Indiana Basketball Seeks Purdue Rematch, Mackey Black-Out

Hoosiers know they need to 'play very well' to beat Boilermakers at home

Feb. 26, 2026 at 5:23am

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Indiana basketball beat Purdue in the first meeting, but now the Hoosiers head to West Lafayette seeking a sweep - and knowing they need to be better. Led by the "Paint Crew" student section, Purdue's Mackey Arena is home to one of the nation's best atmospheres, and the Boilermakers will host a black-out theme for the rematch. Indiana coach Darian DeVries understands the challenge his team faces, from communication to staying composed in the hostile environment.

Why it matters

Indiana's win over Purdue in the first meeting served as a springboard for a season-changing stretch, while the Boilermakers have since won four straight before a loss to No. 1 Michigan. This rematch is crucial for both teams' NCAA Tournament hopes, with Indiana looking to all but seal a trip to the Big Dance in DeVries' first season.

The details

In the first meeting, Indiana narrowly won the rebounding battle 33-28, but DeVries said rebounding and limiting turnovers will be critical factors for the Hoosiers to have a chance at pulling off the upset in West Lafayette. Indiana is also looking to bounce back from a 20-point loss at No. 10 Illinois on Sunday.

  • Indiana beat Purdue 72-67 on January 27, 2026.
  • The rematch is scheduled for Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Darian DeVries

Indiana's head basketball coach, in his first season leading the Hoosiers.

Lamar Wilkerson

Indiana senior guard who scored 19 points in the first meeting against Purdue.

Nick Dorn

Indiana junior guard who scored 18 points in the first meeting against Purdue.

Conor Enright

Indiana senior guard who hit a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of the first meeting against Purdue.

Matt Painter

Purdue's head basketball coach, whose student section is known as the "Paint Crew".

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What they’re saying

“We're going to need to play very well. They've been playing incredibly well. They had a tough night with Michigan the other night. But Michigan, I think on that night, they played about as good as anybody in the country. Purdue's been playing incredibly well. Before that, they beat Iowa, they beat Nebraska, they beat Maryland.”

— Darian DeVries, Indiana Head Coach (si.com)

“So, that's what makes all the sports' home courts so advantageous, is having that type of environment behind you.”

— Darian DeVries, Indiana Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This rematch is crucial for both teams' NCAA Tournament hopes, with Indiana looking to all but seal a trip to the Big Dance in DeVries' first season. The Hoosiers will need to play their best 40 minutes to beat Purdue in the hostile Mackey Arena environment.