By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

In each of Purdue's two games with Wisconsin this season, the Badgers played their usual tenacious defense. The outcome just came down to whether Purdue's shots were falling or not.

On Jan. 15, the Boilers (21-8) overcame a mediocre start by hitting 55.6 percent of their 3-pointers and beat Wisconsin (17-12) 63-52. On Jan. 26, Purdue had its worst offensive performance of the season, making a season-low 28.6 percent of its field goals and scoring a season low in points while losing 55-45.

Both teams won at home, but tonight they will meet at a neutral site for the first time in the history of the series. The game, which starts at 10 tonight at the United Center in Chicago, will be the last game of the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Purdue fifth-year senior Brian Cardinal is looking forward to playing in the United Center. Last season, in Purdue's first-round 79-73 overtime loss to Michigan, Cardinal scored a career-high 33 points.

"It's a great place to play," said Cardinal. "The fans are great. Plus, you're playing in the Big Ten Tournament. I mean, it doesn't get much better than that."

Purdue coach Gene Keady said his team loves to play in the United Center. The Boilers are 4-4 there, including 4-2 in the postseason. The team generally shoots well there and has averaged 68.5 points per game.

Keady is concerned with how his offense will fare against the Badgers, who hold opponents to an average of 58.6 points per game — the best in the conference. Point guard Carson Cunningham has a torn ligament in his left ankle; it's not likely that he will start tonight.

Keady thinks depth will be a key. The Badgers' bench includes Jon Bryant, the team's third-leading scorer. Purdue's reserves have played well at times this season.

However, Keady is more concerned with how his team's defense will do against the Badgers' offense. Forward Mike Robinson said the Boilers will have to match the Badgers' defensive intensity.

'When it comes to offense we have to be patient and work for a good shot because they're gonna make us be patient on offense," said Robinson, who will play some at point guard in the tournament. "We've got to come down and stick them on defense like they're sticking us. If we do that, we'll be OK."

Robinson and Cardinal — as well as Chad Kerkhof, Jaraan Cornell and Greg McQuay — will be playing in their last postseason.

Assistant coach Jim Thrash said the group has put in enough time — some of them have put in as many as five years in West Lafayette — to start to see some postseason results.

"They're a good group of people," said Thrash. "Not only are they good athletes, they're good people. They've worked hard to come together and to keep that cohesiveness. They've paid their dues. They deserve to go a long way in the tournament."

Robinson said the team will probably not perform as poorly as in their last meeting with Wisconsin.

"There's a big difference between the team now and the team we were early in the Big Ten season," said Robinson. "I think we've matured a lot and we're more of a family."

Cardinal said the team should be able to come together, take each game one at a time and do well.

"We're excited, and I'm excited to get the ball rolling," said Cardinal. "Hopefully we can put a couple of big games together."