Report: Texas A&M, Purdue set for 2024-25 men's basketball matchup
Texas A&M will face national runner-up Purdue in a big-time out-of-conference game in December, according to Jon Rothstein.
The Aggies and Boilermakers will meet Saturday, Dec. 14 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Rothstein reports.
This will be the third all-time meeting between the two programs. They most recently faced off in the 2010 NCAA Tournament with Purdue earning a 63-61 victory to advance to the Sweet 16.
Purdue and Texas A&M are coming off excellent seasons. The Boilermakers and National Player of the Year Zach Edey advanced to the national title game this past season, before coming up short against UConn. Purdue advanced to its first Final Four since 1980 and its first under head coach Matt Painter.
As for Texas A&M, the Aggies went 21-15 (9-9) under Buzz Williams this past season.
Texas A&M made the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season under Williams and nearly advanced to the Sweet 16.
The Aggies earned a No. 9 seed in the Big Dance and knocked off No. 8 seed Nebraska, before falling to No. 1 seed Houston in overtime.
Purdue will be much different team in 2023-24
Purdue finally got over the hump this past season, reaching the Final Four for the first time in 44 years.
However, if the Boilermakers are going to go on another deep run in next year’s NCAA Tournament, they will be doing so with a much different team.
Zach Edey was the most dominant player in college hoops the past two years, averaging 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in 2023-24, a year after averaging 22.3 points and 12.9 boards.
Edey is now off to the NBA, starting guard Lance Jones is out of eligibility and Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Mason Gillis has entered the transfer portal.
Purdue is set to return some important pieces, including point guard Braden Smith, shooting guard Fletcher Loyer, wing Cam Heide, wing Myles Colvin and big man Trey Kaufman-Renn. But there’s no doubt the Boilermakers will play much different and look much different in 2024-25.
The good news for Matt Painter and the Boilermakers is that they signed an excellent recruiting class.
Purdue has the No. 19 class in the country coming in for the class of 2024, led by top-75 prospects Kanon Catchings and Gicarri Harris.
The Boilermakers and Aggies will get an early test next season when they face off in Indianapolis. It will give both coaches an opportunity to see where their teams are.