Purdue will try to stop its slumping play as it opens a stretch of consecutive games against ranked opponents with a visit to Illinois on Saturday.
The 24th-ranked Boilermakers (10-4, 0-1 Big Ten) have alternated wins and losses their four games, and are in danger of falling out of the Top 25 with another loss. After facing the 19th-ranked Fighting Illini in the finale of a stretch of four straight road games, Purdue returns home for a meeting with No. 18 Wisconsin.
Boilermakers coach Gene Keady is frustrated by his team's poor play.
"They didn't listen to the coaching, they didn't listen to what the referees said," Keady said after a 71-61 loss to Iowa on Wednesday. "I'll be glad to get back to school so we can get some smartness transplanted. We have to teach them how to play the game better."
The Boilermakers shot 37.5 percent from the field and were just 6-of-26 from behind the 3-point arc Wednesday.
Kenneth Lowe, the team's leading at 14.5 points per game, had 19 points against the Hawkeyes. The senior forward made five of the team's 10 free-throw attempts, and leads the Big Ten in free-throw percentage at 89 percent.
This matchup is the first time Keady will face longtime assistant Bruce Weber, now in his first year coaching the Illini. Weber spent 18 of his 19 years with Keady at Purdue.
The Illini (10-2, 1-0) have won six straight games, including a 85-63 victory over Ohio State in their conference opener.
Nick Smith, a 7-foot-2 center, scored a team-high 22 points, was 6-for-6 from the field and 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. He also had a career-high nine rebounds.
"He's playing very determined. He was motivated tonight and hopefully we can keep that going," Weber said.
It remains unclear whether starting junior guard Luther Head will be available for this game. Head, averaging 10.0 points per game this season, was arrested by Champaign police Tuesday for driving with a suspended license.
"I'm disappointed with the whole situation," Weber said. "I feel bad for him and for the whole team."
The teams split last season's series, with each winning at home.
Purdue leads the all-time series 84-77, but is only 29-51 at Illinois.
