Over the course of this morning Purdue is announcing the 2014-15 Men's Basketball Non-Conference schedule. We already know a few opponents, such as North Carolina State, the Maui Invitational slate, and Notre Dame, but the full schedule is slowly trickling out on Twitter this morning.
Here are the dates:
Exhibition:
We will first announce our exhibition games ... Open the season Nov. 2 against California (Pa.) @CaVulcans. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/apndKNCeyY
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
Purdue played the Vulcans in an exhibition a few seasons ago.
Next exhibition opponent is Carroll College from Helena, Montana (@ccSaints), on Nov. 7 in Mackey Arena. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/5HEq4lsGpg
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
Carson Cunningham comes home!
November 14: Samford
The regular-season opener will be Friday, Nov. 14, against Samford (@Samford_Sports) from Birmingham, Ala. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/drkElHtp60
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
Samford has been a regular baseball opponent the last two years. They were 13-20 overall and 6-10 in the Southern Conference last year.
November 16: IUPUI
The 2nd regular-season opponent will be in-state school @IUPUIJaguars on Nov. 16 in Mackey Arena. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/lBX3Uqi9u6
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
Purdue has never played the Hoosiermakers, but Justus Stanback is the son of former Boiler Ian Stanback.
November 20: Grambling
Our next opponent is from the SWAC on Nov. 20 in Mackey -- The Grambling State Tigers (@GSU_Tigers). #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/FuWbWA5H8D
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
This should be an easy, easy win. Grambling not only was winless in 2012-13, they lost all but one game by at least 10 points.
November 24-26: Maui Invitational
Purdue is in the field with Chaminade, Arizona, BYU, Kansas State, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and San Diego State. The Boilers absolutely need a win here other than over Chaminade in the 7th place game, as the other six opponents are possible NCAA teams.
December 2: North Carolina State
This is the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game.
December 6: North Florida
Following the NC State game, #Purdue will host North Florida (@UNFOspreys) in Mackey Arena on Dec. 6. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/Ak8rTJhiIW
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
December 8: IPFW
Just two days later, #Purdue will host IPFW (@IPFWAthletics) in Mackey on Dec. 8. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/DNg9WRe901
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
The other Hoosiermakers are coming too. IPFW was probably the best team in the state last season.
December 10: Arkansas State
On Dec. 10, #Purdue will play its 3rd game in 5 days when Arkansas State (@RedWolvesHoops) visits Mackey. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/tl4sgckvDZ
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
Arkansas State is at least a semi-decent Sun Belt team.
December 13: at Vanderbilt
Boilers hit the road on Dec. 13, heading to the Music City to face Vanderbilt (@VandyMBB) at Memorial Gym. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/twpu9txnOv
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
Here is a true road game with some chest hair! Purdue faces former assistant and player Kevin Stallings and another team that is a threat to make the NCAA Tournament.
December 20: Notre Dame (at Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Purdue will face the Fighting Irish in the Crossroads Classic and Indiana will face Butler.The event has been renewed through at least 2016 as well, so in 2015 we get Butler and in 2016 we get Notre Dame again.
December 22: Gardner-Webb
Our final non-conference foe will Gardner-Webb (@GWUSports), which will visit Mackey Arena on Dec. 22. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/oukE3E3zJN
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 6, 2014
I really like this one. This is a good, challenging low major program that we should beat, but should also give us a respectable challenge in the mean time.
I really like this schedule as a whole. As long as we avoid playing Chaminade we get three quality games in Maui and two wins out there (again, as long as one is not against Chaminade) would be a major step forward. Going to Vanderbilt is challenging, but not overwhelmingly so. Notre Dame and NC State present good ACC opponents with one on a neutral floor.
Even the mid- and low-major programs present some good games. IPFW was about as close to being a tournament team last year as you can get (lost their conference title game in the final minute) and both Arkansas State and Gardner -Webb are good teams. The only teams Purdue should crush are IUPUI and Grambling.