March 6, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten) has had its fair share of success thus far, and it will get a good idea of just how far it has come when it plays No. 1 Illinois on Saturday in Champaign. First things first, though, as No. 55 Purdue awaits for a Big Ten showdown 3 p.m. Friday in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue checks in with a 5-3 record, including 1-0 in Big Ten play. PU faced two similiar opponents of NU, losing to Ball State and Notre Dame. NU defeated both of those teams, but can expect some strong competition from Troy Havens and Scott Mayer. Havens is 15-9, the Boilermakers' leader in singles wins. Havens and Mayer have also combined to win eight of 10 in doubles, including four of five at the No. 1 spot.
At 11-0 (before Friday night's meeting with Wisconsin), Illinois is the top-ranked team in the country. Just two weeks ago, the Illini captured the ITA Indoor National Championship, defeating a number of top programs on the way. UI features four players ranked in the top-25 and three doubles tandems ranked in the top-50. Match time is set for 6 p.m.
NU counters with sophomore Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine), who has reeled off seven consecutive wins at No. 1 singles. The local product is 4-1 against ranked opponents, 17-8 overall and 8-1 in dual play. Hanus, ranked 82nd in the nation, is 12-2 in his last 14 matches. Besides Hanus' success, NU also has had good balance, as six players have already hit double figures in singles wins. To put things into perspective, only five players reached double figures all of last season.
Josh Axler (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) have returned to their early-season form with four straight wins. The duo began the year winning seven of its first eight. They then dropped five of seven before their latest streak. They now are a team-best 13-6.
NU holds a 56-16-2 series advantage against Purdue, including last season's 5-2 regular-season win. But the Boilermakers avenged that loss and knocked the 'Cats out of the 2002 Big Ten Tournament two and a half months later. NU trails the series with Illinois, 38-42-2.