Purdue’s path towards avenging one of the worst losses in NCAA Tournament history — a stunning defeat against No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson — begins Friday night against another pesky No. 16 seed, Grambling.
The real season starts now for Matt Painter’s Boilermakers, who once again coasted through the regular season, capturing their second consecutive Big Ten title behind domineering play from their 7-foot-4 All-American, Zach Edey. But a slip-up in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals against Wisconsin likely had Purdue fans shuddering from the haunts of past March failures.
For Purdue to get over the hump, it will rely heavily on its backcourt: Sophomore guards Fletcher Loyer and Caleb Smith each are a year older, and Southern Illinois transfer Lance Jones has slid in seamlessly alongside them.
Grambling pulled off a rousing comeback to defeat No. 16 Montana State in overtime in Wednesday’s First Four game in Dayton, punching its ticket into the first round by virtue of the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
The Tigers have four players who score in double-figures, including senior forward Jourdan Smith, who dropped 18 points with nine rebounds on Wednesday.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s clash between Purdue and Grambling, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Purdue vs. Grambling on today?
- TV channel: TBS
- Live stream: Sling
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Grambling will air live on TBS, with Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Dan Bonner (color analyst), Stan Van Gundy (color analyst), and Andy Katz (sideline reporter) on the call.
Fans looking to stream Purdue vs. Grambling can watch live on Sling, which will stream every NCAA Tournament game on TNT, TBS and truTV and much more.
Purdue vs. Grambling start time
- Date: Friday, March 22
- Time: 7:25 p.m. ET
The NCAA Midwest regional game between Purdue and Grambling is set to tip off at 7:25 p.m. ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Boilermakers have seen their season end at the hands of a double-digit seed in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments, falling to No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson, No. 15 St. Peter’s and No. 13 North Texas. But Matt Painter’s squad has been a constant in the Big Dance, appearing in every NCAA Tournament since 2015.
Grambling won the 2024 SWAC Tournament to punch its first ever ticket to March Madness, and the Tigers made good on their bid by capturing the program’s first-ever Tournament win, defeating Montana State in overtime.
Purdue vs. Grambling tickets
Tickets to the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament are still available on StubHub. For a complete seating chart for all of the games, check out the link below.
BUY NOW: Get NCAA Tournament tickets now on StubHub
March Madness schedule 2024
Here is the full schedule for the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
| Round | Date |
| Round 1 | March 21-22 |
| Round 2 | March 23-24 |
| Sweet 16 | March 28-29 |
| Elite Eight | March 30-31 |
| Final Four | April 6 |
| National championship | April 8 |
