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Jeff Borzello, ESPN staff writer
Purdue and Auburn, two men’s basketball programs that have met only three times in history, concluded the two-year series that begins next season.
The first game will be played in Birmingham on December 21, 2024 and the return game will be played in Indianapolis on December 20, 2025 as part of the Indy Classic.
“I am grateful to Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers for agreeing to a two-game series this year in Birmingham and next year in Indianapolis,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement. “Matt has one of the best college basketball programs in the country. His kids play hard and play the right way. Purdue is one of the top programs in the Big Ten, having won three conference championships and been ranked No. 1 nationally in the past three. Season
“We are excited about playing in Birmingham, which will serve as an NCAA Regional site. With a quality opponent like Purdue, I would expect us to sell out Legacy Arena. I know the Auburn family will step up and meet that challenge. We are excited for our players. , because if you want to be the best, you have to play the best.”
The last meeting between the two teams was at the Cancun Challenge in 2016. Prior to that contest, they played in the 2001 NIT and the 1985 NCAA Tournament. Purdue leads the all-time series 2-1.
“We are excited to be a part of an outstanding two-year series with Auburn, starting in December in Birmingham, then returning to Indianapolis in 2025,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “We try to make our non-conference schedule very competitive and Auburn will be one of the top teams in the SEC this coming season.”
Both teams are ranked in ESPN’s Way-To-Early Top 25, with Auburn at No. 11 and Purdue at No. 16.
Auburn won 27 games last season before losing to No. 13 seed Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers have reloaded with the return of Furman transfer JP Pegues and potential preseason All-American Johnny Broom.
Purdue lost to UConn in the national championship game and will begin the post-Zach Eddy era behind a veteran backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Lauer.
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