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Boilers to face Hawkeyes,
hope to end losing streak
By Kyle Charters
Senior
Writer
On Jan. 28, Iowa had a 5-2 record and was in second
place in the Big Ten. At the same time, Purdue was a half-game back
at 5-3, which was good for fourth in the conference.
In the three weeks since then, however, a few things
have changed. The Hawkeyes (17-8, 6-6 Big Ten) have embarked on a four
game losing streak, after winning only the first of their last five
games, while the Boilers (13-11, 5-8) have lost five straight.
One of the losing streaks will end at 8 p.m. Wednesday
in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
"Somebody needs to win badly right now," said Purdue
freshman forward Brett Buscher. "Hopefully it's us."
Both teams can partially blame injuries for their
recent problems. Hawkeye guard Luke Recker, who was averaging a team-high
18.1 points per game, suffered a broken right kneecap during a win against
Indiana on Jan. 27.
Boiler starters John Allison and Rodney Smith are
both out with broken feet. Allison broke his foot in practice before
Purdue's loss to Michigan State on Feb. 4. Smith was injured in Purdue's
next game — a Feb. 7 loss to Wisconsin. The frontcourt duo combined
for 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
"I think we lost more," said sophomore center Adam
Wetzel. "We've definitely lost more experience. That's one of the things
where you just have to suck it up and try to play smarter and play to
our strengths and their weaknesses."
Purdue coach Gene Keady said Iowa is still difficult
to defend without Recker.
"But if he would have been there they would have
been harder to guard because he gives them so much experience scoring,"
said Keady. "I don't think they're going to be as hard to guard, but
they're going to be hard enough considering our circumstances."
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ext. 251
Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki Assistant sports
editor:
Anne
McLaren
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