KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. Purdue

Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers mascot during the first half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game McNeese State Cowboys at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn ImagesKentucky plays a basketball game tonight, and it’s against the No. 1 team in the country. Sure, it’s just an exhibition, but it sure won’t feel like it when the ball is tipped vs. Purdue in a sold-out Rupp Arena at 6 p.m. ET (SEC Network).

Purdue is the No. 1 team in the country with good reason. The Boilermakers return three stars from last year’s team that lost to No. 1 seed Houston in the Sweet 16: consensus First Team All-American guard Braden Smith; forward Trey…