Louisville head coach Rick Pitino is back on top of the college basketball world again almost three years after an extortion case and highly publicized sex scandal. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

A changed man? At this Final Four, no doubt.

But not for the reasons most people assume.

"We live vicariously through these kids," Pitino said Thursday. "I'm having the time of my life."

Almost three years after an extortion case exposed the messy details of his private life and left his buttoned-down reputation in tatters, Pitino is on top of the coaching world again. Louisville is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2005 after what undoubtedly is one of the finest coaching jobs of his career.

The fourth-seeded Cardinals (30-9) were riddled with injuries during the season and skidded into the Big East tournament just two games over .500 in conference play, including four losses in their last six games. But the Cardinals ripped off four wins in as many days and haven't cooled off yet. They play top-seeded Kentucky on Saturday.

"We definitely feel like we're the team that's not supposed to be here," point guard Peyton Siva said.

Think of the big names in college coaching, and Pitino always was near the top of the list. He was the first men's coach to take three schools to the Final Four, starting with a scrappy, undersized, 3-point shooting Providence team 25 years ago.

He won an NCAA title with Kentucky in 1996.

And with his finely tailored suits and natty shoes, he gave the schlumpy look of college coaches a much-needed makeover.

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: After career low point, Pitino back on top