The Fighting Illini pulled off yet another upset in their last game against #18 Minnesota. They went into Minneapolis and defeated the Golden Gophers, 57-53. Tracy Abrams hit an absolute dagger with 0:21 seconds left in the game and Illinois hung on for the win.

Wednesday’s game will be the second meeting between Illinois and Purdue this season. In their first meeting, the Boilermakers beat the #11 Illini, 68-61. Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertrand scored 15 and 14 points respectively. However, Purdue’s Terone Johnson scored 25 points to fuel Purdue over Illinois.

The Boilermakers come into Wednesday’s game with an overall record of 12-12 and a Big Ten record of 5-6. Purdue started out their Big Ten conference schedule with a big upset over #11 Illinois, but lost to #18 Michigan State and #15 Ohio State in their next two games.They are 2-4 in their last six games. They lost to #12 Michigan State, 65-78, in their last game.

Feb 5, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Terone Johnson (0) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

There was no question that Terone Johnson single-handedly killed the Fighting Illini in the first meeting.

He scored 25 points and led all scorers in the game. Johnson is averaging 12.7 points per game this season. However, he is only averaging 9.0 points in his last four games.

The only other player averaging double-digit points this season for the Boilermakers is A.J. Hammons. He is averaging 11.3 points per game this season and has scored double-digits in the team’s last three games.

However, Illinois limited Hammons to two points in the first meeting. This was because he got into foul trouble and Johnson was bringing his “A” game that night.

Hammons is also the leading rebounder for the Boilermakers this season. He is currently averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. Although he only scored two points in the first meeting, Hammons was able to haul in seven rebounds against the Illini.

This will be 181st game between the Fighting Illini and the Boilermakers. Purdue leads the series 96-84. Purdue has won the last eight games against Illinois and the last three games played in Champaign.

This game has the same feel as the first meeting even though Illinois is unranked. This is because the Fighting Illini came into the first meeting with confidence and the same can be said for “Round Two.”

Illinois has defeated #1 Indiana and #18 Minnesota in their past two games. The biggest thing people are talking about is whether or not the Illini can get into March Madness with a sub-par Big Ten conference record. The upset wins over the Hoosiers and the Golden Gophers are the step in the right direction.

This is a must win game for Illinois. They need to prove that they can beat the middle teams in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini have played well in their last few games and need to keep it rolling.

Teams want to get into tournament play on their own merit and not on the luck of the selection committee. A win against Purdue would take the selection committee out of the equation for the Illini.

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Wednesday night’s game against Purdue will be Illinois’ 108th conference opener in the Big Ten.

According to fightingillini.com, “Illinois is 66-41 all-time in Big Ten openers.” They have also won 11 of their last 13 conference openers and currently ride a four game winning streak in Big Ten opening games.

The Boilermakers come into this contest with the worst non-conference record of all twelve Big Ten teams. They are 6-6 on the season and the game against Illinois will be their conference opener as well.

November 21, 2012; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) prepares to shoot a free throw against the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue has two players averaging double-digit points for them so far this season. Those players are junior guard Terone Johnson and freshman center A.J. Hammons.

Johnson leads the team with 12.5 point per game while Hammons is averaging 10.0 point per game as a freshman.

On top of being second on the team in points per game, Hammons also leads the Boilermakers with 5.8 rebounds per game this season. In his team’s last win over William & Mary, he scored 14 points and hauled in six rebounds.

This will be 180th game between the Fighting Illini and the Boilermakers. Purdue leads the series 95-84. Last season, the Boilermakers beat the Illini in both of their two meetings. Illinois is also going to try to snap Purdue’s winning streak against them.

Illinois has lost seven straight games to Purdue coming into Wednesday’s contest. That’s the longest losing streak against a conference opponent since the Illini dropped nine straight against the Boilermakers from February 20, 1996 to January 12, 2000.

Expect a big game from the Illini senior class against Purdue. Out of all the teams in the Big Ten, Purdue is the only team that Illinois’ current senior class has not defeated.

More importantly, senior guard Brandon Paul should have a nice game for the Fighting Illini.

So far this season, Paul leads the Illini with 18.7 points per game and entered this week second in the Big Ten in scoring (behind Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas). The most points he has scored in a single game this season is 35 points against the #10 Gonzaga Bulldogs.

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