By Teddy Greenstein
INDIANAPOLIS -- The headline might seem unlikely, but it's true: Northwestern has beaten Purdue in their last two meetings.
Northwestern stunned the then-17th-ranked Boilermakers last March in West Lafayette 64-61 and stormed the Welsh-Ryan floor Jan. 16 after thumping then-No. 6 Purdue 72-64. In that game, Robbie Hummel scored 20 points for Purdue.
Hummel is now out for the season with a knee injury, which is one reason why NU fans should take some optimism into this Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game (5:30 p.m. tipoff). The winner takes on the survivor of the Michigan State-Minnesota game in Saturday's semifinals.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The headline might seem unlikely, but it's true: Northwestern has beaten Purdue in their last two meetings.
Northwestern stunned the then-17th-ranked Boilermakers last March in West Lafayette 64-61 and stormed the Welsh-Ryan floor Jan. 16 after thumping then-No. 6 Purdue 72-64. In that game, Robbie Hummel scored 20 points for Purdue.
Hummel is now out for the season with a knee injury, which is one reason why NU fans should take some optimism into this Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game (5:30 p.m. tipoff). The winner takes on the survivor of the Michigan State-Minnesota game in Saturday's semifinals.
Northwestern never has reached the semis of the Big Ten tourney in 12
tries. The Wildcats' comeback victory over Indiana on Thursday was just
their fifth win in the event.
Purdue will be the more rested team, but Northwestern got excellent minutes from backups Davide Curletti, Alex Marcotullio and Mike Capocci against Indiana. The three combined to score 24 points -- the most bench points for the Wildcats against a Big Ten opponent -- and played 57 minutes.
The Wildcats, by the way, started 2-for-24 from 3-point land before making five of their last seven tries.
John Shurna scored 14 points to become NU's single-season scoring leader. His 588 surpassed Evan Eschmeyer's 585 in 1997-98.
Purdue enters 26-4, winners of 12 of its last 13. The Boilermakers are gunning for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Northwestern is 20-12 and hoping to host a first-round game in the NIT.
Purdue will be the more rested team, but Northwestern got excellent minutes from backups Davide Curletti, Alex Marcotullio and Mike Capocci against Indiana. The three combined to score 24 points -- the most bench points for the Wildcats against a Big Ten opponent -- and played 57 minutes.
The Wildcats, by the way, started 2-for-24 from 3-point land before making five of their last seven tries.
John Shurna scored 14 points to become NU's single-season scoring leader. His 588 surpassed Evan Eschmeyer's 585 in 1997-98.
Purdue enters 26-4, winners of 12 of its last 13. The Boilermakers are gunning for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Northwestern is 20-12 and hoping to host a first-round game in the NIT.
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GO CATS!