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When Purdue unveiled its exhibition schedule for the 2026-27 season, the decision to play at Purdue-Fort Wayne raised some eyebrows. Why would Matt Painter take his team on the road when a home game at Mackey Arena could potentially sell out? But Painter, the longtime Boilermakers leader, favors early-season road tests, and Fort Wayne coach Jon Coffman expressed his gratitude for the gesture.
On Thursday, Purdue defeated Fort Wayne 92-62 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. After the game, Coffman was quick to credit Painter for bringing his team to Fort Wayne.
"That was awesome that he brought his team [here]," Coffman said. "Honestly, every Power Four [team] ought to do what Matt did. I don't know why they're not doing it. It's great for college basketball. Go do this; it's awesome. Butler needs to be doing it, Indiana needs to be doing it, Notre Dame did it two years ago. It needs to happen."
Painter had multiple reasons for scheduling the trip to Fort Wayne. Not only does it help a mid-major program attract a large crowd, but it also benefits Boilermaker fans who can't make the long drive to West Lafayette.
"There are fans who can't get to Mackey Arena a lot, there just isn't," Painter said. "This has always been a hotbed for us, especially recruiting. When guys are good enough in this area, we go after them. They've had a lot of success at our place."
More than 10,000 fans filled War Memorial Coliseum to watch the Boilermakers and Mastodons. Although it may not have been a traditional road game for Purdue, it served multiple purposes.
Painter's Preference for Road Exhibitions
Traveling during the preseason is nothing new for Painter. While the trip to Fort Wayne was a rarity for a mid-major program, Purdue has benefited greatly from playing exhibition contests away from Mackey Arena. In the past, the Boilermakers have traveled to Arkansas, Creighton, and Kentucky to prepare for upcoming seasons. Thursday marked the first of two road exhibition games for this year's team.
"Playing these games away from home has helped us, getting into a different environment," Painter said. "This isn't going to be like a road game, per se, for us, but you're going to a place where they play their games and they're familiar."
Purdue's biggest test of the exhibition season comes on Tuesday, when it travels to Hartford to play UConn. That game will give Painter and his staff a better understanding of how this year's team stacks up against high-quality competition. Then, the Boilermakers will fly to Las Vegas to open the regular season against No. 15 Gonzaga. Purdue finally returns to Mackey Arena for its first home game of the season on Friday, Nov. 6, when it hosts Valparaiso.