April 3, 2005

GAME: North Carolina (32-4) vs. Illinois (37-1).

ROUND: National championship.

TIME: Monday, 9:21 p.m. EST.

SITE: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis.

The consensus is that Illinois' teamwork and North Carolina's talent has helped established them as the top two teams in college basketball.

They're about to find out which approach works best, as the Fighting Illini and the Tar Heels will put their respective strengths on display when they meet for the national title.

It's the first matchup of the nation's top two teams since UCLA beat Kentucky in 1975. It will pit the Fightning Illini - considered the best passing team in the country - against the Tar Heels, who feature at least five players expected to be future first-round NBA draft picks.

"I think it's a matchup that everyone pretty much wanted, pretty much anticipated," Illinois' Deron Williams said. "That's why we're here - to play it out."

Both teams feel slighted by their characterization. Illinois - seeking its first national title in its 100th season - has used the perception that North Carolina has better players as motivation all season. Topping it off, the Tar Heels are slight favorites for this game.

"We're not surprised," Illinois guard Luther Head said. "People have been saying North Carolina is the better team all year. We'll see tomorrow."

The Tar Heels, looking for their fourth national title and first since 1993, have taken exception to the notion that they succeeded because of their talent as opposed to teamwork and chemistry.

"That kind of makes me upset that people are saying that we're not a team, that we're just a talented team," North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton said. "We haven't won 32 games just because of talent. We are a team."

Illinois is hoping to craft a perfect ending to a spectacular season with an NCAA-record 38th victory. The Illini began with a school-record 29 straight wins and have navigated through a friendly NCAA tournament path in front of pro-Illinois crowds in Indianapolis and Chicago before Saturday's 72-57 semifinal win over Louisville put them one game away from an elusive title.

"It's something we've shot for since I took the job," second-year Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "We wrote down St. Louis on the board about six or seven weeks ago."

The Illini overcame quiet games by Williams and Dee Brown on Saturday, displaying the balance they have employed all season. Roger Powell scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half and Head also finished with 20 points.

Williams did an excellent job of stifling Louisville star Francisco Garcia and will have his hands full again matching with Felton.

"I think we're both pass-first, pure point guards," Williams said. "I think he's more of a transition guy than I am. He likes to push it down the court."

Illinois has shot well on 3-pointers in its last three games, making 44 percent (37-of-85). Head is 13-of-28 on 3s in that span.

Five different players have either led or shared the team lead in scoring in Illinois' five tournament games.

"I have a great deal of respect for them," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "They've done better than anybody in college basketball, they're eight seconds away from being unbeaten."

Roy Williams is trying to shake a label of being the best coach never to win the championship as he makes his third appearance in the title game. With Kansas, he lost to Duke in 1991 and fell to Syracuse two years ago.

"Roy is not only a great basketball coach but also a great person," Weber said. "You feel sorry for him in a way... I'd feel happy for him if he wins it. I'm not going to be happy if he wins it tomorrow night."

North Carolina is trying to knock off a third straight Big Ten opponent. The Tar Heels beat Wisconsin last weekend in the Syracuse Regional final before rallying for an 87-71 win over Michigan State on Saturday.

Sean May scored 22 points and Jawad Williams added 20 as the Tar Heels used their dominant inside game to come back from a five-point halftime deficit. Jawad Williams and freshman Marvin Williams each grabbed eight rebounds to help the Tar Heels to a 51-42 advantage.

The Tar Heels are expecting more resistance from an Illinois frontcourt that includes Powell, James Augustine and reserve Jack Ingram.

"They are really tough inside," Marvin Williams said. "It's going to be a big-time matchup for Jawad, Sean and myself."

This will mark the third straight season that Illinois and North Carolina have met, after playing twice in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Illini posted a 92-65 win two seasons ago in Champaign, Ill., forcing Felton into eight turnovers in his sixth college game.

Last season, North Carolina won 88-81 behind May's 23 points and 14 rebounds. Deron Williams scored 22 points to lead Illinois, which made only 7-of-18 foul shots.

PROBABLE STARTERS: North Carolina - F Jackie Manuel (5.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Jawad Williams (13.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg), C May (17.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg), G Felton (12.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.3 rpg), G Rashad McCants (16.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Illinois - F Powell (12.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), F Augustine (10.3 ppg, 7.67rpg), G Head (15.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg), G Deron Williams (12.4 ppg, 6.8 apg), G Brown (13.3 ppg, 4.5 apg).

HOW THEY GOT HERE: North Carolina - At-large bid, ACC; beat No. 16 Oakland 96-68, first round; beat No. 9 Iowa State 92-65, second round; beat No. 5 Villanova 67-66, Syracuse regional semifinal; beat No. 6 Wisconsin 88-82, regional final; beat No. 5 Michigan State 87-71, national semifinal. Illinois - Automatic bid, Big Ten tournament champion; beat No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson 67-55, first round; beat No. 9 Nevada 71-59, second round; beat No. 12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee 77-63, regional semifinals; beat No. 3 Arizona 90-89, OT, regional final; beat No. 4 Louisville 72-57, national semifinal.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: North Carolina - 87-36, 37 years. Illinois - 37-25, 25 years.