Saturday’s matchup at Purdue is the ultimate gut check for Illinois basketball. After a big win over Maryland without Kylan Boswell, the Illini now head into Mackey Arena—one of the loudest, most unforgiving places in college hoops—to take on a Purdue team that’s built for March and hungry after a tough loss. Braden Smith is running the show for the Boilermakers, and Illinois will need every ounce of grit to keep up. Can the Illini hold it together and make a statement on the road, or will Purdue’s experience and home crowd prove too much? Let’s hear your predictions! #Sports #IllinoisBasketball #Purdue