Kentucky said it wanted to “shock the world” on Thursday.
A win on Sunday and the eighth-seeded Wildcats will disappoint the world.
The blockbuster third-round South Regional matchup is set, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. between underachieving Kentucky and top-seeded Wichita State, after John Calipari’s group of heralded freshmen knocked off No. 9 Kansas State, 56-49, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
“Basically, all of us are competitors and this is what we came here for, for a challenge,” Kentucky freshman Julius Randle said after powering his way to 19 points and 15 rebounds. “Sunday’s game will be a great challenge for us, and I am looking forward to playing a great team.”
In October, Calipari discussed the possibility of going undefeated, before his six McDonald’s All-Americans had yet to play a college game. Now Kentucky (25-10) will be looking to put an end to the 35-0 Shockers undefeated run, the first team since UNLV in 1990-91 to reach the NCAA Tournament without a loss.
Calipari spent most of his postgame press conference tossing bouquets at Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, complementing him on how well he has managed the undefeated season. Calipari has been in a similar situation before and was relieved when that late-season loss came.
“He’s made it a blessing, not a burden,” Calipari said.
Kentucky enters this showdown playing its best basketball of the season, with three wins in four games — the only loss was a one-point setback to top seed Florida in the SEC championship.
Calipari said on Thursday his young team is starting to get it, understand their roles and that’s what Calipari expected from the beginning.
Friday night was another step in the right direction, Kentucky winning with its defense on a night it shot just 38 percent from the field.
The Wildcats held Kansas Sate to 36 percent shooting and Aaron Harrison (18 points) limited dynamic freshman Marcus Foster to 15 points on 7-of-18 from the field. Calipari started sophomore forward Willie Cauley-Stein to add another shot-blocker in the paint, forcing Kansas State onto the perimeter, where it badly misfired.
Before the SEC Tournament, Calipari put his players through what he described as a football practice. He encouraged contact. No fouls were called. He’s liked what he has seen as a result.
“We’re better prepared to play a physical team because of what we did,” Calipari said. “I wish I would’ve done it to start the season.”
The two programs are polar opposites, Kentucky and all of its tradition, its highly rated freshmen, against mid-major Wichita State and its un-rated stars, who have made a name for themselves. Kansas State coach Bruce Weber sees similarities in their style of play.
“The way Kentucky guarded, they’re going to be able to match what Wichita does,” Weber said. “It will be a great matchup, there’s no doubt about it. It will be exciting.”
Kentucky led 29-17 late in the first half, but Kansas State (20-13) closed the half strong, reeling off six straight points and got as close as two. Kentucky, however, was never in any true danger, its freshmen showing impressive poise in their first NCAA Tournament down the stretch.
Wichita State, meanwhile, had no problems with No. 16 Cal-Poly, cruising to a 64-37 rout in its first game in 12 days. Afterward, most of the talk centered around its undefeated season.
“I think it is really fun — 35-0 is awesome,” Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said.
The Shockers will have to get through Kentucky for it to continue.