Jan. 24, 2006
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The Game
Northwestern (9-8, 2-4 Big Ten) takes to the road Wednesday when they battle Purdue (7-10, 1-5) at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. The two teams are meeting for the second time in three weeks as the Wildcats defeated the Boilers 66-53 in the teams' conference opener Jan. 4 in Evanston.
Northwestern is led by seniors Vedran Vukusic, the Big Ten's third-leading scorer with 20.0 ppg, and Mohamed Hachad, who is coming off one of his best weeks with 15.5 points in two games last week vs. Michigan and Illinois.
Northwestern has won four straight over the Boilers and five of the last six. NU will now try for its fifth straight win over Purdue Wednesday night, which would give them its longest win streak in the series history. Head coach Bill Carmody is 5-4 against Boilers in five-plus years in Evanston.
Purdue is led by Matt Kiefer's 14.8 ppg and junior Marcus White's 12.9 ppg in Big Ten play and are coached by first-year head coach Matt Painter.
A Northwestern Win Would ...
Give the Wildcats their fifth straight win over Purdue, the longest Northwestern win streak in the series history. Northwestern last won four straight from 1950-52.
Give NU its six win in the last seven meetings with Purdue.
Give Northwestern its first two-game season sweep over Purdue since 1951.
Improve head coach Bill Carmody to 6-4 all-time against Purdue.
Give Northwestern their 10th win of the season and improve them to 3-4 in the Big Ten.
About Purdue
Purdue has one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten Conference with four freshman accounting for nearly 50 percent (.483) of its offensive production this year. After the Boilers lost freshman Nate Minnoy (11.0 ppg) to a season-ending injury in the Big Ten opener against the 'Cats, senior Matt Kiefer and junior Marcus White have picked up the slack offensively with 14.8 and 12.8 ppg, respectively.
The Series
Wednesday is the 154th meeting between the two schools. Purdue leads the all-time series 113-40, though Northwestern has won the last four and five of the last six.
Purdue Mentor Matt Painter
Matt Painter is in his first year as the head coach in West Lafayette after taking over for the legendary Gene Keady. During the 2004-05 season, Painter served as associate head coach during Keady's 25th season with the Boilermakers. Painter spent the 2003-04 season as the head coach of Southern Illinois, where he led the Salukis to a 25-5 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Salukis were ranked as high as 15th in the AP poll during the 2003-04 season, and Painter earned Missouri Valley coach of the year honors.
'Cat Chat This Thursday
Join Coach Carmody and ESPN Regional Studio Host/Northwestern Alum Shon Morris at the Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe in downtown Evanston this Thursday night, as they answer your questions and talk Wildcat basketball. Free appetizers will be served, $2 Goose Island drafts will be available, and all fans are welcome. Bring your questions for Coach and join us at the Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe.
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