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Curt Cignetti reacts to Barry Odom's shot at Indiana's scheduling: 'A flicker in my brain'

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp07/22/25
Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Curt Cignetti, Indiana - © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In a radio interview last week ahead of the annual Big Ten Media Days, new Purdue coach Barry Odom took a subtle shot at Indiana’s non-conference scheduling. On Tuesday, it was Indiana coach Curt Cignetti‘s turn to respond.

He was asked pointedly about the comments from Odom on the non-conference schedule. Cignetti initially appeared like he might be unaware of the comments.

“Barry Odom? I like Barry Odom,” Cignetti said. “Taking a shot at our schedule? Did I think about it? Not much. But that would be an overstatement.”

Cignetti got a small grin on his face after saying that, seemingly waiting to see if anyone would take the bait. Sure enough, a reporter followed up.

“Yeah. I didn’t think much of it,” Cignetti said. “But that would be an overstatement. Not that I didn’t think much of it like he shouldn’t have done that. I saw it. It was a flicker in my brain. And it was over.”

So what was the original shot from Odom about? Well, it came on 107.5 FM in Indianapolis last week during a discussion about scheduling and the merits of nine conference games.

Odom praised the league for having games that fans are excited about, then seemingly stopped for a drive-by shot at his in-state neighbor. He continued.

“I could take the approach of one of the other schools in the state, cancel games and do some of those things, but the schedule is what it is,” Odom said. Enough to get Cignetti’s attention. Just barely, of course.

Going into the 2025 season, Indiana definitely has a lighter non-conference schedule than Purdue, but perhaps not by a huge margin. Either way, the quibbling from Odom was noticed by Cignetti.

Indiana is set to face Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State in the non-conference this year. Meanwhile, Purdue will take on Ball State, Southern Illinois and then travel to Notre Dame.

The truly interesting matchup? That won’t come until season’s end, when Purdue and Barry Odom host Indiana and Curt Cignetti on Nov. 28 in primetime on NBC.