INDIANAPOLIS -- A Wichita State player said Kentucky, the team the Shockers face Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament, is "nothing special," a comment that prompted a response from one former Wildcat.
Darral Willis Jr., who averages 10.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, said the Shockers don't fear the favored Wildcats.
"They come on ESPN, they play on ESPN every game, so I've just seen them play a few times, but they're nothing special, nothing we can't do," Willis told Lex 18 News in Lexington, Kentucky. "We're not scared to play any team on this planet earth. We're ready and we'll be ready to play [Sunday]."
Willie Cauley-Stein, a Sacramento Kings forward and former Kentucky standout, tweeted his displeasure with the comment:
All smoove until that bell rings https://t.co/bZrc5w59sG
— Willie Cauley-Stein (@THEwillieCS15) March 19, 2017
This week, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall and his players discussed the chip they have on their shoulder after the NCAA tournament selection committee gave the Shockers a No. 10 seed. On Saturday, some of Wichita State's players talked about the differences between Kentucky's blue-chip roster and Wichita State's blue-collar crew.
De'Aaron Fox said he wasn't concerned about anything but the game when asked about those comments.
"We're going to play basketball," Fox told reporters. "I'm not worried about what anybody says right now."