Gene Keady Watch as No. 8 Purdue Hosts No. 13 Michigan State in Key Big Ten Clash
The No. 8-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (22-5, 12-4) welcome No. 13 Michigan State (22-5, 12-4) to Mackey Arena on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at 8 p. m. ET — a game that will be central to Purdue's push for a top-two seed in the conference tournament. Fans and alumni continue to invoke historic program touchstones like gene keady as the Boilermakers try to close February on a high note following a 93-64 win over Indiana.
Gene Keady and the Mackey Arena stage
Purdue closes out a three-game homestand with this meeting and will play two road tests after the Michigan State game: at Ohio State and at Northwestern. The Boilermakers' home record and season metrics underscore the stakes: Purdue is 12-3 at home and carries a strong profile in national efficiency rankings. The program's offensive efficiency sits near the top nationally while defensive efficiency also ranks inside the top 25.
- Overall record: 22-5 | Big Ten: 12-4
- Home: 12-3 | Away: 7-2 | Neutral: 3-0
- Offensive efficiency: 2nd nationally | Defensive efficiency: 23rd nationally
- NCAA NET: 6 | KenPom: 7
The matchup is meaningful for seeding and resume-building: three of Purdue's remaining games, including this one, are classified as quad-1 contests. Maintaining form at Mackey Arena is therefore critical to sustaining their top-tier positioning heading into postseason play.
What to watch: series history, matchup dynamics and implications
Purdue and Michigan State meet for the 135th time, with Purdue holding a historical advantage in the series. Recent trends favor the Boilermakers at home; Purdue has won nine of the last 11 meetings and has posted seven straight home victories over Michigan State by a combined margin reflecting consistent control in those matchups.
Key items that could decide the game:
- Home-court leverage: Purdue's strong record at Mackey Arena and recent series edge versus Michigan State give the Boilermakers an established advantage.
- Efficiency matchup: Purdue's high offensive ranking presents a test for Michigan State's defense; Purdue's defensive efficiency will also be tested by Michigan State's scoring profile.
- Quad-1 stakes: This game is one of multiple high-quality contests remaining on Purdue's schedule, making the result important for NCAA seeding conversations.
Additional context from the series and season notes highlights the program's consistency in scheduling and performance. Purdue ranks among the nation's leaders in assist/turnover ratio, assists per game and several shooting and margin categories, and the team's strength of schedule remains among the country's toughest.
Expect television and radio coverage to be available for the game; game time is listed at 8 p. m. ET and the venue capacity information is in the public gameday details. For a program mindful of tradition and trajectory, names like gene keady surface in conversations about legacy even as the current roster navigates a critical closing stretch.
Schedule snapshot:
- Purdue vs. Michigan State — Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 | 8 p. m. ET — Mackey Arena
- Next: at Ohio State — March 1
- Next: at Northwestern — March 4
Details listed for the matchup include venue and game time; the contest represents one of the final regular-season home opportunities for Purdue to reinforce its NCAA positioning as the Big Ten season winds down.
