Purdue basketball’s run of playing in showcase events may head west next season, and include a familiar opponent.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported the Boilermakers are finalizing an agreement to play Gonzaga in Las Vegas on Nov. 2. The game, played at T-Mobile Arena, would be part of a doubleheader also featuring UCLA and Arizona.
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If finalized, the game would become the third known component of the nonconference schedule. The Boilermakers are contracted to play Tennessee on Dec. 12 at Mackey Arena, and play at Iowa State. An opponent for the Indy Classic has not yet been announced, nor has Purdue been announced as part of a Thanksgiving-adjacent event.
As with Tennessee, Gonzaga and Purdue share a rich recent history of multi-team event and NCAA tournament matchups.
The Boilermakers beat Mark Few’s team twice in the 2023-24 season. The first came in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. The second came in the Sweet 16 in Detroit.
Insider: How Purdue basketball triumphed over its faults against a marquee opponent
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Purdue also beat the Bulldogs in the semifinals of the PK Legacy event in November 2022. A Gene Keady coached team also beat Gonzaga in the West Region semifinals in the NCAA tournament.
Gonzaga’s four-year run of Sweet 16 or better appearances ended last season. The Bulldogs reached the national championship game in 2017 and 2021 and have won at least 25 games in 18 consecutive seasons.
Purdue played semi-neutral court games against Auburn the past two seasons. It played Alabama in Toronto and Arizona in Indianapolis in 2023. It also played NC State in Brooklyn in 2021.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue vs Gonzaga in Las Vegas, 2026-27 Purdue basketball schedule, games
