Is this the Kentucky team that could go undefeated?

INDIANAPOLIS — John Calipari knew exactly what was on everyone's minds after his Wildcats thrashed fifth-ranked Kansas, 72-40.

It's only November, and the Jayhawks will surely improve throughout the season — they're too talented not to — but doesn't this result mean it's time to talk about an undefeated season? Maybe hold off on the talk about Calipari's squad playing the 76ers, but at least talk about the possibility of 45-0?

Calipari tried to squash it.

"No, we're not that good," he said, as he sat down for his postgame news conference. He went on to lay out ways his team still needs to improve, and how certain zone defenses Kentucky hasn't faced yet will prove troublesome.

Nice try.

The buzz will build, and build some more. Excited fans may print 45-0 T-shirts. Heck, they may already be printed as we speak.

Sure, non-conference games against Providence, Texas, North Carolina, UCLA and Louisville loom. But the SEC is weak, so the path clears up after the calendar turns. Kentucky has such depth — two starting lineups' worth — it would be difficult to imagine someone beating this team unless it played lights-out and six or seven different Wildcats had an off night, right?

Kansas coach Bill Self seemed to agree. When asked about Calipari saying his team isn't "that good" to temper expectations, Self responded with a crack.

"You guys that cover Kentucky, how much stuff do you actually believe that John says?" Self said. "I'm joking. I would say that he has to say that. For this early in the season, though, they're pretty good."

Then, Self outlined what he felt would be required to beat a team with the talent, size and length that Kentucky has.

"Somebody's going to have to play a great game to beat them, no question about that," he said. "That could happen, especially away from home. But somebody's going to have to be special. ... A team that's skilled enough that they can drive the ball and force help and then play from the perimeter."

So, could Kentucky actually do it? Go undefeated?

"I don't think it's crazy to think that," Self said. "I don't know if I'd base everything on this one game, because that wasn't much of a contest. I don't know their schedule, but they're going to go somewhere and catch somebody playing great. It's going to be hard. Wichita State did it last year, so there's no reason that that shouldn't be a goal. I don't know if he's talking about that now. But if by February they're still undefeated, that's something that could happen."