Illinois has an opportunity to cement its place among the legimtiate Big Ten title contenders — and the best teams in the country — Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind. (With the idea mid-week business is handled against Maryland). It's that weekend matchup with Purdue, though, that stands as a litmus test for Illinois. Seven straight wins (and perhaps an eighth against the Terrapins) is good, but the back half of Big Ten play will be exceedingly more difficult. That leaves plenty to prove for Brad Underwood and Co., which beat writer Scott Richey discusses in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.