. Unfortunately, I had to move into the room where the event would be held, so I did not bear witness to the first meeting. However, I did hear an account of it. The team was goofing around, anticipating President Obama would enter through the door they were facing. They were taken off guard by a booming voice that came in through a door behind them, with the president saying, "Hey, Wildcats!"

5 p.m. - "Hail to the Chief"

 The tour was cool, but there simply aren't many people who get to be in the same room as any President, let alone shake his hand as the entire team did.

The Wildcats took to a set of risers behind the podium that bore the presidential seal and, not long after, President Obama came in to cheers and a standing ovation from the packed room. Coach Cal took his spot on the stage behind the president and to his left, listening as he delivered remarks about the national champs.

President Obama admitted his error in picking against UK at the start of the tournament, saying he couldn't get past the Cats' youth, but in the end, their unselfishness and commitment to a common cause carried them to an eighth title. The theme of his speech was one we've heard countless times since the Final Four, but it sounded different coming from the commander-in-chief.

After the president and Coach Cal had spoken, it was time for the giving of gifts and, I must say, President Obama did alright for himself. Miller gave him a home white UK jersey with his No. 1 and "Obama" on the back. Vargas stepped forward to give him a basketball signed by the team, surprising many by throwing a chest pass to the president. I'm sure it was a scripted moment, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Finally, Davis, a Chicago native like the president, gave him a national championship ring, the first one made.

COMPLETE VIDEO OF UK'S EVENT WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA

VIDEO: MILLER, DAVIS AFTER MEETING THE PRESIDENT

5:20 p.m. - Goodbyes

After a few more pictures and a few autographs for UK fans who knew the team would be there, the bus was once again ready to be boarded, but not by Kidd-Gilchrist.

With finals over on Friday, the swingman who captured the hearts of UK fans in just one season was off to go prepare for the NBA Draft. He will be back in Lexington over the next few weeks, but it was still a poignant moment as he gave hugs and handshakes to every familiar face in sight. Everyone knew this was coming, but the goodbyes made it sink in once and for all: this really is the final time this group will be together as it was assembled in 2011-12.

 The remainder of the team headed to the airport for a flight back to the Bluegrass that left at 7 p.m., with Sam Malone and Brian Long splitting off to head home for the first few weeks of the summer. There weren't a lot of empty seats on the flight home that landed, but everyone on the plane knew the scattered vacancies meant a special season over.

But what a way for it to end.

Last summer, we did a feature on former Kentucky gymnast and three-time NCAA all-around champion Jenny Hansen as part of our "Where are they now" series. The profiled focused on Hansen's attempt to make a gymnastics comeback and qualify for the Olympics. What made the story so unique is that Hansen, now 38, was twice the age of most of the athletes she was competing against.

Almost a year later, Hansen is still tirelessly working toward her goal. She is training in California and a local television station caught up with her to update her journey. Here's the story:

A little after noon on Friday, John Calipari and the national champion Kentucky Wildcats will board a plane to Washington, D.C., for a tour of the White House and visit with President Barack Obama. We will be live tweeting the trip from @UKAthleticsNews, but there will likely be a hiatus in our coverage during the tour and visit itself. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can watch the proceedings:

• ESPNU's SportsCenterU Special: Kentucky at the White House (begins at 5 p.m.)
• Live stream online at ESPN3
• Live stream online at whitehouse.gov

After the stop at the White House has concluded, look for post-event coverage here and on Twitter, including stories, video and photos.

Now, here are a few more notes to kick off your Oaks Day:

-Baseball mounted a comeback Thursday night against No. 5 Florida, but it fell just short in a 5-3 loss, Kentucky's fourth in five games. The streak is the Wildcats first extended stretch of things not going their way, but head coach Gary Henderson and his players believe that, with final exams finally coming to an end and their track record of bouncing back from series-opening losses, they won't have any trouble rebounding. LHP Jerad Grundy (4-1, 4.29 ERA) will start game two, which begins at 7 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Neil Price will have the radio call on the UK IMG Network while CSS will televise the game. If your cable provider does not have CSS, ESPN3 will be live streaming the game here.

-The other UK team in action this weekend is playing a huge series against No. 22 LSU. As Ryan Suckow wrote about in a feature from earlier this morning, UK softball is playing with its back against the wall, needing to take at least two of three from the Tigers to climb back to .500 and remain in contention for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Head out to the UK Softball Complex to take in the action.

-Anthony Davis sure has a lot of cool stuff going on in his life. He's the player of the year and a national champion. He is about to meet the President and become the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and now he has a chance of becoming an Olympian. Davis has been selected as a finalist for the 2012 USA Basketball Men's National Team. He will attend a training camp from July 6-12 in Las Vegas, Nev., with the 16 other finalists, among whom 12 will be selected for the final roster that will look to win Team USA's second straight gold medal at the London Olympics.

When Mitch Barnhart was named Kentucky's Athletics Director 10 years ago, he inherited a women's basketball program that he believed needed to be bigger and better than what it was. With the support of Dr. Lee Todd, then UK's president, he undertook the task of positioning UK Hoops for success.

Nine years ago, a young assistant named Matthew Mitchell came to Lexington to work for new UK coach Mickie DeMoss. He worked alongside her in building the foundation for the kind of success Barnhart envisioned.

Five years ago, Mitchell returned to UK after two seasons at Morehead State, this time as head coach. With the program already having taken major steps in the right direction, Mitchell was there to take things over the top, to make Kentucky a national player.

On the heels of a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a berth in the Elite Eight and the school's first Southeastern Conference championship in three decades, UK Hoops hasn't quite reached the summit Barnhart dreamed of, but it's certainly pretty close.

"For the past five years, he's led our program and moved us to a spot where arguably we're talked about on a regular basis as one of the top programs in the country," Barnhart said. "That's in large part due to his efforts and the efforts of his staff."

In recognition of all he has done, Barnhart signed Mitchell to a new seven-year contract through the end of the 2018-19 season. The deal provides for a raise from his previous salary and is worth a minimum of $7.95 million and can escalate based on performance incentives.

"This is a very, very happy day for Jenna (Mitchell's wife) and me to have a chance to continue as the coach here and for us have a chance to be a member of this university and continue to try to serve this university," Mitchell said.

The agreement also serves as a symbol of the commitment of both Mitchell to UK and vice versa, thereby quelling some of the concern among fans that the rising star among the coaching profession might take another job.

"I go around this town, go in grocery stores and restaurants, anywhere in Lexington and out in the Commonwealth and people have always said to me, 'I hope you're going to stay at Kentucky.' They often say that with a tone like they would think there's somewhere better for me to go."

Even though Mitchell heard the anxiety, he never quite understood it. With UK's ascent as a program, the staff and fans that surround it and the commitment of the administration to women's basketball, he can't imagine being anywhere else.

"What Mitch Barnhart's done, what the players have done is that, for any coach in America, any coach, Kentucky would be a great job," Mitchell said. "But for Matthew Mitchell, Jenna Mitchell and our family, it is the best job, the best job in the country to have."

What really makes this job special to Mitchell is coaching the young women who also happen to be largely responsible for UK's ascent.

"The opportunity it really provides us is to do what we love, and that's to work with the players," Mitchell said. "That's the most important thing at Kentucky. That's the most important part of what we do and today wouldn't have been possible without a bunch of kids working really, really hard and giving everything that they've had."

Mitchell and Barnhart sat side-by-side in announcing the contract and spoke repeatedly of the respect they have for one another. They have inarguably made a good team over five seasons and likely the most important reason why is a shared sense of what matters. Both Mitchell and Barnhart believe that, more than anything else, their responsibility is to the student-athletes they lead.

"I think he has an extremely special desire to help young people, specifically young women, pursue greatness," Barnhart said. "And he expects them to pursue greatness."

"There is no one who I've ever been around in this business of college athletics that cares more about people than Mitch Barnhart," Mitchell said. "That's somebody that I want to be involved with, that's somebody I want to work for and he, in a more sincere way than I've ever seen in college athletics, cares about these student-athletes and their experience."

The business of negotiating a new deal was necessary and the financial security it entails is nice for Mitchell's family, but both are ready to get back to what they really care about doing. Mitchell didn't get into coaching for big payday, and he doesn't intend to change now that he ranks among the nation's highest paid women's basketball coaches.

"I've never put a lot of thought into that and it's just kind of happened the way that it's happened," Mitchell said. "The focus has been on trying to add value to kids' lives and trying to teach them and trying to help them be great basketball players and great people. I think that's where the focus needs to remain."

Mitchell definitely has a group with the potential to be great. UK loses Amber Smith, Keyla Snowden and Crystal Riley for 2012-13, but returns the rest of the Wildcats who played in the Elite Eight in March. Kentucky also adds a pair of McDonald's All-Americans in forward DeNesha Stallworth, a transfer from California, and point guard Janee Thompson.

"We have a terrific group of players that's coming back so we're excited for the future," Mitchell said. "They are giving an awful lot to the University and I want to thank them."

Mitchell to donate $100,000 to University

During the press conference discussing his new contract, Mitchell also announced he would be donating $100,000 back to UK for educational purposes as a demonstration of his family's commitment to contributing positively to the University.

"We just want (UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto) to know that we are partners here," Mitchell said. "We want to be great servants to the University and it's just a complete honor to sign this contract."

Search for new assistant ongoing

Last week, associate head coach Kyra Elzy resigned from her post at UK to accept a job as an assistant at Tennessee, her alma mater. Due to UK hiring regulations, Mitchell has been unable to have formal discussions about a replacement, but at the end of the day on Thursday, those restrictions are lifted. After that, he will waste no time.

"I can assure you that we're moving forward in that area and hopefully you will have something very quickly on that," Mitchell said.