Classic Rivalry, Higher Stakes

As if the rivalry wasn't big enough between IU (10-6, 4-1 Big Ten) and Purdue (14-1, 4-1). \nNow the two teams will battle for the top of the Big Ten at 7 p.m. tonight in Assembly Hall.\nThe last time the rivals played for first place in the Big Ten was in 1989 when the Hoosiers won 74-73.\nBut the most recent match-up between the two was in West Lafayette, and IU took quite a beating and lost the game 69-47.\nSenior forward A.J. Moye remembers it clearly.\n"They whooped us last year," Moye said. "I've still got that taste in my mouth. I really want a win."\nIU's only Big Ten loss this season came against a Wisconsin team that is also atop the Big Ten at 4-1 in conference play. Purdue's only Big Ten loss so far this season came at Iowa.\nLeading IU is sophomore guard Bracey Wright. Wright was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week this week and is averaging 16.8 points a game. He is also averaging 5.5 rebounds a game and 4.0 assists.\nPurdue coach Gene Keady said containing Wright would be key for Purdue to compete here in Bloomington.\n"It's a hard match-up because he really shoots the ball well," Keady said. "He can penetrate and score, dribble, hit threes. He's very, very hard to contain."\nWhile Purdue is concerned with Wright, IU will look to hold back Purdue senior guard Kenneth Lowe, who is averaging 14.2 points per game.\n"It's going to be a very difficult game for us," IU coach Mike Davis said. "Kenneth Lowe is the key to their basketball team. He's definitely an All-Big Ten player."\nKeady said IU may be the only team in the country right now with three conference road wins. He said he could tell IU is an extremely focused basketball team right now.\nKeady also said he has seen how senior center George Leach's return has affected the team. After missing nine games because of a left knee injury, Leach is leading the Big Ten with 3.25 blocks per game. \nDavis said he's most concerned with protecting home court. He said the pressure is on for the Hoosiers, who have won three conference road games and will now have to defend Branch McCracken Court in Assembly Hall.\n"You want to try to win every home game if possible," Davis said. "If we lose, that gives Purdue two road wins."\nDavis said the atmosphere the last time Purdue played at IU was unbelievable and that he and the team are hoping for the same excitement and support tonight.\nThe Boilermakers haven't won in Bloomington since 1999, and although from Georgia, Moye said he can feel the rivalry between the two schools. \n"I just want to win," Moye said. "That's the bottom line"