Kentucky loss keeps North Carolina as all-time winningest March Madness team

Kentucky made a little history during its loss to Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With the Wildcats’ loss, it kept North Carolina as the winningest tournament team in college basketball history.

Right now, North Carolina has 131 wins in program history while Kentucky got stuck at 130 after its loss to Kansas State. It’ll have to wait at least another year before Kentucky can climb that mountain.

Amid frustration in the fanbase, head coach John Calipari addressed those concerns following the early exit.

“I have empathy,” Calipari said. “I understand what this program is about. I think, again, that’s what makes it what it is, and that’s why I tell players, this isn’t for everybody because the expectations are so high. The same with coaching. It’s not for everybody. This thing is — there’s a high expectation level, and it is Kentucky. You put that on. The other team is going to play out of their minds, and they’re going to play like they have nothing to lose.

“That means you’ve got to play that way. So, yeah, I understand it, but, you know, my concern are these kids, and I tried to keep what you are saying off of them. Obviously, with a couple maybe I didn’t do as good a job as I thought I did. I wanted them to just play, have fun, enjoy the experience. You know, make the plays you make, take what they give you.”

John Calipari on Kentucky loss

Kentucky’s play in its losses this year was a common theme. Calipari talked about if that ultimately haunted the team all season long.

“First of all, let me give Kansas State credit,” Calipari said. “They played really rough. They played active with their hands, especially in the first half. And they made basketball plays at the end that we did not make. So give them credit. But, yes, this is what happened in certain games. You know, you turn around, and you are, like, guys, you can’t — you don’t have to make them all. You just can’t miss them all. And we’ve had games like that. It’s, you know — you just hope in the NCAA Tournament you can go on a run. And I thought after the first game where we fought, and we didn’t shoot it great, but I thought that was a good sign.”

Kentucky looked like it had chances, but couldn’t close the gap.

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“So, you know, that happens in this sport, but, yes, those — again, you out-rebound them, you have five turns in the second half,” Calipari said. “These two play the way they do. Oscar plays the way he does. You needed one more guy to play and go get baskets and play with that swagger that you have to play with in this tournament.”