Nathan Baird

Journal & Courier

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, is the 50th anniversary of Mackey Arena's first basketball game.

All Big Ten teams will play two conference games, one at home and one on the road, that weekend.

The Purdue women are already scheduled to play Ball State at Mackey Arena on Dec. 3.

After that opening weekend in December, no more Big Ten men's games will be played prior to Jan. 2.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On Dec. 2, 1967, Purdue christened Mackey Arena with a men's basketball game against then-defending national champion UCLA and its head coach, Boilermaker great John Wooden.

That game's 50th anniversary falls on a Saturday — traditionally a non-conference home date for the Boilermakers.

If Purdue plays a home game on Dec. 2, 2017, however, it will do so against a Big Ten Conference opponent.

Big Ten senior associate commissioner Mark Rudner on Tuesday said all league teams will play two games over the first weekend in December — one at home and one on the road. Teams will play either Friday and Sunday (Dec. 1-3) or Saturday and Monday (Dec. 2-4).

That schedule will in part be affected by when teams play their yet-unscheduled ACC/Big Ten Challenge games earlier that same week. Teams who play on Wednesday would not open the Big Ten season on Friday.

The early start is necessary because the Big Ten will play its conference tournament one week earlier than usual. The host venue, New York's Madison Square Garden, also hosts the Big East Conference tournament during the week leading up to the NCAA Tournament.

Rudner said Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski alerted the Big Ten about the significance of Dec. 2. Rudner said that request would be considered along with the many others pertaining to venue schedules and other logistics the Big Ten receives each year. He said such requests are accepted with the understanding that the league doesn't promise it can accommodate them.

"This is going to be an unusual basketball season, and we have a lot of moving parts," Rudner said.

"… We're aware of it, we're cognizant of it, and we'll certainly see if we can make that work. We know how big of a deal it is."

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups are typically released later this month, after NBA Draft entries are finalized and rosters are more predictable. Rudner said the full Big Ten schedule likely will not be released until August.

Rudner confirmed that after those two games on the first weekend in December, no more Big Ten conference games will be played prior to Jan. 2. Conference coaches had proposed eliminating games between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Rudner said Big Ten teams are free to schedule non-conference games in the week between the Big Ten tournament and the start of the NCAA tournament. Purdue currently does not plan to do that, according to Elliot Bloom, director of men's basketball operations.

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Bloom expects the celebration of Mackey's 50th anniversary, still in the planning stages, to spread throughout the season. If Purdue hosts a game on Dec. 2, that would likely involve a separate ceremony.

Purdue women's basketball will play Ball State at Mackey Arena on Dec. 3.

"Mackey turning 50 is a big deal, and it's going to be highlighted not only that weekend, but game-by-game we'll have some opportunities," said Bloom, who handles much of the program's scheduling.

Some of Purdue's non-conference schedule is known. It plays Butler in the annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Dec. 16. Michael Osipoff of the Gary Post-Tribune reported Monday that Valparaiso will play at Mackey Arena on Dec. 7. CBS Jon Rothstein earlier reported a home game against Fairfield.

Bloom said he anticipates the Boilermakers will play an ACC/Big Ten opponent at home and a Big East opponent on the road as part of the Gavitt Games. (Purdue played at Louisville and at home against Villanova, respectively, in those events last season.)

Purdue also competes in a loaded Battle 4 Atlantis field Nov. 22-24 in the Bahamas. Depending on the draw, it will face three teams from among Arizona, North Carolina State, Northern Iowa, SMU, Tennessee, Villanova and Western Kentucky.

Depending on the NCAA Draft decisions of Big Ten Player of the Year Caleb "Biggie" Swanigan, Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas, Purdue could return its entire starting lineup. Purdue won the outright Big Ten regular season title and advanced to the Sweet 16 last season.

"You've got the potential to play six NCAA (Tournament)-type teams," Bloom said, referring to the Battle 4 Atlantis, conference-affiliated games and Butler. "But I think that matches up with the kind of team we think we're going to have. We think we're going to have a top 25-type team.

"Whenever you have a senior-laden team and a team that's expected to be good, then obviously you want to challenge yourself. You want to give yourself opportunities to improve your RPI and get the best seed you can get come March."

Reach Journal & Courier Purdue basketball reporter Nathan Baird at 765-420-5234. Follow on Twitter: @nbairdjc.