The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - Freshman Bracey Wright feels the weariness in his legs. Senior Tom Coverdale senses it throughout his body.

After playing seven games in 15 days, the Indiana players could use a break. The problem is their unforgiving schedule won't allow it. Now comes a huge instate game Saturday when the No. 7 Hoosiers play Purdue in the Duel of the Dome.

"My toes are cramping, and my legs are really getting tired," Wright said.

Even though Wright and his teammates may be exhausted during the few practices they've held between games, fatigue hasn't been a factor during them.

Wright still scored 47 points in the last two games. If an injured right wrist doesn't hinder him against the Boilermakers (4-1), Wright intends to score even more.

Coverdale was the key in the Hoosiers' last trip to Indianapolis, an 80-74 overtime win over Maryland in a rematch of last year's national title game. But even with classes, finals, projects, road trips and rivalries on the horizon, Coverdale knows this is no time for rest.

"We have our two toughest games coming up," he said, referring to Purdue and Kentucky.

The Hoosiers (7-0) are off to their best start since 1989-90 and have posted their longest winning streak since 1995-96. The ranking is their highest since finishing the 1992-93 season No. 1, and the fans are watching.

Indiana already has sold its allotment of 13,500 tickets for Saturday's game while the Boilermakers still are hoping to sell out their allotment.

In the first game of the doubleheader, a women's hoops rematch will pit No. 6 Purdue (6-0) against Indiana (5-2). Last year, Indiana snapped a nine-game losing streak to Purdue in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.

How big is the men's basketball rivalry? Nearly twice as many fans may attend the Indiana-Purdue game at the RCA Dome as the Indiana-Maryland game at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The matchup was scheduled to keep the annual home-and-home series going after the Big Ten schedule had the two rivals playing just once this season.

Purdue coach Gene Keady is wary of the Hoosiers - tired or not.

"We have to guard the 3-point line and really battle the boards against them because they're playing really well right now," he said.

The Boilermakers have been helped this season by a strong performance from Brett Buscher, who leads the team with 17.2 points per game. Willie Deane, last year's leading scorer, has been solid, and the return of Kenneth Lowe has also helped Purdue.

Indiana coach Mike Davis, who is 4-0 against Keady since taking over the Hoosiers two years ago, knows his team will have a tougher task against Purdue than it appears.

"They've not beaten us in a couple of years," Davis said. "It will be a very difficult game for us to win if we don't come out hard at the start."

Although Wright couldn't shoot at practice Wednesday, he didn't appear too concerned about whether his wrist, toes or legs would bother him Saturday night. Wright expects to be ready.

"I think anywhere we play in Indiana is a home game for us, except maybe Mackey Arena," Wright said with a smile.

WESTERN KENTUCKY: Senior center Chris Marcus, a 7-footer who passed up the NBA draft this year, had a second operation on his left ankle and is expected to miss at least three more weeks.

Coach Dennis Felton said Marcus could return by Jan. 4, when the Hilltoppers (2-3) play Middle Tennessee.