College basketball scouting reports

Northwestern (13-4, 2-3) at Ohio St. (13-5, 3-3)When: 6 p.m. at Value City ArenaTV: BTNRadio: WCPT 92.7-FM, WCPY 92.5-FM, WCPQ 99.9-FMThe skinny: If the Wildcats feel good after splitting home games with No. 6 Purdue and No. 13 Wisconsin last week, then imagine how Ohio State feels. The 21st-ranked Buckeyes jumped back into the Top 25 after winning at Purdue and knocking off Wisconsin at home. OSU's Evan Turner continues to build a compelling case for national player of the year. The St. Joseph graduate averages 18.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block per game #173;- and apparently Turner's broken back has healed since he just won his fourth Big Ten player-of-the-week award. NU can't focus on him, though, because OSU's David Lighty, Jon Diebler and William Buford each average 13.3 ppg.Purdue (14-3, 2-3) at Illinois (12-6, 4-1)When: 8 p.m. at Assembly HallTV: ESPNRadio: WIND 560-AMThe skinny: If you think Bruce Weber doesn't hold back in public when Illinois doesn't play well, then get a load of Weber protege Matt Painter. Purdue's coach hasn't exactly enjoyed the 13th-ranked Boilers' three-game losing streak. A sampling? "We have some experienced players that are not being very productive right now, that are not playing hard," Painter said. "We have to get some guys that are going to play harder and just flat be tougher. - (Senior guard Chris Kramer) hasn't been our defensive stopper the past couple weeks. -We don't play hard enough. We don't chase rebounds." It sounds like Purdue's Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore and Illinois' Demetri McCamey ought to excel - and this one will be decided by the other starters.