Illinois matches Purdue's intensity ... and then some

CHAMPAIGN - As a courtesy to Northwestern, which hosts Illinois on Thursday, here's a helpful hint:

Don't scare the Illini. That only triggers their instinct to fight and survive.

That's the best way to explain why No. 23 Illinois, fueled by their most ferocious and physical effort this season, wrapped up an unexpected sweep of No. 12 Purdue with a 66-48 Big Ten victory Sunday at sold-out Assembly Hall.

"They play so hard," said Illini senior guard Chester Frazier. "They play the way we should play every night. I think they bring the best out of us because you almost get that scared feeling because you know they're coming at you.

"You've just got to be on your toes and ready to punch back."

The Illini coerced the Boilers, who played without injured sophomore forward Robbie Hummel, into season lows for points, field-goal percentage (32.2) and 3-point percentage (13.3).

Meanwhile, Illinois (19-5, 7-4) retained the only good thing from its whupping Thursday at Wisconsin: Sophomore forward Mike Davis' rejuvenated health and attitude on the boards.

After battling tonsillitis and Bell's palsy for the last month, the 6-foot-9 Davis feels better and proved it with a team-high 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

With the highest rebounding total for a Big Ten game this season, Davis regained the league's rebounding lead (7.8 rpg).

"He had no feeling on his left side of his face," said Illinois coach Bruce Weber, referring to the Bell's palsy. "Even his tear ducts weren't working in his eye. So it bothered him.

"Finally we just said, 'Mike, it's not going away.' I told him yesterday he should average 13 rebounds the rest of the year. I think he showed today when he exerts himself, he can rebound with anybody."

Davis grabbed 5 of the game's first 7 rebounds as Illinois took a lead that it held the whole way. But it wasn't nearly as easy as that sentence sounds.

With Purdue sophomore center JaJuan Johnson (17 points, 11 rebounds) making the rims look like Nerf hoops, the Boilers clung within 41-37 when Weber called timeout with 14:09 to play.

That's when the Illini went on a 23-6 roll triggered by Davis' 12-foot faceup jumper in Johnson's face, then Davis' putback of a Frazier miss.

The Boilers settled for 1 basket and 4 free throws over an 11-minute-plus stretch as Frazier neutralized E'Twaun Moore (2-for-9, 6 points) and everyone else followed suit.

Thanks to Hummel's injury, Frazier was freed up to check Moore this time. He overplayed Moore's right hand to limit him to his second-lowest point total of the season.

"I was preparing for both of them," Frazier said, "but I kind of figured I'd be guarding Moore most of the game. I got home and watched some of his tendencies, some of his moves and how he comes off screens."

Frazier contributed 10 points and 5 assists as well to Illinois' balanced attack. Demetri McCamey added 13 points and 5 assists, while Trent Meacham hit three 3-pointers as part of a 9-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound effort.

The Illini, who share second in the Big Ten with Ohio State, hit the road for three of their next four. They've dropped their last four away from Assembly Hall.

"I don't know about the rest of y'all," Frazier said, "but I'm tired of losing on the road."