By: Casey Madison (X/BleedBlueCasey) | Photo via @kentuckymbb on X/Twitter
Even without some of the most important pieces, Kentucky looked sharp in its 78–65 exhibition win over Purdue on Friday night at Rupp Arena: a statement performance for Mark Pope’s new roster against one of the most consistent program’s in all of College Basketball.
Shorthanded, But Still in Control
Kentucky entered the matchup without two of its most important pieces — Jaland Lowe, who sat out to prevent furthering his shoulder injury, and sophomore Jayden Quaintance, still recovering from his ACL injury from last year. That left the Wildcats with a rotation anchored by Brandon Garrison, Mouhamed Dioubate, and freshman Malachi Moreno inside, and all delivered.
Garrison was efficient and active, finishing with 7 points and 4 rebounds, while Dioubate stuffed the stat sheet with 8 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in just under 20 minutes. Birthday boy Malachi Moreno added 8 points, 4 rebounds, and a block, continuing to show that he belongs on the court, even if he’s a freshman.
Their presence helped Kentucky dominate the glass, winning the rebounding battle 42–30 against one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country; while also scoring 36 points in the paint despite being undersized.
Backcourt Balance Defines the Offense
Freshman guard Jasper Johnson led all scorers with 15 points on an efficient 6-for-10 shooting night, including 3-for-7 from deep, showing why he’s considered one of the most dynamic young guards in the country. If he can continue to play like this, he won’t be at Kentucky for very long.
Veteran Otega Oweh, who just recently returned to practice after a turf-toe setback, showed flashes of his old explosiveness. Finishing with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and a steal. His energy on both ends gave Kentucky an important spark, especially early on in the game to get the Cats going.
Former national champion Denzel Aberdeen impressed as the starting point guard tonight, finishing with 9 points, 3 assists, and three rebounds. Additonally, Trent Noah provided steady perimeter shooting with 10 points, going 2/4 form beyond the arc. Kentucky shot 49% from the field and 31% from three, with nine different players scoring.
Defensive Identity Shows Early
Mark Pope’s early emphasis on defense and rebounding was on full display. Kentucky’s rotations great, they contested shots without fouling, and they limited Purdue to just 38.6% shooting from the floor and 17.6% from three. That same team they beat tonight is projected to be No. 1 this season in offensive efficiency, according to kenpom rankings.
Purdue’s backcourt duo of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, who are known for their consistency and spacing, were held to a combined 6-for-24 shooting (25%). Loyer, who shot 47% from the field last season, finished 3-for-15 tonight. Without their usual inside-out balance, Purdue struggled to find rhythm, especially beyond the arc, shooting just 3/17 (18%) from three.
A Glimpse of Pope’s Vision
What stood out most wasn’t a single player; it was the connectivity. Kentucky’s ball movement was elite (17 assists on 30 made shots), transition play was aggressive (15 fast-break points), and the energy stayed constant from the starters through the bench.
“We’re starting to look like a group that trusts each other,” Pope said postgame,“It’s not perfect; we’ve got a lot of new guys, but you can feel the effort and buy in.”
What It Means Moving Forward
For an October exhibition, Kentucky looked further along than most expected, especially with two starters out. The spacing, defensive effort, and balance across positions are promising, and they’ll only get better once Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance are available.
For Purdue, the loss highlighted some early-season concerns: inconsistent perimeter shooting, limited post scoring, and the challenge of replacing interior production with Oscar Cluff (1 point, 5 rebounds) and Daniel Jacobsen (9 points, 5 rebounds).
Tonight, the game belonged to Kentucky. With a new system, mixed with freshmen and key veterans, the Wildcats showed glimpses of what could be a deep, dangerous team in the near future.
Next week, Kentucky will stay at home and will face Georgetown in another exhibition game. Tipoff is schedule for 7:30PM ET on Tuesday, October 30th at Rupp Arena. After a win over a top-tier opponent like Purdue, Pope’s team will carry that same momentum into a matchup against another P4 team, and will once again be tested.
