WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA — It was still early June when Liam Murphy got to put up some shots for the first time inside legendary Mackey Arena on the campus of Purdue University.
To the diehard college basketball fan, just the mention of Mackey makes you think ‘loud.’ There’s a reason why the famous venue includes a decibel meter that never sleeps.
“I remember, the first couple of days I was out here, I drove (to Mackey) with my mom (Eileen) and started shooting while it was dead silent,’’ explained the West Brighton resident, who is using his final year of eligibility to play for the Big Ten powerhouse Boilermakers.
”When there’s nobody in here and it’s dead quiet, that number keeps moving every time you dribble the ball. You’ll see it bounce,’’ laughed the 6-foot-7 Murphy. “It just keeps fluctuating. I know there’s some kind of record for loudest decibels.
“It can get really loud.’’
Purdue University’s Mackey Arena has the reputation of being one of the loudest college basketball venues in the country. The arena’s decibel meter hit a record 124.3 just two seasons ago.(Advance/SILIve.com | Annie De Biase Jr.)
A few weeks earlier, when he made his one and only visit to Purdue before committing, he witnessed a contingent of different individuals playing ‘noon ball.’’
“We came up on top (of the arena) first and we just met athletic director (Mike Bobinski) and they were playing noon ball,’’ said Murphy. ”It’s just faculty administration, some ex-players, ex-coaches, some football guys, admissions guys and whoever who came in here at 12 o’clock to play.
“Some of these guys are 50-60-years-old and getting up and down the court playing basketball,’’ the former St. Peter’s star added. ”It’s definitely just a special place and I haven’t even played on it in front of a packed crowd. I just know it.’’
Mackey, which opened in 1967, has a seating capacity of 14,876, according to Purdue associate strategic communications director Chris Forman. He added approximately 4,800 students, the majority of which make up the ‘Paint Crew,’ attend home games and the decibel meter record is 124.3 from two seasons ago when soon-to-be senior Fletcher Loyer buried a three-pointer against Northwestern.
”It’s definitely just a special place and I haven’t even played on it in front of a packed crowd. I just know it.’’
Liam Murphy on playing at Mackey Arena
Mackey has sold out in 89 consecutive games and with a strong core of returning players — most notably Braden Smith, Trey Faulkner-Renn and Loyer, there’s no reason to believe that streak will end anytime soon.
Purdue’s non-league schedule has been released and, according to its website, the Boilermakers open the season at home against Evansville on Nov. 4.
Murphy is currently taking part in summer workouts with the Boilermakers’ coaching staff. The team will get an approximate 10-day break in August before they start classes later that month.
Naturally, there’ll still be workouts being conducted for the first month-and-half of the fall semester before official practices commence in mid-October.
West Brighton resident Liam Murphy is looking forward to putting up a host of shots while playing for Purdue University during the 2025-26 campaign. (Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase)(Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase)
So the bottom line is, it’s still a long way off before Nov. 4. If Purdue’s current schedule remains the same, they’ll play eight non-league games at home before it begins its Big Ten schedule.
Murphy doesn’t want time to go by too quickly, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t looking forward to getting his feet wet on Mackey’s hardwood floor.
“The thought of it is just super exciting,’’ explained Murphy. ”In today’s technology world, I can be in here shooting, 8 to 10 at night, get a good sweat in by myself envisioning it.
“Then I can go home and watch when they had Alabama here, teams like Michigan St., and then it really makes it real,’’ he acknowledged.
“But,’’ he added. ”I still understand it won’t be real until I run out of that tunnel and I’ve had that conversation with some of the guys who tell me when I run out of there for the first time, it should be pretty special.”
“If I had to bet on it, I’d say probably a nice three and hopefully the first one I put up.”
Liam Murphy on envisioning how he scores his first Purdue points
When asked how he envisioned his first Purdue bucket, he laughed before answering.
“It doesn’t matter too much — I just want to hit the first one I put up, whether it be mid-range, three-pointer, half-court shot, dunk on somebody. Whatever,’’ he said, still chuckling. “But if I had to bet on it, I’d say probably a nice three and hopefully the first one I put up.
“And no rim.’’
Approximately 4.800 Purdue students get tickets to a home game at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers have sold out in 89 consecutive games entering next season.(Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase Jr.)
Murphy said finding motivation won’t be a problem.
“I’ve talked to my folks, especially my dad (Joe), I think finding motivation is big, especially since I’ve been at it now for about five or six years in college‚’’ said Murphy. ”After having injury after injury, some guys stop and some guys want to keep going.
“But it’s easy for me to work out in here and find motivation,’’ he added. ”If you’re in (Mackey) and you’re sweating and dying, whether it be early morning or late-night workout, you just have to look up (at the banners) and get some motivation. It’s actually pretty easy for me.’’
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