Purdue’s robust scheduling model goes beyond brand recognition and ranked opponents

The big matchups on Purdue’s non-conference schedule are easy to spot, like playing the simplest game Where’s Waldo? ever drawn. The list is highlighted by games against No. 2 Alabama, No. 15 Marquette, No. 23 Texas A&M and No. 5 Auburn. It is without a doubt one of the most challenging schedules in college basketball this season.

What is often overlooked, however, is how Purdue tests itself against mid-tier competition. It’s no coincidence either. After Monday’s 92-84 win over Yale, Boilermakers coach Matt Painter confirmed he is evaluating past success and return to production when trying to put together a schedule.

“Yes, without a doubt,” Painter said. “I think people get a little off the grid there because they don’t understand what their NET (rankings) will be when you start a season, but you can estimate what their NETs have been in the past. best predictor of the future.”

For the casual fan, there probably isn’t much interest in Purdue’s first three games, especially on paper. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll realize that all three of the Boilermakers’ opponents are ranked in the NET’s top 185: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (No. 179), Northern Kentucky (No. 183) and Yale (No. 83).

All three have presented unique challenges early in the season. That’s what Painter loves about bringing quality mid-sized enemies into Mackey Arena.

“No one walks out of here thinking Yale isn’t having a good season, right? No one walks out of here thinking Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won’t be at the top of the league. Northern Kentucky just got into a rut scoring the basketball, but they have an incredible matchup zone,” he said.

“So we saw Yale’s style, we saw Northern Kentucky’s matchup zone and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was shooting in the passing lanes – they were aggressive, they turned us around. So that’s what you want, you want that challenges while still being able to win.”

Purdue has won big over the past three seasons and enjoyed out-of-conference success, unlike most college basketball programs. With Monday’s win over Yale, the Boilermakers have now reached 38 straight victories over non-conference opponents in the regular season. They haven’t lost a non-Big Ten game since December 8, 2020 (Miami).

It’s also not like Painter has the schedule full of cupcakes to reach that number. Included in those 38 consecutive wins are wins over:

Painter, now in his 20th season at Purdue, admitted it took him some time to get comfortable playing a challenging non-conference schedule. He also understands why other coaches might want to deviate from that method.

“It’s hard to do. As a coach, it took me a long time to get to that point,” Painter said. “What coaches fear are those losses, so they just put about 100 points in the NET. Instead of playing (a team ranked) 184, they play 284. Then they complain about their seed or they complain that they are in the bubble and didn’t get in when they made their mistake in June.

“If you sit there and say, ‘How can you be in the top five for eight years in a row?’ I think part of it is that. Now you have to go out and beat them too.”

Making a schedule is not always ‘choosing’ your schedule. Sometimes it’s hard to get mid-major teams to Mackey Arena. Over the past four seasons, Purdue has done a better job of bringing in skilled opponents at that level.

In 2021, the Boilers played three teams ranked in the NET’s top 200: Bellarmine (No. 197), Wright State (No. 186) and Nicholls (No. 192). Purdue played a top-100 mid-major in 2022 and hosted Hofstra (No. 86). Last season, the Boilers were scheduled to play games against Samford (No. 74) and Morehead State (No. 106).

Yes, Purdue has played its fair share of mid-major teams ranked in the 200s and 300s of the NET over the past four seasons. However, that’s the nature of building a non-conference schedule.

The Boilers have just two games left against mid-majors this season: Nov. 23 against Marshall and Dec. 29 against Toledo. The Thundering Herd are ranked No. 245 in the NET and the Rockets are ranked No. 130.

As for the rest of the season? Purdue has those best matchups against No. 2 Alabama, No. 15 Marquette, No. 23 Texas A&M and No. 5 Auburn. The Boilermakers will also play in the Rady Children’s Invitational against North Carolina State and No. 25 Ole Miss of BYU.

It’s a grind, but Painter says it will only help his program move forward.

“The planning style of Mark Few (Gonzaga) and Tom Izzo (Michigan State) – they’ve had some years where they’ve just rolled. They’ve had some years where they’ve had some hits,” Painter said.

“But when it comes time for the conference and going into the NCAA tournament, I think the proof is in the pudding that they are really prepared.”

PAINTER HAS A MILESTONE IN THE CAREER: Purdue coach Matt Painter picked up career win No. 450 in the Boilermakers’ 92-84 victory over Yale on Monday night. CLICK HERE

CAM HEIDE RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM TEAMMATES: Cam Heide looked hesitant in Purdue’s first two games of the season. Thanks to help from his teammates and a text message from Lance Jones, Heide provided a big spark for the Boilermakers against Yale on Monday night. CLICK HERE

FLETCHER LOYER HIT THE BUZZER: Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer beat the buzzer and knocked down a triple as time expired in the first half of Monday’s game against Yale. At halftime he had twelve points. CLICK HERE