John Calipari Admits His Young Wildcats Could Lose by 30 to Kansas

Honesty is always refreshing. Particularly in this day and age. John Calipari believes in being honest with Big Blue Nation about his young Kentucky Wildcats team.

Over the weekend, the 'Cats won two games against Utah Valley State and Vermont by an average of seven points.

Vermont is a very good and experienced team coming off a 29-win season, a record for the Catamounts.

But one might expect a larger margin of victory than four against an America East Conference team in Rupp Arena.

One would be correct if the Wildcats team in question wasn't so YOUNG. This is really the youngest UK team I've ever seen.

I consider the Vermont win a good one.

But now comes Kansas and that's a whole different animal. And Calipari knows just how different that animal is.

The 5th-ranked Wildcats are in Chicago for the State Farm Champions Classic where they will take on the 4th-ranked Jayhawks.

Top-ranked Duke and #2 Michigan State are the undercard.

In a typically humor-laden press conference in the Windy City, Calipari said, "You’re seeing if our guards can’t stay in front of anybody we’ll get beat by 30 up there. Thirty.”

In his heart of hearts, I don't believe he believes that. But Kansas wouldn't mind that at all. I bet the Jayhawks and their fanbase haven't forgotten the 32-point beatdown at the hands of UK at the 2014 Champions Classic.

Kentucky also beat Kansas in the first Classic in 2011. It was Kansas' poor luck that they drew the 'Cats in this particular event in the two seasons that UK has fielded its two best teams under John Calipari.

So, we'll see what happens Tuesday night in Chicago. I suspect it won't be a 30-point loss, but this will truly be a very difficult game for the young 'Cats to win.