GAME NOTES: The Purdue Boilermakers will try to continue their fast start to Big Ten play today, as they host the Illinois Fighting Illini at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers are off to a good start in conference action, winning three of their first four outings, including two in a row. The team was most recently in play on Wednesday, when it posted a 67-62 triumph at Iowa. It was the fifth win in the past six games by Purdue, which improved to 12-5 overall. The Boilermakers now return home, where they gone 9-1 and that includes a 2-0 mark versus league foes. As for Illinois, it finally earned its first conference win of the season on Wednesday, defeating Michigan by a 75-57 score. The triumph put a stop to a five-game slide and improved the club to an even 9-9 overall and 1-4 in conference action. The Illini though, now take to the road, where they have gone 0-2 against league rivals thus far. As for the all-time series, Purdue owns an 86-81 advantage over Illinois, although the Illini has won four of the last five meetings.

Illinois has made its biggest impact at the defensive end of the court, as it is holding its opponents to just 61.7 ppg and a sub par 39.0 percent shooting from the field. Offensively, Shaun Pruitt leads the Illini with 12.9 ppg and he is also ripping down a team-best 7.8 rpg. Brian Randle and Trent Meacham each turn in 10.2 ppg for Illinois, with Randle grabbing 5.4 rpg and Meacham dishing out 2.8 apg. In the team's last game, Randle notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Illini over Michigan. Pruitt also tallied 19 points and he grabbed seven caroms, while Meacham and Calvin Brock had 11 points apiece. Illinois made good on 52.9 percent of its field goal tries and it also held Michigan to a dismal 35.7 percent shooting effort from the field.

The Boilermakers have four players scoring in double figures at the moment and that balance has helped them to average 69.4 ppg for the season. Leading the way is Keaton Grant, who is netting 11.4 ppg and shooting 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. Robbie Hummel is next in line with 10.3 ppg and he is also collecting a team-high 5.8 rpg. Scott Martin contributes 10.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg, and E'Twaun Moore rounds out the group with 10.0 ppg. In the squad's prior outing, Keaton sank 4-of-6 three pointers and he finished with 22 points in a victory over Iowa. Moore and Hummel logged 13 points apiece for Purdue, which hit on 11-of-24 shots from long range and all 12 of its free-throw attempts.

Purdue has really come together as a team this season and it has been especially tough at home. Behind their balanced attack, expect the Boilermakers to get past an Illinois club that lacks consistency on offense.