The hype surrounding the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team this season is somehow greater than it was last year, as an opposing coach said they were NBA-caliber.

Ranked first in the Associated Press' preseason poll, Kentucky trounced Georgetown College, one of the NAIA's better teams, 121-52 Sunday night. After the game, which was Kentucky's final exhibition game, Georgetown coach Chris Briggs went a bit beyond giving coach John Calipari and co. their due respect, ESPN reported.

"Those guys are unreal," Briggs told reporters after the game. "I told the guys in the locker room, [the Wildcats] could have beaten some NBA teams tonight, there's no question in my mind."

Calipari apparently only became aware of Briggs' comments on Monday and quickly dismissed the notion that his Wildcats could even hang in against the professionals.

"I knew they were good coming into this game, but sitting out there watching it on the sideline, honestly I don't see how they're going to get beat this year," Briggs said. "I don't like to say that, because I know people have off nights, and things can happen and this and that, and injuries and things like that, but if they play like they did tonight, they're an NBA playoff team."

Last year, Kentucky was ranked first overall in the preseason poll and wound up a seven-seed in the NCAA Tournament, granted they lost in the national title game. However, the coach famous for producing top-tier "one-and-done" NBA prospects turned four highly touted freshman into highly touted sophomores.

Kentucky is just the fourth school to ever be ranked first overall in the AP preseason poll two years in a row, joining UCLA (1966-60, 1971-74), UNLV (1990-91) and North Carolina (2008-09).

Regardless of Briggs' over-praise, Kentucky played outstanding basketball Sunday night. As a team, the Wildcats shot 64 percent from the field, 44 percent from beyond the arc and 68 percent from the line. They also totaled 54 rebounds, 32 assists, nine blocks and nine steals.