Mark Pope explains why Kentucky scheduled exhibition vs. Purdue

Kentucky will be squaring off against Purdue in a preseason exhibition on Oct. 24. The monstrous matchup is an unusual sight for Kentucky fans, who are used to the Wildcats ramping up to the regular season against subpar competition. Earlier this month, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope explained his thought process behind scheduling the marquee matchup.

“I love playing great teams all the time. I love it. I think it’s really important,” Pope said. “Anytime there’s any chance we can get great teams to come into Rupp, we’re going to take it. If it’s in the exhibition season or the preseason or the conference season, we’ll take it.”

Purdue should certainly fit the criteria for a great team next season. In On3 college basketball expert James Fletcher III’s latest “way-too-early” 2025-26 college basketball rankings, he ranked Purdue as the No. 2 team in the country.

Of course, Kentucky didn’t trail far behind, landing at No. 5 on Fletcher’s list. The Wildcats boast the No. 2 incoming transfer class, according to On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings. Additionally, the team is returning several standouts, including Brandon Garrison and Collin Chandler.

Pope isn’t only fired up for the Kentucky fans. He also admitted he selfishly hopes the looming preseason matchup will keep his team focused during the offseason.

“I’m just excited for BBN. We get to walk in here in late October and play the No. 1 team in the country. I’m just really excited about that. So I’m excited about that for our fan base,” Pope said. “I’m excited about it for our guys because when you play against great teams, it teaches you so much about yourself.

“The chance to do that in an exhibition where the cost might not be so high, and get to do it really early in the season, where it’s not just the data you receive after the game and during the game, but it’s all of the energy and juice that it adds to your locker room every day during the summer and during the fall, when you’re like, ‘Hey, we’re preparing, guys. This is coming way faster than you than you might anticipate.’ I think those are all real bonuses.”

Purdue isn’t Kentucky’s only imposing preseason foe. The Wildcats will also host the Georgetown Hoyas for an exhibition on Oct. 30.

With nonconference matchups against Louisville, Michigan State, Gonzaga and Indiana during the regular season, Kentucky will have no shortage of opportunities to prepare itself for March in the upcoming season. Moreover, Wildcats fans will enjoy a surplus of entertaining action.