RIVALRY on the road

IU and Purdue have more in common than their game on Saturday. The teams both carry two home Big Ten losses. \nThe Hoosiers' two losses came to Illinois and Iowa, while Purdue suffered defeats to Ohio State and Northwestern.\nNow IU (12-9, 6-4) hopes to hand Purdue (15-8, 5-5) yet another loss in West Lafayette. The contest takes place only three days after Purdue suffered its latest home loss to Northwestern 40-39. \nIU coach Mike Davis said it is hard to explain how teams like IU and Purdue have two home losses and also how Purdue only scored 39 points in their contest with Northwestern.\nDavis said Purdue coming off a home loss could work for or against the Hoosiers.\n"The thing is, the kids get up for certain games, but why not every game?" Davis said. "We have to go in there and execute on both ends of the court. It helps us, really, because everybody marked this game on their calendars as a loss for us."\nDavis said with Purdue's losses at home coming to Northwestern and Ohio State, it shows IU has a solid chance of winning at Purdue if they keep their confidence.\nIt was less than a month ago when the Boilermakers came to Bloomington and lost 63-58.\nHowever, it was a different story last winter when IU lost their road game to Purdue, 69-47.\nSophomore guard Bracey Wright said he barely remembers the trip to West Lafayette last year because he watched from the bench. Wright said it is a different experience to sit out and watch.\n"I do remember us being down like, 10 points," Wright said. "Next thing, I look up, and we're down 30."\nDavis said he knows Purdue might try a zone defense on the Hoosiers but said he welcomes that style of play.\n"We have decent shooters, and it will give us a chance to pass the ball around," Davis said.\nSophomore guard Roderick Wilmont started in Wednesday's game at Penn State in place of junior guard Donald Perry. Wilmont had six points in the game.\nAfter a three game losing streak, Davis said he had no choice but to change things.\nPurdue guard Kenneth Lowe suffered an elbow injury when the team played at IU, but has now returned to do some damage for the Boilermakers in scoring. He is Purdue's leading scorer at 14 points per game, leads the league in free throw percentage at 89 percent and is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.\nDavis said Purdue may have its backs against the wall but so does everyone else in the conference. No team is undefeated, and every school has at least two losses. \nSophomore guard Marshall Strickland said the IU team is going to take things one day at a time, and the Hoosiers think they can make the NCAA tournament and do some damage.\n"We're still in the race for the Big Ten title, and we think we can win out," Strickland said after the victory at Penn State. "That's our game plan from here on out."\nSince Wright didn't get to play at the Purdue game last year due to a recurring back injury, he said he looks forward to going into Purdue's house and showing them what the Hoosiers are made of.\n"Hopefully I can have an impact on the game," Wright said, "and give us a big win on Valentine's Day."\n-- Contact staff writer Natalie A. Trout at natrout@indiana.edu.