Purdue vs. Illinois, this week's marquee matchup:

Purdue (12-1), which has wins over Tennessee, Gonzaga and Marquette, will face ninth-ranked Illinois (10-2) on Friday in a very critical game.
The Wildcats need to avoid another loss to Northwestern to stay atop the league.
Illinois is without top scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. and will look to prove themselves against Purdue and Northwestern this week.
Other key stories

Gonzaga (9-4), ranked No. 24 after three losses in five games, will play Pepperdine and San Diego in West Coast Conference play.
Clemson (11-1) will try to gain national recognition on the road at Miami in the ACC tournament and at home against eighth-ranked North Carolina State.
Super Saturday features a number of marquee matchups, including Ole Miss vs. Tennessee of the Mississippi Southern Conference (SEC), Kentucky vs. Florida State, and Tx vs. Kansas of the Big 12.
League newcomers Cincinnati and BYU will meet in an intriguing non-league matchup.
Purdue's Zach Eddy remains the team's definitive starter, averaging 23.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Gonzaga is winless against Final Four opponents, raising concerns about its league strength.

Clemson's tough schedule down the stretch provides an opportunity to earn national respect.

Super Saturday offers multiple teams a chance to make a statement and move up the rankings.

This week of college basketball will bring exciting matchups and potential changes to the national landscape.