Bucket Game on Black Friday creates doubleheader for Purdue basketball, football fans
The first Friday edition of the Old Oaken Bucket game in 30 years will create a doubleheader for Purdue sports fans.
Purdue men's basketball will serve as the lead-in to the Old Oaken Bucket game on so-called Black Friday, Nov. 28. The Boilermakers have not finalized what is expected to be an early afternoon tipoff time for their nonconference game against Eastern Illinois at Mackey Arena.
Purdue and IU will play for the Bucket at 7:30 p.m. at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Purdue confirmed the Friday football kickoff will not necessitate moving the basketball game. The university holds Thanksgiving break from Nov. 26-29, so no classes will be in session.
Per a Purdue athletics spokesperson, the Big Ten and NBC proposed moving the Bucket Game to the Friday primetime spot and away from the crowded Saturday slate of rivalry games. Athletic director Mike Bobinski presented the proposal to coach Barry Odom, who signed off.
The spokesperson said scheduling of the Bucket Game will be addressed annually, as opposed to making this a permanent move. Big Ten rivals Iowa and Nebraska, for instance, always play their rivalry weekend game on Black Friday.
IndyStar understands Indiana did not object to playing the Bucket Game on that Friday.
This is not the first occurrence of a basketball-football doubleheader — or even the first to coincide with the Bucket Game. On Nov. 22, 2008, the Boilermakers beat Indiana 62-10 with a noon kickoff in Joe Tiller's final game. The basketball team defeated Coppin State 66-46 that night.
Purdue men's basketball played a home exhibition game against Indiana State on Oct. 28, 2017. That night, the Boilermakers lost to Nebraska 25-24 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Ross-Ade.
IndyStar IU insider Zach Osterman contributed to this story.
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