Coming off a big win against Indiana at home, the Northwestern Wildcats (18-4, 7-2 Big Ten) look to prove they belong in the top 25 against another ranked team in the Purdue Boilermakers (17-5, 6-3 Big Ten) in West Lafayette.
Northwestern looks to do so without its leading scorer Scottie Lindsey (15.4 PPG, 44.5 FG%), who is out with an illness. Senior forward Nathan Taphorn is also out after turning his ankle in the Wildcats’ 68-55 victory over Indiana on Sunday. Northwestern big man Dererk Pardon will need to return to the form he showed against Nebraska (19 pts, 22 reb) after an off day against Indiana to make up for the mismatch in the frontcourt against one of the best players in the Big Ten in Caleb Swanigan without the help of Taphorn.