By Shannon RyanEAST LANSING, Mich. - If Michigan State is seeking out counsel on how to snap a three-game conference losing streak, the Spartans can just ask the team that beat them on Wednesday night.
Purdue made a Texas-style nosedive after starting its season 14-0, losing three straight games and shaking the confidence of Boilermakers' fans with a 2-3 conference start. They just never felt their own confidence rattle.
"Sometimes it takes that wakeup call," Purdue coach Matt Painter said.
The No. 6 Boilermakers showed that while they have a lower standing in the conference standings than leader No. 10 Michigan State, they're certainly playing like a team worthy of a Big Ten championship. They served the Spartans their worst home loss in four seasons, 76-64.
Photo: Purdue's Kelsey Barlow blocks the shot of Michigan State's Korie Lucious. (Julian H. Gonzalez/MCT)Illinois made a giant leap with a victory at the Big Ten fortress known as Wisconsin, but there's a reason Purdue is ranked and Illinois is not. Purdue (20-3, 8-3 Big Ten) and Michigan State (19-6, 9-3) meet again on Feb. 27 that looks like it could determine the regular season title, although Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio State will have something to say about that.
"We're still tied for first," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "Purdue went through their three game slump. Ohio State went through there's. Wisconsin lost at home."
The point being that all top teams struggle and as he predicted early on a team with five conference losses could win the title.
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"Illinois made a giant leap with a victory at the Big Ten fortress known as Wisconsin, but there's a reason Purdue is ranked and Illinois is not."
What's the reason Purdue is ranked and Illinois is not?