CHAMPAIGN  On Saturday night, Jarrod Gee went to town against last season''s All-Big Ten center.

   So anyone who''d followed the Illinois center''s roller coaster ride of a career had to know what was coming next.

   Gee followed up his 20-point night at Northwestern with a zero-point, one-rebound, 17-minute night to forget on Tuesday against Purdue.

   "You''ve written that story before," Lon Kruger said with a shrug after his Illini''s 68-58 loss.

   A few times. Gee has developed a nasty habit of following a career game with a crummy one.

   He had a career-high 26 points against Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 24. And six the next night out against Wichita State.

   He had a double-double against Louisville on Nov. 28. And a three-point, five-foul effort the next night against St. John''s.

   What gives?

   "If I had the answer to what makes him go and what doesn''t, I''d feel much better," Kruger said.

Back in town

   He drew too many fouls (two in the first 3:51), missed too many shots (3 of 8) and spent too little time diving on the floor (no steals).

   But Brian Cardinal still managed to enjoy his latest trip home.

   "It wasn''t exactly the way I wanted the game to go, but the big thing was that we won," Cardinal said. "That''s big in my eyes."

   Cardinal, a former News-Gazette Area Player of the Year from Tolono, is now 3-0 against the Illini. He starred in last season''s Purdue win here (17 points, 11 rebounds), but the 6-foot-8 sophomore played a lesser role Tuesday with seven points and six rebounds.

   "He''s still a fan favorite," teammate Gary McQuay said.

   Thirty minutes after the game, Cardinal was in the Assembly Hall stands signing autographs and greeting about 50 well-wishers. He had to be called to the locker room by a Purdue official to make the team bus.

   Cardinal''s high school coach, Don Akers, said the turnout for the former Unity star was as large as usual, even with the Rockets playing a boys'' basketball game at Westville and hosting a wrestling meet.

   "The community made it known to (boys'' basketball coach) Gary Wilsey that he had to win without them tonight," Akers said.

   Cardinal started fast, draining a three-pointer for Purdue''s first points. He helped finish off the Illini, too, with a leaning jumper over Gee during a clutch 8-0 Purdue run after the lead had dwindled to 46-43.

   "When they came at us, we held them off," Cardinal said. "Then we came back at them."

Homecoming, Part II

   At Richwoods High, Mike Robinson had his troubles with city rival Manual, the Rams hogging all the attention, all the state titles.

   Now Robinson has something to brag about.

   "I said I wanted to win this one because I was playing against two guys from Peoria on the other team," the Purdue sophomore said. "It''s always nice to win them so you can have bragging rights in the summer back at home."

   Robinson is 3-0 against Illinois. Last season, though, the UI roster did not include Manual standouts Jerry Hester (injured) or Sergio McClain (still in high school).

   Robinson finished with 11 points and five rebounds (all in the first half). McClain had 10 points and five rebounds, Hester 12 points and seven rebounds.

   "The Manual mystique is over," McClain said. "Things are going to change."

   Robinson has been an effective sixth man for the Boilermakers, averaging 10.4 points and shooting better than 50 percent from the field. Against the Illini, he contributed early when Cardinal drew two quick fouls.

   "Mike''s getting better," Cardinal said. "I think he''s accepted his role as sixth man. He wants to be one of the best sixth men in the nation."

Off target

   Just as Illinois did to Northwestern, someone finally got to the UI''s main man Tuesday.

   Senior guard Kevin Turner, who entered Tuesday''s action tied for third in the league in scoring, missed 11 of 14 shots, including 6 of 7 in the second half.

   What happened?

   "The Purdue guys did a good job at getting through picks effectively and contesting shots, and that was a real big key for them," Turner said. "They forced me to take some tough shots."

   Preseason Big Ten MVP Chad Austin held Turner to seven points, 11 below his season average.

   It''s his lowest output since last year''s NCAA tournament loss to Tennessee-Chattanooga when he finished with four.

   "It''s frustrating, but that''s something that goes along with being one of the main guys on the team," Turner said. "Other guys are going to concentrate on you more.

   "I just have to be more poised on offense and be more patient and just let the game come to me."

   Turner, who needs seven three-pointers to oust Tom Michael from third place on the UI''s career list, knocked down 1 of 4 against the Boilermakers.

   "We wanted to keep contact on him all night," Purdue center Brad Miller said. "Chad is big and strong enough that he can keep contact. He can dislodge you from where you really want to go."

Good seats available

   Still only one sellout this season at the Assembly Hall (Indiana), Tuesday''s game drawing 14,874. And UI ticket manager Mike Hatfield said seats are available for the six remaining home games, although Michigan (Jan. 25) and Iowa (Feb. 22) are close to sellouts with less than 500 tickets remaining for each.

   For information, call 333-3470.