President Barack Obama called Coach John Calipari on Tuesday to congratulate him and the University of Kentucky team on their 2012 NCAA championship victory.

The president, according to a statement from the White House, commended Calipari on his first national title and told the coach he looks forward to congratulating the entire team in person at the White House.

Obama told Calipari that his team played with class and dignity in the championship game against Kansas and that it was a great game to watch, according to the news release.

Calipari passed the phone to star freshman Anthony Davis, the news release said, and Obama congratulated the Chicago native on earning the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player Award.

Meanwhile, Gov. Steve Beshear proclaimed that Tuesday was Championship Day in Kentucky in recognition of UK's win.

"Our state not only sent four teams to the tournament, but made up half of the Final Four and brought home the trophy," Beshear said in a statement. "The Wildcats have been the team to beat all season, and in last night's game against Kansas, they proved once again that they're the best team in the country."

Jack Brammer: (502) 227-1198. Twitter: @BGPolitics. Blog: Bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com.