Basketball season is finally here, folks, and tonight the Kentucky Wildcats tipped it off in a big way as they hosted the Purdue Boilermakers in their first exhibition game of the season. Now let the over-reactions begin as the Cats picked up the win tonight, 78-63.
In a meaningless exhibition game on a Friday night, I think it is fair to say we are all geeking out just a little bit. After a season with a team that really needed to shoot the ball well, we got a look at the athleticism and the defensive ability of this team in the first 20 minutes.
Advertisement
Helping limit a good Purdue offense to just 30 points in the first half, you have to like the ceiling for this team on the defensive end of the floor. Add in a solid offensive performance, and things seemed too good to be true heading into the break.
Well, fortunately for the BBN, that same play continued into the second half as the Cats hounded the Boilermakers on both ends of the floor. With excellent play from the entire team on both ends of the floor, the Cats kept Purdue on the mat, picking up a big win in a game that doesn’t count.
Now, let the dreaming begin, folks, and book your hotel rooms for Indianapolis. No. 9, here we come.
Highlights
Box Score
Game MVP
We could give this award tonight to several players, such as Denzel Aberdeen, Jasper Johnson, Collin Chandler, and others, but I feel we have to give this one to Malachi Moreno.
Advertisement
Entering the season, many of us did not know what to expect out of the freshman big man. Well, now we have our answer as he impressed against one of the better frontcourts in the country tonight. He held his own on the glass while also showing some real promise on offense on the low block.
If he continues to develop at this rate, he could be a real force come March for this team.
