The Purdue Boilermakers dont lose at home very often.  In fact since 2006...the Boilers were 40-3 at Mackey Arena since 2006 before Tuesday night's Illini hard-fought Illini victory.  They were 16-1 at  home last year and their overall record at  Mackey since the building  opened 41 years ago is now 485-113. 

For many years...Illlini teams couldnt beat Purdue anywhere....Champaign or West Lafayette. (Remember the 0-9 drought against my fellow Unity Rocket Brian Cardinal? ) Even the 2005 Final 4 team trailed by 9 points at one point at Mackey Arena...and remember  it took a  Luther Head rebound basket at Purdue in overtime in 2004 to secure a Big Ten Championship. Also...the "Flyin Illini" lost at Purdue the year they went to the Final 4 in 1989. 

So the bottom line is...enjoy any Illini win in West Lafayette....because those wins are like gold.

The Illini wont face many tougher assignments than the one they faced this week at Purdue.  But they do have another big hurdle with a much improved Michigan team waiting for them at Crisler Arena on Sunday. 

By the way...the Illini are showing great balance on offense.  Going into the start of  Big Ten play this week...the Illini had 4 starters averaging right at 12.0 points per game.  They had 5 players in double figures against the Boilermakers and they continue to lead the nation in assist percentage. 

Have a Happy New Year....2009 could be fun for Illini basketball fans.