Kentucky will host Purdue in an exhibition game on Oct. 24 at Rupp Arena.
New NCAA rules now allow college programs to play each other in exhibition games beginning this season. The contest will be Kentucky’s first against a Division I opponent. Purdue has competed in charity contests against Creighton and Arkansas during the past two years.
Kentucky and Purdue have played eight times, with the Wildcats owning a 6-2 edge. Kentucky defeated the Boilermakers 89-75 in 1997 at Chicago and the Wildcats have won two in a row in the series. Purdue defeated Kentucky in 1984.
Two of the Boilermakers’ past coaches have ties to Kentucky. The late Lee Rose coacghed at Purdue from 1978-80 and was NIT runner-up in 1979 and led the Boilermakers to the Final Four a year later in 1980. Rose, from Irvine, began his coaching career at Transylvania.
Gene Keady, who coached at Western Kentucky from 1978-80, replaced Rose at Purdue and compiled a 512-270 mark in 24 seasons as coach of the Boilermakers.
Kentucky and Purdue reached the Sweet Sixteen this past season and could have met in the Elite Eight, but the Wildcats lost to Tennessee and the Boilermakers fell to Houston.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope watches his team during a practice session at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Keith Taylor/Kentucky Today)
