Auburn finalizes Purdue matchup, returning to Birmingham for neutral-site game
AUBURN — Auburn basketball will play Purdue inside Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. during the 2024-25 non-conference schedule next season. The game will be played December 21, 2024.
The return game will be December 20, 2025, as part of the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
This game (and series) has been in the works since early May, with all details being finalized over the weekend.
“I am grateful to Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers for agreeing to a two-game series to be played this year in Birmingham and next year in Indianapolis,” Bruce Pearl said. “Matt has one of the finest college basketball programs in the country. His kids play hard and play the right way. Purdue is one of the top programs in the Big Ten winning three conference championships and being ranked No. 1 nationally over the last three seasons.
“We are excited about playing in Birmingham, which will serve as an NCAA Regional site. With a quality opponent like Purdue, I would anticipate us selling out Legacy Arena. I know the Auburn Family will step up and meet that challenge. We are excited for our players, because if you want to be the best, you have to play the best.”
In June, Auburn Live reported all were all still trending in the right direction to be finalized.
The Tigers are 1-2 all-time against the Boilermakers. Auburn’s only win came in 1985, with the game being played in South Bend, Ind. The two losses came in 2001 at Purdue and in 2016 during a tournament in Cancun, Mexico.
Purdue has won 29, 29 and 34 games the last three seasons, including a runner-up finish after losing to UConn in the 2024 national championship game. Purdue and Auburn will both be consensus Top 10-20 teams in most major preseason polls.
“We are excited to be part of an outstanding two-year series with Auburn, beginning in December in Birmingham, then returning to Indianapolis in 2025,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “We strive to make our non-conference schedule very competitive, and Auburn will be one of the top teams in the SEC this coming season.”
The Tigers last played inside the Legacy Arena during the 2023 NCAA Tournament, defeating 9-seed Iowa before losing to 1-seed Houston in the second round.
Auburn also beat Saint Louis inside Legacy Arena in 2019, beat UAB inside Legacy Arena in 2018, and beat Middle Tennessee State inside Legacy Arena in 2016.
Bruce Pearl recently said this would be Auburn’s toughest non-conference schedule during his tenure.
The Tigers are already set to play in the Maui Invitational this November. The 41st annual tournament will return to the historic Lahaina Civic Center Nov. 25-27, 2024. Auburn joins a field that consists of Memphis, Michigan State, UConn, Colorado, Dayton, Iowa State and North Carolina. The Tigers are guaranteed to play three games in the tournament.
Auburn returns a deep, experienced and talented roster. It will feature as much versatility as Pearl has maybe ever had during his tenure. The Tigers will be inside the Top 10 in most preseason polls. During the offseason, the Tigers added transfers Miles Kelly, JP Pegues and Ja’Heim Hudson to the roster, in addition to high school freshmen Tahaad Pettiford and Jahki Howard.
According to KenPom analytics, here are Auburn’s most recent strength of schedule ratings:
2024: 60th
2023: 26th
2022: 41st
2021: 37th
2020: 62nd
2019: 11th
2018: 57th
