LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- These aren't your father's exhibition games. Or your grandfather's.
On Friday night, it'll be 40 minutes of full-court theater — lights on, fans loud, rosters loaded. The only thing missing is the win-loss column.
Kentucky and Louisville — ranked No. 9 and No. 11 in the preseason, respectively — are throwing down the exhibition welcome mat in style.
The Wildcats host No. 1 Purdue at 6 p.m. Friday at Rupp Arena, where 20,000 are expected to check in on the early returns of Mark Pope's motion offense and next-level depth. Down the road, Louisville welcomes perennial powerhouse and No. 19-ranked Kansas to the KFC Yum! Center at 7:30.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
No secrets. No closed doors. Just full-dress rehearsals for fan bases that check recruiting rankings like stock tickers.
And sure, none of it will show up in the standings. But don't tell that to Louisville coach Pat Kelsey — or his son. The outcome is not an afterthought.
"If Johnny comes down the stairs and says, 'Hey Dad, let's play checkers,' I'm trying to beat that sucker," Kelsey said. "I can't help it."
These exhibitions aren't just for show. They're the basketball version of a flight simulator — you can crash a few times but still take off next week. They're possible because of an NCAA rule change that allows Division I schools to play each other in exhibitions.
"I am so grateful to the NCAA and all the committees that are allowing us to play Division I opponents in exhibitions," Kentucky coach Mark Pope said at SEC Media Day. "The opportunity for us to go against the No. 1 team in the country this early, before the season even starts, where we can still experiment and try things, and learn things about our team. What's great about Purdue is, not only are they the No. 1 team in the country, but they're the No. 1 team because they've been together."
Pope will likely be without point guard Jaland Lowe, who dinged his shoulder in Friday's Blue-White scrimmage. Louisville may be missing Kasean Pryor, who's still ramping back up after knee surgery. But the real return Friday is atmosphere. Anticipation. A sneak peek at what might be possible when November turns serious.
Kelsey, who does optimism like Sinatra did ballads, can't wait to see the Yum! Center packed and lit up for an exhibition game — in October.
"That's sick, man," Kelsey said. "That is cool. That is what college basketball is all about. That gets me fired up."
Louisville faces Bucknell next. Kentucky plays Georgetown. Then, the real curtain rises.
The games double as real-time measuring sticks with a real test on the schedule coming earlier than it ever has -- the annual renewal of the Cards-Cats rivalry, on Nov. 11 in Louisville.
"To get that data in the preseason before you play real games is a gift," Pope said.
Let's just call it a soundcheck for a season when both programs expect to make a lot of noise.
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