Nathan Baird

nbaird@jconline.com

Three in-state foes and a trip to Hawaii highlight Purdue men's basketball's 2014-15 nonconference schedule.

The Boilermakers released their non-Big Ten opponents throughout the day via their @BoilerBall Twitter account. Times, TV listings, the bracket for the Maui Invitational and dates for Big Ten games will be announced later.

Local foes

The schedule includes Purdue's first meeting with Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which visits Mackey Arena on Nov. 16. The Jaguars' new coach is former Indiana Mr. Basketball Jason Gardner, who played at Arizona. Former West Lafayette standout Justus Stanback averaged 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds while playing in all 32 games as a freshman, but IUPUI finished 6-26 last season.

Coming off of a substantially more successful season is Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne. The Mastodons went 25-11 and reached the CollegeBasketballInsider.com tournament. IPFW will also have a new coach when it visits on Dec. 8 — Jon Coffman replaced Tony Jasick, now at Jacksonville.

Including Notre Dame, which Purdue will play in the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Dec. 20, the Boilermakers will play three in-state nonconference opponents for the first time since 2008-09.

Southern flavor

The regular season begins with a Nov. 14 home game against a Samford squad coming off of a 13-20 season. Another first-time opponent, Grambling State, is the final tune-up before the trip to Hawaii. North Florida, which brings back four of its top five starters from a 16-16 season, comes to Mackey Arena on Dec. 6. That kicks off a stretch of three games in five days, followed by IPFW and Arkansas State. The Red Wolves were 19-13 last season but graduated their top five scorers.

Gardner-Webb serves as the Boilermakers' Big Ten Conference warm-up on Dec. 22. The most notable home game is the already-announced ACC/Big Ten challenge contest against North Carolina State, an NCAA tournament squad last season.

Alumni games

Purdue opens exhibition play on Nov. 2 against the Vulcans of California University of Pennsylvania, a Division II program. On Nov. 7, the Boilermakers welcome Carroll College, an NAIA Division I program based in Helena, Mont. The Saints are coached by former Boilermaker Carson Cunningham, who took the program from two wins to nine in his first season.

The only true road game is a Dec. 13 visit to Vanderbilt, which also features Purdue ties. Commodores coach Kevin Stallings was a player and coach with the Boilermakers. Vanderbilt finished 15-16 last season and 7-11 in the Southeastern Conference and will provide a solid road matchup for a young Purdue team.

Season tickets

Season tickets are on sale through the Purdue Athletic Ticket Office at 765-494-3194 or toll-free at 1-800-497-7678. Fans can also order online at PurdueSports.com.

Men's basketball lower-level season tickets start at $300 for 19 home games.

Fans can renew or purchase season tickets through July 20. Student season tickets will be available beginning Sept. 2.

2014-15 NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Nov. 2—California (Pa.) (Exhibition)

Nov. 7—Carroll College (Exhibition)

Nov. 14—Samford

Nov. 16—IUPUI

Nov. 20—Grambling State

Nov. 24-26—at Maui Invitational

Dec. 2—North Carolina State

Dec. 6—North Florida

Dec. 8—IPFW

Dec. 10—Arkansas State

Dec. 13—at Vanderbilt

Dec. 20—vs. Notre Dame at Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Dec. 22—Gardner-Webb