Illinois couldn't pick a worse night to visit Mackey Arena

Meanwhile, bracketologists agree that Illinois can secure an NCAA tournament berth with a split in its final two games of the regular season. "We've put ourselves in this predicament," Weber said. "We've got to fight our way out of it." That the Illinois seniors have won at Mackey Arena -- 71-67 in the Big Ten opener during the 2008-09 season -- seems to give them confidence it can happen again. "I've won there before and I'd love to do it again," Tisdale said. The Purdue seniors lost at home to an unranked team at least once in each of their first three seasons, including the 2008 defeat to Illinois. But the Boilers have won six straight, including five by double figures. "Purdue is playing probably as well as anybody in the league," Weber said. "It's hard to say they're playing better than Ohio State, but they did just beat them a week ago."

Klee