Wichita State, Kentucky are one round away from a rematch

Count John Calipari among the group of college basketball experts not surprised to see Wichita State in the Sweet 16.

The Kentucky coach gained enormous respect for the Shockers after facing them in the NCAA Tournament last season.

“That was one of the best college basketball games I’ve been involved in,” Calipari said Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena. “Shouldn’t have happened that round. I mean, that game should have been a Final Four game or at least a regional final game, but it did. We were very fortunate to get out. They missed a shot at the buzzer to win the game.”

A year has passed since then No. 8 seed Kentucky ended No. 1 seed Wichita State’s march toward an undefeated season with a 78-76 victory in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Some consider it to be one of the best first-weekend games in the tournament’s history.

Imagine how much fun the rematch would be in the Elite Eight.

It could happen. If Wichita State defeats Notre Dame on Thursday and Kentucky downs West Virginia, the Shockers and Wildcats will meet again. This time with Final Four stakes. Oh, and the opportunity for revenge.

The roles have reversed between Wichita State and Kentucky this season. The Shockers are a No. 7 seed hoping to play above expectations. The Wildcats are undefeated and the nation’s unquestioned No. 1 team.

Players and coaches aren’t supposed to speak about future games, especially ones that aren’t set in stone. But Wichita State players couldn’t resist temptation after practicing for the Sweet 16 on Wednesday.

“If we see Kentucky that is exciting,” freshman Shaq Morris said. “With us being undefeated last year and them being undefeated this year, that gives us a bit of a spark and hunger to go against them if we do win this next game.”

“Kentucky ruined our undefeated streak,” freshman Rashard Kelly said. “I know the returners would love to get their revenge and end Kentucky’s undefeated streak. It would be a great moment.”

Kentucky was viewed as an underachieving group most of last season until it downed Wichita State. Suddenly, everything clicked. It went on to win three more games and reach the national championship, losing to Connecticut.

In the offseason, Calipari added so many blue-chip recruits that he used a platoon system – one five-man lineup replacing another – in order to give them all minutes.

Other than their undefeated records, 2014 Wichita State and 2015 Kentucky seem polar opposites.

“They wear shorts and tank tops and sneakers, we do the same,” Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. “I don’t know what type of hair gel Cal uses, but he uses something, a little bit of product. I use a little product. His suits are probably a little more expensive. I don’t know if there’s many similarities other than that.”

For Tekele Cotton, the thought of playing the Wildcats is nearly too much to comprehend.

“That is a crazy thought,” Cotton said. “But we aren’t focusing on that yet. We both have to win a game before we can meet each other. They have to focus on their game and we have to focus on our game. Hopefully that happens, we both take care of business and we play Saturday.”

Wichita State has been through this before. Last week, it opened the NCAA Tournament with Indiana. With a victory, it would face Kansas in the third round. Marshall and his players were peppered with questions about the Jayhawks, but they kept their focus in the right place and advanced.

The Shockers view Notre Dame as another prestigious opponent. Kentucky would simply add to the list.

“It is pretty cool we played Kentucky last year and now it is Indiana and Kansas,” junior Ron Baker said. “They are all prime-time teams that have great traditions. For us to be right next to them and be competing at that level really puts Wichita State on the map.”

This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Wichita State, Kentucky are one round away from a rematch."