We just watched Mark Pope‘s Kentucky team take down No. 1 Purdue in one of the most high-profile exhibition games in the country — if not the most-high profile exhibition game in the country. For as much as you could say about it not counting for or against the resume come March, there is still tons of value in doing that exhibition.
Firstly, it serves as a great litmus test for your program heading into the season — it doesn’t get tougher than playing No. 1. Then, it also allows fans to come out and watch your team play, which for a fan base like Big Blue Nation, that really just gets the blood pumping.