WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. _ Wisconsin has brought teams to Mackey Arena that were talented, experienced and battle-tested and often left the court humbled by Purdue.
So what happened when the current UW team _ young and short-handed because of injuries to D'Mitrik Trice and Kobe King _ faced arguably the most experienced team in the Big Ten on Tuesday night at Mackey Arena?
A bludgeoning.
The third-ranked Boilermakers controlled the game from shortly after the opening tip, needed less than three minutes to build a double-digit lead and embarrassed UW, 78-50.
Purdue entered the night with a 39-4 record over UW at Mackey Arena, and the 40th was in the books long before the first half was over.
UW (9-10, 2-4 Big Ten) suffered its third consecutive league loss and matched the number of losses it suffered in 37 games last season.
The Badgers were 1-4 in the Big Ten and 9-9 overall two seasons ago before rallying to finish 12-6 in the Big Ten and 22-13 overall.
But that team was led by a strong junior class, something the current team lacks. This team started two freshmen and has just one senior on the roster.
The Boilermakers started four seniors _ who entered the night with a combined 325 starts and 487 games played _ and one sophomore.
UW countered with a starting five that entered Tuesday with 135 starts and 250 games played.
The mismatch was predictable.
Purdue (18-2, 7-0) extended its winning streak to 14 games and matched the 1987-88 team for the best record through 20 games in program history.
The Boilermakers moved into sole possession of first place in the league, one-half game ahead of idle Ohio State (15-4, 6-0).
The Badgers had 15 turnovers in the first half, tying their season-high mark for a game, and didn't record their first field goal until Ethan Happ scored off a steal with 12 minutes, 23 seconds left in the half. They added five turnovers in the second half to finish with 20.
Freshman guard Brad Davison, who has battled through a painful left shoulder for most of the season, suffered through his worst game of the season.
Davison had seven turnovers in the opening half, committed three fouls and missed both field-goal attempts. He hit his first shot of the night with 7:07 left in the game and finished with five points, seven turnovers and two assists.
Happ had five turnovers in the opening half and finished with seven. He led UW in scoring (15 points) and assists (seven). He added six rebounds.
Freshman Nate Reuvers added eight points.
Purdue, which entered the night shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range, hit its first four 3-point attempts in the opening half and its first three attempts in the second.
The Boilermakers finished at 63.6 percent (14 of 22).
Sophomore guard Carsen Edwards (21), senior forward Vincent Edwards (20) and senior guard P.J. Thompson (14) combined to outscore UW by five points.
They combined to hit 10 of 15 3-pointers (67 percent) and 22 of 38 shots overall (57.9 percent).
Purdue's biggest lead in the half was 21 points _ after Thompson hit a 3-pointer for a 32-11 advantage with 6:38 left.
The closest UW got after that was 37-22 on a basket inside by Happ.
UW scored on its first three possessions _ on baskets by Happ and Khalil Iverson (seven points, seven rebounds) and a three-pointer by Alex Illikainen _ but Purdue countered three consecutive 3-pointers to keep the lead from dwindling.
The Badgers had two chances early in the second half to pull within 14 points but Happ missed a hook and then as called for an offensive foul.
Cline answered with a 3-pointer, the 10th of the game for the Boilermakers, to push the lead to 55-36 with 13:16 left.
