FIRST DRAFT | Kentucky's 78-65 win over No. 1 Purdue won't count, but will leave a mark

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — All right, yes, it was only an exhibition game. But what an exhibition it was for the No. 9 ranked Kentucky basketball team.

When we last saw Kentucky, it was being physically bullied by Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. It simply couldn’t answer Tennessee’s defensive pressure or do anything to slow down the Volunteers.

This is not that Kentucky team. Mark Pope’s Wildcats were the more physical, more defensively dominant, more efficient team in a 78-65 win over preseason No. 1 Purdue Friday night in Rupp Arena.

Kentucky was deeper, shot the ball better, and battered Purdue on the boards 42-30. This is Purdue. That’s the Boilermakers’ game. And Kentucky was playing without a couple of key players – big man Jayden Quaintance and guard Laland Lowe.

It didn’t count, but you won’t be able to erase this from anyone’s memory in college basketball. Kentucky made a statement, even if it’s written in pencil.

You wanted physical? Kentucky won the rebounding battle 42-30.

You wanted efficient? UK shot 49% from the field and held Purdue to 38.6%.

You wanted depth? The Wildcat bench outscored Purdue’s 34-18.

You wanted defense? Purdue hit just 3 of 17 from three.

And this wasn’t a fluky hot-shooting night. Purdue got within four in the second half. Kentucky responded with three dunks, two threes and a steal — turning the nation’s top team into a science project. "Boilermaker," meet "pressure cooker."

Freshman Jasper Johnson scored 15. Trent Noah added 10. But it was the collective that impressed most. Mouhamed Dioubate grabbed nine rebounds. Collin Chandler and Malachi Moreno delivered second-half haymakers. Brandon Garrison? He scored seven on perfect shooting in just 18 minutes.

This wasn’t the soft group that got shoved around by Tennessee in March. This team shoved back.

It’s October. It’s early. It’s unofficial.

But Pope’s team didn’t just scratch an itch Friday. They left claw marks.

Let’s just say they looked ready to skip the warmup and start the show.

KEY STATS