That 5-0 Purdue Record Against Few? The November 2nd Tipoff Is Zags' Shot at Sweet Redemption.

Alright, Seattle, listen up! The boys in Spokane just dropped some HUGE news that's gonna have us all hyped for November. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are kicking off their 2026-27 season, their very first in the new-look Pac-12, against none other than the Purdue Boilermakers! And get this: we finally have an official tipoff time. Mark your calendars for November 2nd, because this Hall of Fame Series showdown in Las Vegas, at T-Mobile Arena, is set to light up your screen at 4:30 PM PT. You know we'll be glued to TNT for this one, and tickets are already up for grabs if you want to make the trip!

Few's Challenge: A Familiar Foe with a New Vibe

This isn't just any season opener, fam, this is a statement game. Gonzaga announced this back in February, and Coach Mark Few was already talking about it. He said they're "incredibly grateful" to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for such a "premier event" and how special it is to celebrate college hoops at the highest level. You gotta respect that. But he also wasn't shying away from the competition, giving props to Matt Painter and Purdue, calling them "tough, disciplined, and well-coached." Few knows this is gonna be a "great challenge" and an "exciting way to start the year." He's not wrong, especially when you look at the history between these two powerhouses.

The 5-0 Elephant in the Room and Why THIS Game is Different

Let's be real, the history between Gonzaga and Purdue is, well, it's a bit of a sore spot for Zags fans. Purdue boasts an undefeated 5-0 record against Gonzaga over the past 28 years, making them one of the very few teams with a perfect streak against Coach Few. Their run started way back in 1998, then again in 2000 in the Sweet 16, handing Few his first loss to the Boilermakers in the tournament. We saw them again in 2022 at the PK85, and then in 2023 at the Maui Invitational, both close losses thanks to two-time Naismith Player of the Year Zach Edey. Edey even knocked us out of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, nearly 24 years to the day of that first NCAAT win over Gonzaga. Three of those five losses? All thanks to that 7-foot-4 monster. But here's why that 5-0 record might finally be on shaky ground, and why this November 2nd matchup is our shot at redemption: Zach Edey is officially gone! He's off to the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only that, but Purdue also saw a trio of elite seniors, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn, all graduate this past season. This isn't the same Purdue squad that's haunted Few for years. This is our chance. So, get ready, Emerald City. November 2nd isn't just a game, it's a chance to rewrite history and kick off the new Pac-12 era with a massive W. Can the Zags finally conquer their Purdue demons without Edey looming in the paint? You know we'll be watching!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.