The two most protected pieces of hardwood in Indiana are getting a corporate logo at the same time. Eli Lilly and Company will have its mark on Branch McCracken Court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and on Keady Court at Mackey Arena under a multiyear deal announced Friday with Indiana Athletics, Purdue Athletics and Learfield.

It is the first time a corporate brand has appeared on the basketball floors of both schools, per WISH-TV, and the first full sports sponsorship in college athletics for Lilly, per Purdue's announcement. Financial terms were not disclosed, per the Indiana Daily Student.

Courts, Recruiting and a Workforce Pitch

The court logos are the visible part. The agreement also gives Lilly year-round sponsorship activations across both athletic departments, and both schools framed it around careers: Lilly wants to promote job opportunities to students and graduates and build pathways in science, technology, business and manufacturing that keep them in Indiana, per Learfield. Lilly's Lina Polimeni put it simply in the release: "basketball is how communities come together."

Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson called the fit perfect, and Purdue's Tommy McClelland said the relationship reaches well past the basketball floor. Learfield's Deana Barnes handles the multimedia rights for both programs.

Jersey Patches Came First

The court deal follows a month in which Indiana also named Merchants Bank the jersey patch partner for all 24 of its varsity programs under a five-year agreement, per Sportico's Oct. 16 transactions roundup. Court logos and patches are the two sponsorship inventories that did not exist in college basketball a few seasons ago, and both Indiana and Purdue now sell both.

The Lilly logo debuts when the 2026-27 season tips off this month. More from the sport is on the BallerTube college basketball page.