Kentucky and West Virginia haven’t met in the regular season since 2008. They haven’t met at one of the two schools’ campuses since 1992. On Thursday night, they’ll meet in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six years.It’s odd that it’s worked out that way, but perhaps it’s also quite predictable at the same time due to the two teams’ close proximity, their recent history of close games and head coaches’ friendship.”Cal called me about three weeks ago and said, ‘You know they’re going to put us in the same bracket don’t you?’ ” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said following his team’s 69-59 third-round victory over Maryland on Sunday night.It’s not the first time Coach Cal has been correct about potential matchups in the NCAA Tournament. Following the reveal of the NCAA Tournament bracket March 15, Calipari said it’s usually a waste of time to look too far ahead in the tournament because the team you think may advance ends up losing. He did happen to mention one team in particular, though.”Let me just tell you, West Virginia – Bob Huggins – probably got more out of their team than any team in the country and here they are,” Calipari said. “You win a couple of games and you may be facing them.”If recent history is any indicator, Thursday’s Midwest Regional semifinal should be one to remember.The two teams’ meeting in 2010 is one all Kentucky fans wish they didn’t remember. UK, the No. 1 seed in the East Regional, met the No. 2 seed West Virginia with a trip to the Final Four on the line. UK went 10 for 20 on two-point field goals in the first half, but 0 for 8 from beyond the arc. Conversely, West Virginia went 8 for 15 from beyond the arc and 0 for 16 on two-point field goals. The 3-point shooting woes continued in the second half for UK as the Cats missed their first 20 3-point attempts in the game and finished just 4 for 32 in a 73-66 loss.One year later, Kentucky topped West Virginia 71-63 in Tampa, Fla., to advance to the Sweet 16. In that game, West Virginia closed out the first half on a 22-7 run to lead by eight points, but UK scored the first 11 points of the second half and got a career-high 30 from star freshman Brandon Knight, who also sealed the game at the foul line by making six free throws in the final minute.”We know now they beat us in 2010, we beat them pretty good in 2011,” Coach Cal said. “It’s always a good game.”Those two meetings will surely be one of the main storylines entering Thursday’s Sweet 16 showdown. The other will be Huggins’ 8-2 career record versus Calipari, which Huggins said Sunday he can’t explain.”I’ve got great respect for him and for what he’s done and what he’s been able to accomplish,” Huggins said. “So, like I said, he’ll have them ready. He always has them ready.”The Wildcats must be ready for a physical affair in which ball security will be of the utmost importance. West Virginia, which has committed the most fouls in the country, plays an up-and-down style and loves to press the ball, earning it the nickname “Press Virginia.” The Mountaineers’ adjusted tempo is the 29th fastest in the country, according to KenPom.com, and its turnover and steal percentages are tops nationally.After playing in the rugged Big 12 Conference, which earned a nation-leading seven bids to the Big Dance, West Virginia said it would not be intimidated Thursday.”I mean, I wish I could sit here and tell you we’re definitely going to win,” said Huggins, whose team also owns wins over fellow Sweet 16 teams North Carolina State and Oklahoma. “I can’t do that. But I can tell you that we’re not going to be scared.””It’s another team,” Mountaineers forward Devin Williams said. “They put their drawers on the same way we do. So that’s pretty much it. We’ve just got to prepare, and get our minds right.”