Rothstein: Purdue Basketball to Play West Virginia in NYC

One of the most memorable games of the early Painter era was when Robbie Hummel, E’Twaun Moore, and JaJuan Johnson blew out West Virginia on New Years Day 2010. It was a matchup of top 10 teams and was very nearly a Final Four preview if not for... you know. That was the first of four matchups in a five year span as the Mountaineers and Purdue had the rare double home and home. They have also met for Secret Scrimmage (which is, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES discussed) several times in recent years.

This time though, it counts:

Coach Painter and Bob Huggins have had an excellent relationship over the years, so this is a really good neutral court non-conference matchup. Purdue last played in NYC during the 2018 Big Ten Tournament at the World’s Most Overrated Arena, but this one could be there or the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. West Virginia finished this season ranked 24th and was a solid NCAA team at 21-10.

Purdue’s 2020-21 non-conference schedule is going to be tough once again. Assuming the 20 game Big Ten schedule continues there are only 11 slots, and here is what we know so far:

Mid-November: Two Cancun Challenge “Campus Games” against mid- to low-majors

November 24: Cancun Challenge vs. Clemson, Illinois State, or Mississippi State

November 25: Cancun Challenge vs. Clemson, Illinois State, or Mississippi State

December 1, 2, or 3: ACC/Big Ten Challenge (likely road game)

December 13: West Virginia (New York City)

December 19: Notre Dame (Crossroads Classic)

I do not believe we are slated to participate in the Gavitt Games again, as Purdue has played three times in the first five years and only has one left in the final three years of the agreement. It would be a home game, however, as Purdue has played twice on the road (both at Marquette) and once at home (Villanova).

With the Cancun games, ACC/B1G Challenge, Notre Dame, and now West Virginia that gives Purdue as many as five major conference non-conference games, with a potential sixth if we get a Texas-like home-and-home. The others will likely be mid- to low-major bodybag games like every other team players. This past season Purdue played five major conference teams (Marquette, Texas, Virginia, Florida State, Butler). In 2018-19 it played four (Florida State, Notre Dame, Texas, Virginia Tech) plus an at large NCAA team in Belmont. In 2017-18 Purdue played five in 13 non-conference games (Marquette, Tennessee, Arizona, Louisville, Butler).