Kentucky, ranked ninth in the preseason polls, welcomes top-ranked Purdue to Lexington in what should be a showcase of national championship contenders. Due to a new NCAA rule, Division I teams can now play each other in open exhibition games, and UK head coach Mark Pope immediately went for a marquee opponent.

Kentucky comes off a Sweet 16 run in Pope’s debut season and brings back SEC Preseason Player of the Year Otega Oweh, alongside key transfers like Jaland Lowe (Pitt) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), though Lowe is not expected to play on Friday after a shoulder injury.

Purdue basketball plans to start Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and CJ Cox at guard and Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff at forward when the preseason-No. 1 Boilermakers take on No.

Kentucky’s exhibition opener against No. 1 Purdue doesn’t count, but that doesn’t mean the Wildcats are taking the encounter lightly.

The Kentucky Wildcats are getting ready to take on the #1 Purdue Boilermakers in an exhibition game on Friday, and they will be doing it shorthanded. The good n