It might go down as one of the most anticipated preseason games in college basketball history — and that’s exactly what Matt Painter and Mark Pope had in mind when they set it up.
This Friday night in Rupp Arena, the ninth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will host the Purdue Boilermakers, the team sitting atop every major preseason poll and the clear No. 1 in the nation heading into the 2025–26 season.
Technically, it’s an exhibition game. But when more than 20,000 fans fill Rupp and two championship-caliber teams take the floor, there’s nothing “exhibition” about it.
Why This Game Is Perfect for Kentucky
For Mark Pope, the matchup checks every box.
Kentucky gets an early look at how it stacks up against college basketball’s best — a veteran Purdue squad led by senior point guard Braden Smith, the preseason favorite for National Player of the Year.
It’s also a major win for Big Blue Nation. A packed Rupp Arena before the regular season even begins means excitement, energy, and revenue — all vital in the new NIL-driven college sports world.
Financially, it’s a great deal too. Kentucky is paying Purdue $90,000 for the trip, actually less than what UK paid several mid-majors for home games last year. And since Purdue isn’t asking for a return game, Kentucky keeps full control of the gate and its future schedule.
Why Purdue Said Yes
So why would the No. 1 team in the country agree to walk into one of the loudest arenas in college basketball for a preseason matchup?
The answer: competition and preparation.
“There’s probably nothing better than getting tested in a good environment on the road,” said Elliot Bloom, Purdue’s director of basketball operations. “That’s where the value comes for us.”
When Matt Painter and Bloom began planning Purdue’s preseason schedule, they wanted one tough road test. Thanks to a mutual connection between Painter and UK associate coach Mark Fox, Kentucky’s name came up fast — and both sides were immediately interested.
“It just made sense,” Bloom said. “We wanted the same thing — a high-level game before it counts.”
New NCAA Rules Made It Possible
A matchup like this couldn’t have happened a few years ago.
Previously, Division I programs could only play exhibitions against each other if they were charity events approved by the NCAA. Purdue took advantage of that rule in recent years, playing at Arkansas and Creighton for tornado relief.
But new NCAA rules now allow teams to schedule exhibitions freely — no charity requirement, no approval needed.
“We try to test ourselves,” Bloom said. “You want to see what you’ve got early, especially in that kind of environment. It helps when the real games start.”
From ‘Secret Scrimmages’ to the Big Stage
Before the rule change, elite programs relied on closed-door “secret scrimmages” to get early work in. Purdue used to meet West Virginia halfway in Ohio for those matchups — useful, but hardly exciting.
“When you play a secret scrimmage, you’re in an empty gym,” Bloom said. “It’s not a real gameday feel. This game will be.”
That’s part of what excites Purdue — the chance to test itself in one of basketball’s most historic arenas.
“All of our staff and players are basketball fans,” Bloom said. “They know what Rupp Arena means. Experiencing that will be something special.”
A Tune-Up for a Title Run
Purdue’s 2025–26 schedule is loaded with heavyweights. After Kentucky, the Boilermakers will play No. 15 Alabama on the road, compete in the Bahamas against high-major teams, and host Iowa State, **Mar
