COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)— President Barack Obama called Kentucky coach John Calipari to praise the program — and to caution the top-ranked Wildcats.The country’s No. 1 college basketball fan thanked Calipari and his players Tuesday for helping to raise more than $1 million as part of the “Hoops for Haiti” telethon. Then Obama counseled them

to keep their focus and not let their new position atop the polls go to their heads.”There is that tendency once you get to number one to let down a little bit,” Obama said.Obama, who regularly played pickup games during his run for president, last year picked champion North Carolina to win it all in his NCAA bracket.

Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins told Obama the team looked forward to meeting the president at the White House after the season — a rite of passage for NCAA champions.”The way you guys are going, that may happen,” Obama answered.

Obama enjoyed talking basketball with the undefeated Wildcats (19-0), who play at South Carolina on Tuesday night. But the president was just as complimentary about the team’s efforts to help those devastated in Haiti by the catastrophic earthquake earlier this month.”I just want to let you guys know that I am very, very proud of what you guys did,” Obama told the team about their fundraising efforts.

• Pete Iacobelli