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Bahamas, Hollywood and Nebraska: Where Purdue basketball is headed in Big Ten play, and more

Bahamas, Hollywood and Nebraska: Where Purdue basketball is headed in Big Ten play, and more

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue basketball's quest for a third Big Ten regular season title in four years now has its path.
On paper, the Boilermakers' 2025-26 20-game league schedule appears to be a favorable path.
Purdue faces rival Indiana, as well as Iowa and Wisconsin twice each, once on the road and once at Mackey Arena.
Other Purdue Big Ten home games: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State and Washington.
Other Purdue Big Ten road games: Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA and USC.
Purdue's west coast trip, after traveling to Washington and Oregon last season, will be the double dip in Los Angeles, marking its first appearance at USC's Galen Center and its first game at Pauley Pavilion since 1999 when former Purdue coach Gene Keady faced former Boilermaker assistant Steve Lavin.
The dates and times for Purdue's Big Ten contests will be finalized at a later date.
Purdue is expected to be one of the favorites to win the conference, returning Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith along with seniors Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn, a first-team all-Big Ten selection in 2025.
Purdue also returns pivotal pieces Gicarri Harris and CJ Cox and gets center Daniel Jacobsen back from a fractured tibia suffered last season. The Boilermakers also add incoming freshmen Omer Mayer and Antione West to package with transfers Oscar Cluff and Liam Murphy.
In addition to 20 Big Ten games, Purdue's schedule also includes a trip to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar on Nov. 20-21 (field not yet announced). Purdue's known non-conference schedule also includes a game at Alabama, Auburn in a neutral site game in Indianapolis and home contests Iowa State, Kent State and Marquette in non-conference play.
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