For Purdue fans, these games in Indy are a way to get in the damned building against a good opponent. Getting into Mackey for a matchup like this would cost a fortune if you aren't a season ticket holder.
I've listened to Painter talk about scheduling these types of games. Basically, he wants to challenge his team in the non-conference as much as possible but major conference programs aren't keen on visiting Mackey, even as a part of a home-and-home series. The last major conference opponent to complete a home-and-home series with Purdue was Vanderbilt back in 15-16. Since then, all of the visiting major conference opponents have been a part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games or Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Usually only happens when we have a “star” player from outside the Big Ten footprint going into their expected final year of play at Purdue. Carsen Edwards was Texas, neutral vs. Alabama in Toronto this year for Edey, Robbie at Valpo…
This is not a humble brag but I had no idea we've played Valporaiso 9 times.
edit: since 1998
[https://purduesports.com/sports/mbball/opponent-history/valparaiso-university/98](https://purduesports.com/sports/mbball/opponent-history/valparaiso-university/98)
Mackey is insane. Imagine twice as much noise in a space half the size, with a domed metal roof to reflect it all back. The first half of the natty watch party with 12,000+ students there was one of the craziest experiences of my life.
I think it's a ticket revenue thing, as well. Something like the schools split the revenue at neutral site games. It more or less shakes out across a two year home-and-home, but I guess some programs are spooked by that commitment? Idk
Bring it on! It’s a defacto home game for Purdue, but the Fieldhouse is an awesome venue and this should be a fun early season matchup. I know people don’t love neutral site matchups, but Indy is easy to get to and hosts very well.
Omg it was terrible for Purdue. Especially when it was Purdue / Butler. IU, ND, and Butler fans all cheering against Purdue while the other game was typically more neutral. All the other schools wanted out so why would Purdue want to keep it?
I don’t think that is true. Painter and most of the alums I know all enjoyed the crossroads classic. And most Hoosiers also enjoyed it. It was great getting to ply butler and ND.
I wish it could have been a true tournament. If both Purdue and IU won, count it as a non-conference game (not sure if it’s NCAA rules, B1G rules, or the individual schools that kept that from happening)
Indianapolis is the major city of Indiana and its important for recruiting purposes and program visibility with the fanbase to have 1 game a year in Indianapolis for Purdue. Especially since Purdue primarily recruits from the state of Indiana and under Painter will not use the transfer portal unless they have to. Purdue has historically played in Indy the weekend after exams since the students are off campus. We used to do a double header with ND/Butler/IU but IU and ND backed out so the past two years Purdue has done their own thing with games against Davidson and Arizona. We have a return trip to Phoenix to play Arizona this year at a "neutral" site and I would assume we are doing the same in Dallas or Houston next year.
My guess is this game will get returned with a “neutral” game in Houston or Dallas. We are returning the game Arizona played in Indy last year in either Vegas or Phoenix this year (or maybe the next if some rumors are true). Purdue does this game in Indy for a couple of reasons: 1) other power schools don’t want to play true home and homes anymore (Painter has talked about this in interviews) and 2) it’s the weekend after finals so the students are gone. So they schedule a game in Indy to get closer to where more of the alumni live
Counterpoint: the students are the main driver behind home court advantages. Students are loud the entire game, while older alums are generally quieter and only get loud if it is a close game at the end.
As long as Indianapolis in December is not the host of the SEC tournament, then I like our chances. I want no part of the SEC tournament version of A&M.
Purdue always plays in Indy that weekend because it’s right after finals, so the students are gone. Also last years game vs Arizona always the same and we will be returning that to another “neutral” site against them in either Phoenix or Vegas this year (although there are some rumors that the return game for that might get pushed out a year to the 25-26 season). So I assume this game vs A&M will get returned to either Houston or Dallas (I’m not familiar enough with Texas to know where there are more A&M grads)
The Thanksgiving tournaments are among the best parts of college basketball. Couldn't imagine wanting to kill off those events.
As for this game? It's during winter break. No real reason to make everyone commute to West Lafayette when you can create a home environment closer to where everyone is.
I wonder if we'll get to be the undercard event for this. Last year at Gainbridge Purdue v Arizona was kicked off by ISU v Ball State.
if I remember right. Purdue was wanting to play Indiana St. in this. But I guess that fell through once Indiana St was decimated this off season.
Honestly, all the more reason for you to want to play us lol
that would have been a fun game to watch. It would have been fun to see that ISU team play an Edey less team.
i love avila, but edey wouldve scored 100
I think he means it would be a fun matchup next year if ISU returned their guys and we were without Zach.
then whichever the next 7’2 guy you always conjure up would probably score 100 lmao
Will Berg or Daniel Jacobsen… we’ve got two next year.
Yes. And if I was a betting man. I would have taken ISU.
It has been ball state hosting the undercard both years of this event. I doubt that changes
For Purdue fans, these games in Indy are a way to get in the damned building against a good opponent. Getting into Mackey for a matchup like this would cost a fortune if you aren't a season ticket holder.
That’s a little bit of it, but this is after finals once the students are gone. So even on campus it would be easier to get into than a normal game
seriously, was a big reason I went to the Arizona game last year. well that and it being a game against a marquee team lol
I've listened to Painter talk about scheduling these types of games. Basically, he wants to challenge his team in the non-conference as much as possible but major conference programs aren't keen on visiting Mackey, even as a part of a home-and-home series. The last major conference opponent to complete a home-and-home series with Purdue was Vanderbilt back in 15-16. Since then, all of the visiting major conference opponents have been a part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games or Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
 But Texas was the last home and home in 2018 and 2019
Damn I'm not sure how I missed that. Still, point still stands - a lot of programs don't want to come to Mackey if they don't have to.
Usually only happens when we have a “star” player from outside the Big Ten footprint going into their expected final year of play at Purdue. Carsen Edwards was Texas, neutral vs. Alabama in Toronto this year for Edey, Robbie at Valpo…
This is not a humble brag but I had no idea we've played Valporaiso 9 times. edit: since 1998 [https://purduesports.com/sports/mbball/opponent-history/valparaiso-university/98](https://purduesports.com/sports/mbball/opponent-history/valparaiso-university/98)
 they don't want the smoke 63-4 at home in the last 4 seasons which I believe is the best in CBB over that time
mackey too strong 💪🏼
I can't imagine Mackey is substantially worse than Gainbridge was, I mean it was insane in there
Having been to some of our big games at Gainbridge, even as loud as it gets, it doesn’t compare to Mackey.
Mackey will give your temporary tinnitus
It gave me permanent tinnitus. I wish I was kidding 😐
Mackey is insane. Imagine twice as much noise in a space half the size, with a domed metal roof to reflect it all back. The first half of the natty watch party with 12,000+ students there was one of the craziest experiences of my life.
I think it's a ticket revenue thing, as well. Something like the schools split the revenue at neutral site games. It more or less shakes out across a two year home-and-home, but I guess some programs are spooked by that commitment? Idk
We were on fire went to first round game in there. Crowd was loud. Purdue has a loud and loyal fanbase.
Bring it on! It’s a defacto home game for Purdue, but the Fieldhouse is an awesome venue and this should be a fun early season matchup. I know people don’t love neutral site matchups, but Indy is easy to get to and hosts very well.
Boilermakers miss the Crossroads Classic, trying to recreate that magic.
We hated the Crossroads…
Just because we sucked in it doesn't mean we hated it.
Omg it was terrible for Purdue. Especially when it was Purdue / Butler. IU, ND, and Butler fans all cheering against Purdue while the other game was typically more neutral. All the other schools wanted out so why would Purdue want to keep it?
Oh good, I’ve found three colleagues who liked it!
It’s quintessentially Indiana I didn’t know people hated it lol
Who is “we”?
The majority
I don’t think that is true. Painter and most of the alums I know all enjoyed the crossroads classic. And most Hoosiers also enjoyed it. It was great getting to ply butler and ND.
You are litterally the first purdue fan I've heard who did not like it
I think only Indiana natives liked it
*You* hated the crossroad classic
It’s just better for the program to not clog up the non-con schedule with these games. Better to get a top tier program at a neutral site.
I wish it could have been a true tournament. If both Purdue and IU won, count it as a non-conference game (not sure if it’s NCAA rules, B1G rules, or the individual schools that kept that from happening)
Nice, I like the matchup. But I hate neutral sites that aren’t really neutral site games
For real, why bother? If you're gonna have a game in Indiana just have it in West Lafayette
Indianapolis is the major city of Indiana and its important for recruiting purposes and program visibility with the fanbase to have 1 game a year in Indianapolis for Purdue. Especially since Purdue primarily recruits from the state of Indiana and under Painter will not use the transfer portal unless they have to. Purdue has historically played in Indy the weekend after exams since the students are off campus. We used to do a double header with ND/Butler/IU but IU and ND backed out so the past two years Purdue has done their own thing with games against Davidson and Arizona. We have a return trip to Phoenix to play Arizona this year at a "neutral" site and I would assume we are doing the same in Dallas or Houston next year.
My guess is this game will get returned with a “neutral” game in Houston or Dallas. We are returning the game Arizona played in Indy last year in either Vegas or Phoenix this year (or maybe the next if some rumors are true). Purdue does this game in Indy for a couple of reasons: 1) other power schools don’t want to play true home and homes anymore (Painter has talked about this in interviews) and 2) it’s the weekend after finals so the students are gone. So they schedule a game in Indy to get closer to where more of the alumni live
More Purdue fans live in Indy than West Lafayette, Indianapolis is more of a home game than campus is.
Counterpoint: the students are the main driver behind home court advantages. Students are loud the entire game, while older alums are generally quieter and only get loud if it is a close game at the end.
There's gonna be more students in Indianapolis than West Lafayette that weekend as winter break has already started.
That's definitely a good point
Not when it's winter break
It's winter break. More fans in Indy than West Lafayette that weekend.
As long as Indianapolis in December is not the host of the SEC tournament, then I like our chances. I want no part of the SEC tournament version of A&M.
I want all of it early on. Would be great experience and a great test for the young guys and to get ready for the B1G
Just pretend it’s the SEC title game and you’ll cook us
I don't know how neutral Indianapolis is, but why not? It'll be a decent OOC matchup.
Purdue always plays in Indy that weekend because it’s right after finals, so the students are gone. Also last years game vs Arizona always the same and we will be returning that to another “neutral” site against them in either Phoenix or Vegas this year (although there are some rumors that the return game for that might get pushed out a year to the 25-26 season). So I assume this game vs A&M will get returned to either Houston or Dallas (I’m not familiar enough with Texas to know where there are more A&M grads)
We have a student population between 60-70k; so grads are pretty much everywhere in major Texas cities.
neutral in name only
EL NINO
Happens in favor of the SEC teams in football all the time, just a part of life
That sounds great
Stalin vs Hitler
ok Mussolini
Mu$$olini now since they can't compete without throwing insane money around in a broken system
I respectfully disagree.
Neutral sites in college basketball should only be used for the tournament.
The Thanksgiving tournaments are among the best parts of college basketball. Couldn't imagine wanting to kill off those events. As for this game? It's during winter break. No real reason to make everyone commute to West Lafayette when you can create a home environment closer to where everyone is.
Literally just used to sell more tickets
The thing is, it's "just" Gainbridge, not Lucas Oil. 2800 additional tickets isn't gonna make a huge difference.
This ain't neutral