No. 21 Northwestern puts fresh ranking on line at Illinois

At this time last year -- heck, at this time last month -- the thought of Northwestern contending for a Big Ten Conference title seemed downright laughable.

Guess who might be cackling at this time next month?

The 21st-ranked Wildcats took full advantage of a three-game homestand, upsetting then-No. 1 Purdue, holding off then-No. 14 Indiana and then blitzing Iowa 80-60 on Sunday to wind up in the Top 25 for the first ti