GREENSBORO, NC – The first week of the NCAA Tournament wasn’t kind to college basketball’s blue-bloods.

Less than 24 hours after Kansas and Duke went down to defeat in the 2nd round, Kentucky joined them on the sideline Sunday after a 75-69 loss to Kansas State at Greensboro Coliseum.

The result, however, is the only thing the Wildcats’ early ouster has in common with the other.

As disappointing as the defeats were for the Jayhawks and Blue Devils, the sting is at least somewhat soothed by the fact that both made trips to the Final Four a year ago, with Kansas winning the national championship.

About the only consolation John Calipari and his 6th-seeded Wildcats can take from their NCAA Tournament experience is the fact that at least this time, they managed to avoid the 1st-round embarrassment they suffered against 15th-seeded St. Peter’s in 2022.

It has been 4 seasons since the Wildcats have advanced to at least the Sweet 16.

That might not seem like a long time at most places, especially considering that the Tournament wasn’t played in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic.

But in Kentucky basketball years, 4 seasons is an eternity.

And the Big Blue Nation, which turned out in its usually large numbers on Tobacco Road this weekend, is starting to lose its patience.

“I have empathy,” Calipari said in answer to a question about the angst of his fan base after going 1-3 in past 2 NCAA Tournaments, coming on the heels of a 9-16 disaster in 2021. “I understand what this program is about. 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. There’s a high expectation level and it is Kentucky. The other team is going to play out of their minds. They’re going to play like they have nothing to lose. That means you’ve (also) got to play that way.”

For most of Sunday’s game, Calipari’s team did find a way to match the urgency of its better-seeded opponent in this battle of the Wildcats.

With Oscar Tshiebwe putting up another massive performance – following up his 1st-round 25-rebound output against Providence with an Anthony Davis-like 25-point, 18-rebound masterpiece – Kentucky was the better team for the majority of the game.

It won the rebounding battle by a whopping 44-25 margin, shot 55.2% in the 2nd half and led for nearly 24 minutes compared to only 9:44 for K-State.

That only made what happened down the stretch that much more frustrating.

Not only did the Wildcats’ frosty perimeter shooting touch (4-of-20 3-point attempts) finally catch up with them, but their defense broke down as well. The result was a decisive 8-0 fun during the final 2 1/2 minutes they weren’t able to overcome.

It was a familiar script for a Kentucky team that proved yet again that you can tell how a team will be eliminated in March by the way it loses in January and February.

“First of all, let me give Kansas State credit. 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,” Calipari said. “But, yes, this is what happened in certain games. We’ve had games like that.

“You just hope in the NCAA Tournament you can go on a run. I thought after the last game where we fought, (even though) we didn’t shoot it great, I thought that was a good sign.”

It wasn’t, even though Kentucky’s shooting percentage of 48.1% against K-State was actually better than its 36.5% effort in the opening-round win against Providence.

Most of the baskets, however, came at the rim or as a result of their 19 offensive rebounds. They got almost nothing from the perimeter. And even less from Antonio Reeves.

After leading the team with 22 points on Friday, the senior guard managed only 3 Sunday. And those came with 8 seconds remaining and his team hopelessly behind – after misfiring on his first 14 field-goal attempts, 9 of which were treys.

“Talking to friends of mine, they were like, ‘You are due for a big shooting night,’” Calipari said. “‘Your guys are due.’”

That’s putting it mildly.

After 4 years of frustration and a 2nd-straight early NCAA exit, it’s safe to say that Calipari and the Wildcats are now officially overdue.

Way past it, by Kentucky standards.