Northwestern enters Saturday afternoon's game losers of six of eight, which has led to a tough 2-5 start in conference play. The Wildcats have a marquee win over Michigan State to their credit, and they're still in good standing with the RPI, but they're going to need to turn things around soon and start working their way up the standings if they want to stay in decent position for an NCAA tournament bid.
Related: Purdue Boilermakers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Preview
The task begins Saturday with the Boilermakers, who come to Evanston on a two-game losing streak. Purdue has struggled with its perimeter defense this season, especially in Big Ten play, where opponents have hit 41% of their three-point attempts. That's encouraging news for a Northwestern offense that fires up threes with great frequency.
Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 28, 3:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2 (Dave O'Brien and Dan Dakich)
Odds: Northwestern is favored by 1-1/2
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, check out Northwestern blog Sippin' On Purple and Purdue blog Hammer and Rails. For more from around college hoops, visit SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.