No matter what you call Illinois’ 20-game winning streak against Minnesota, which dates back to March 4, 1999, when Minnesota (17-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) hosts No. 19 Illinois (17-3, 5-2) at 9 p.m. on Thursday, the latest matchup should be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

“Really, I’ve tried not to,” Smith said of looking at his team’s losing streak. “But I know they’ve handled us (20) straight times now, and I know every team has a school that has a certain team’s number, but the law of averages says that (sooner or later we’ll win).”

What Weber finds more amazing than anything about the streak is that it’s involved three different Illini coaches. Still, for as unusual, crazy or mind-boggling as the streak is, Weber said his players have to focus on the present if they want the streak to grow.

“We went through this last year,” said Weber, whose team beat the Golden Gophers three times last season. “All that matters is right now, that given day (and) those two hours. If you’re ready to play you can’t worry about it.”

Injury checkup

With four wins in a row, including a 70-62 upset of then-No. 21 Minnesota on Jan. 22, No. 16 Purdue (15-4, 4-2) is still hanging around the top of conference standings despite key injuries.

Forward Robbie Hummel (back) and guard Chris Kramer (foot), who have only started 15 and 11 games, respectively, this season, while also missing two games each.

Purdue head coach Matt Painter said Kramer (4.5 points per game, 33 steals) has been back practicing for about a week, while Hummel (13.2 ppg, 7.9 rebounds per game) hasn’t practiced since December.

“He’ll get out there and shoot a little bit, get out and do a drill here and there, but he hasn’t for about a week, week and a half,” Painter said of Hummel, who was selected as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

“I worry about him and try to monitor him as much as possible, just with body language and facial expressions. … I’m just trying to be in constant communication with him to get through (the game) or get someone else in there.”