Kansas vs. Kentucky: Score and Twitter Reaction from Champions Classic 2014

On paper, No. 5 Kansas playing No. 1 Kentucky should have been a thrilling matchup. However, the Wildcats dismantled the Jayhawks, 72-40, in the nightcap of the Champions Classic. 

The game was never in question for Kentucky as it trailed for a total of 19 seconds in the first half before taking full control. Bleacher Report provides a look at the final from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis:

With the win, Kentucky coach John Calipari also continued his climb up the coaching ranks with his 600th W, via CBS Sports:

Calipari supplied his thoughts after the game via Kentucky.com's YouTube:

Kentucky comes into the season with both freshman phenoms and experienced stars who made their mark on Tuesday night. The substitutions are clear for the Wildcats, with Calipari utilizing two different platoons of star players in the 10-man rotation. ESPN Stats & Info shared some historical stats for Kansas as a result of this loss:

Though the platoons have already been tested against lesser opponents, the true test would come against a Top Five program. Calipari likened Kansas to a measuring stick of sorts, per Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal:

"

Well, we're in a little different position than I've been in the past, where you got a brand-new team and you're trying to just get your team together. This team needs to be challenged to see where we are, and this is going to be one of those kinds of games.

...

They're a top-five team. They're predicted to be in the Final Four. They're that good.

"

How good is Kentucky this season? So good that it made that Top Five Kansas squad look like it didn't belong on the court with the Wildcats.

Those platoons were in full force on Tuesday night, as Calipari discussed with Andy Katz during the ESPN broadcast.

"We're so long and athletic, and we keep coming at you in waves," Calipari said. "We don't have subs; we have reinforcements. It's like tanks coming over the hill."

In the first platoon, Andrew and Aaron Harrison combined for 18 points and six assists in the backcourt. Meanwhile, freshman Karl Towns had nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and a staggering four blocks on the night.

Much like Jahlil Okafor in the game prior, Towns was expected to put on a show on the national stage. His impressive night even drew a comparison to the Duke big man, via Jonathan Givony of Draft Express:

Along with Towns, junior Alex Poythress also got in on the block party against Kansas. Poythress wasn't an effective scorer with just four points, all from the free-throw line, but his defense was impressive enough, as Ryan Fagan of Sporting News illustrates:

Leading the charge for the Cats, the Harrison twins also made their impact with great play from outside the paint. But it wasn't just the first platoon that was able to blister Kansas' defense.

In the second half, the second set of players came out for Kentucky and was equally as impressive as the first line. Dakari Johnson led the second cast with 11 points and three rebounds, but the entire group had more energy defensively than Kansas had coming out of the locker room.

Johnson and the second platoon held Kansas scoreless during the start of the second half until the Hawks finally found the bottom of the net more than five minutes in. Steve Jones of The Courier-Journal and Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports provided their take on the superb performance:

It was simply not a night to remember for Bill Self's program.

The Jayhawks looked timid on the offensive side of the ball due to the Wildcats' defensive presence and were generally ineffective outside of a late run in the first half. ESPN Stats & Info noted a shocking stat about Kentucky's defense:

No player for Kansas tallied more than nine points, led by Wayne Selden Jr. The Jayhawks were also out-rebounded on the defensive end by a final count of 32-22 as Kentucky controlled nearly every facet of the game.

Kentucky's pure dominance was not lost on Nicole Auerbach of USA Today or Jeff Borzello of ESPN:

Both Kansas and Kentucky are expected to make the NCAA tournament and a run to the Final Four. Early-season matchups can typically build a strong resume but aren't always indicative of how a team will look come tournament time.

For Kansas, the loss to the No. 1 team in the country leaves it reeling, but it still has plenty of time to correct mistakes. The Jayhawks also won't face a team as overpowering down low as the Wildcats the rest of the way, so getting tested right off the bat should prove vital in the Big 12 conference.

Kentucky, on the other hand, looks to be in midseason form as the top program in the country. If the Cats continue their outstanding play in the paint and get production from both platoons, this should be another memorable season for Big Blue Nation.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.