WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 2009-10 Purdue Boilermaker men’s basketball conference schedule was announced on earlier today (Wednesday). The Boilers are slated to appear live on the Big Ten Network 11 times in the regular season and on the various ESPN channels no less than 12 times.
Purdue University head coach Matt Painter (R) talks to Purdue guard E'Twaun Moore during the second half of their Big Ten mens basketball tournament game versus the University of Illinois in Indianapolis March 14, 2008. REUTERS/Brent Smith (UNITED STATES)
“The Big Ten is going to be as good as it’s been in a number of years,” head coach Matt Painter said. “We have a lot of teams returning experienced players. There will be no easy games on the schedule once we get into league play. I think we have a number of teams who feel like they can make a run at winning the league and advancing in the NCAA Tournament.”
The conference slate is comprised again this year of 18 regular-season games. Purdue plays Northwestern and Michigan once, but will face the other eight conference schools twice.
The Boilermakers open up conference play on the road by traveling to Iowa City, Iowa, on Dec. 29 to take on the Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. Purdue returns home for its final non-conference regular-season game against West Virginia at 2:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day on ESPN.
“We’re excited about our schedule for the 2009-10 season,” Painter said. “We feel like we’ve got some great games in the non-conference portion of the schedule that will help prepare our guys for the rigors of the Big Ten season. We also feel like we have some great games on the home-slate for our fans, which is always important.”
Four days later the Boilermakers take on Minnesota, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in Mackey Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2. There are four more home games in January: Ohio State (Jan. 12 – 7 p.m. ESPN), Michigan (Jan. 23 – 4 p.m. ESPN), Wisconsin (Jan. 28 – 9 p.m. ESPN2) and Penn State (Jan. 31 – 3 p.m. Big Ten Network). Purdue’s road contests are Wisconsin (Jan. 9 – 5:30 p.m. Big Ten Network), Northwestern (Jan. 16 – 5:30 p.m. Big Ten Network) and Illinois (Jan. 19 9 p.m. ESPN).
Purdue will face Indiana twice this season. The first contest is on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in Bloomington and will broadcast on ESPN2. The teams meet in West Lafayette either March 2, 3 or 4. Game time and television coverage will be announced when the date is finalized.
After starting the month of February at Indiana, the Boilermakers will play at Michigan on Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. on ESPN, in East Lansing, Mich. Purdue then plays host to Iowa on Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network and is on BTN the following game at Ohio State on Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
The Illinois matchup in Mackey Arena will be played either Feb. 20 or 21, followed by a game at Minnesota on Feb. 24 at 8:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. Purdue’s final three regular season game dates will be finalized at a later time. Michigan State at home will be either Feb. 27 or 28, Indiana on March 2, 3 or 4 and at Penn State on March 6 or 7.
The 13th annual Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will be played Thursday, March 11 through Sunday, March 14 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. All 10 games will air nationally on ESPN, ESPN2, the Big Ten Network and CBS Sports. ESPN2 will carry the first two games on Thursday and the Big Ten Network will air the final game of the evening. On Friday, ESPN will broadcast the first two quarterfinal games while the Big Ten Network will air the remaining two contests. CBS Sports will televise the semifinal and championship games on Saturday and Sunday.
Purdue season tickets are on sale and are available online at purduesports.com, by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 800-49-SPORT or in person at the ticket office in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility.
The deadline for priority seating is Aug. 28.
