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Purdue-Wisconsin Preview

Jan 9, 2010 - 2:38 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Purdue (14-0) at Wisconsin (12-3), 1:30 p.m. EDT

With a win in its last game, Purdue matched the best start in school history.

Now it has a chance to extend its undefeated streak in the city where its last 14-0 start came to an end.

The fourth-ranked Boilermakers try to win their third straight at the Kohl Center on Saturday when they take on No. 17 Wisconsin, which is hoping to bounce back from its first Big Ten loss.

Purdue (14-0, 2-0) equaled the best start in school history with a 79-60 win over Minnesota on Tuesday. The last time the Boilermakers began a season 14-0 was in 1993-94 - a winning streak that ended with a 75-69 loss to then-No. 12 Wisconsin at the old Field House. Purdue went on to reach the Final Four that year.

The Badgers have dominated opponents at the Kohl Center in coach Bo Ryan's nine years in Madison, going 129-10. But Purdue has won its last two games there and will be looking to become the first team to win three consecutive trips to the Kohl Center during Ryan's tenure.

The Boilermakers are playing their third true road game and seventh away from home.

"I think going on the road is great," senior guard Chris Kramer said. "It's just you against the world. Road wins are hard to come by, especially in the Big Ten. We just have to keep playing with emotion, making shots and play good defense."

The Boilermakers played good offense and defense against the Golden Gophers on Tuesday. They shot 52.3 percent and had four players score 15 points or more. Minnesota, meanwhile, shot 30.8 percent and had only two players reach double figures.

Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore scored 18 points apiece for Purdue. Hummel also had 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and two steals.

Coach Matt Painter still saw some room for improvement for the Boilermakers, who are one of four remaining undefeated teams in Division I. Purdue matched a season-high with 17 turnovers and gave up a season-high 19 offensive rebounds.

"We're still making mistakes," Painter said. "We won because we did enough things to put ourselves in position to do so."

Hummel has played some big games in Madison. Although he scored only eight points last season, he hit a key 3-pointer with a minute left en route to a 64-63 victory. The year before, he scored 21 points in a 72-67 win.

The Badgers (12-3, 2-1) return to Madison after suffering a 54-47 loss at No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday, their first loss in seven games. Wisconsin held a fifth straight opponent to fewer than 60 points, but the Badgers shot a season-worst 33.3 percent and trailed the whole game.

Jon Leuer scored 18 of his 21 points after halftime. He was 3 of 6 from 3-point range and had seven rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

"We needed him to do that in the second half or there would've been a lot of separation because some other guys are struggling," Ryan said.

Trevon Hughes, who is averaging 15.9 points, finished with a season-low seven while shooting 3 of 13.

The Badgers are near the top of Division I in scoring defense, holding opponents to 56.3 points per game. They are giving up 50.2 points per game at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin has defeated two teams ranked in the top 15 at home this season, including then-No. 6 Duke on Dec. 2. It's also won its last two against teams in the top 5, beating No. 5 Ohio State on Jan. 9, 2007 - the last time a team ranked that high came to Madison.

The Boilermakers have won four straight overall against the Badgers.