There have been some questions about what Purdue's starting lineup would look like this season. Matt Painter provided an answer on Thursday.

Kentucky, ranked ninth in the preseason polls, welcomes top-ranked Purdue to Lexington in what should be a showcase of national championship contenders. Due to a new NCAA rule, Division I teams can now play each other in open exhibition games, and UK head coach Mark Pope immediately went for a marquee opponent.

A pair of freshmen and a pair of second-year guards were vying for a spot in the first five for Matt Painter. Here's who won the job for the exhibition opener.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/kentucky as Three keys to victory for the #9 Kentucky Wildcats against #1 Purdue .

Kentucky comes off a Sweet 16 run in Pope’s debut season and brings back SEC Preseason Player of the Year Otega Oweh, alongside key transfers like Jaland Lowe (Pitt) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), though Lowe is not expected to play on Friday after a shoulder injury.

Kentucky’s exhibition opener against No. 1 Purdue doesn’t count, but that doesn’t mean the Wildcats are taking the encounter lightly.

The best way to prepare for the beginning of the college basketball season is to play an exhibition game, and the Kentucky Wildcats will do just that on Friday.

Purdue basketball plans to start Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and CJ Cox at guard and Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff at forward when the preseason-No. 1 Boilermakers take on No.

How Mark Pope’s No. 9 Wildcats and Matt Painter’s No. 1 Boilermakers match up at each position for Friday’s exhibition game at Rupp Arena.

If Kentucky is going to beat the #1 team in college basketball, the Wildcats will have to play at a very high level. Purdue is ranked #1 for a reason, and that