Austin following in father's footsteps

Illini Preview: Boilermakers' size will be a challenge» moreCHAMPAIGN — Tight shorts.

That was the takeaway Woody Austin said his son, Alex, and high school and Illini teammate Tracy Abrams had about the clips he used to show them from his own playing days at Purdue.

The 1988 Indiana Mr. Basketball, Woody Austin scored 1,076 points in his Boilermakers career. He still gets back to West Lafayette, Ind., on occasion to see Purdue play and maintains a strong relationship with former teammate-turned-Boilermakers-coach Matt Painter.

But Woody Austin’s loyalties will be split today when he roots for his son and Illinois against his former team.

“I’ll be going both ways, but definitely Illinois,”…