Don’t call it a rematch, the teams are completely different. If Illinois wins, odds are they are not going to transport the 2004-2005 National Championship Banner to Illinois. If North Carolina wins, it’s not going to be because of its four first-round draft picks.

ESPN is coining it as the national championship rematch, but consider this game a great indicator as to where No. 12 Illinois (5-0) is at this point in the season.

Think of it as two great programs competing, both young, both representing their conference in the ACC/Big Ten challenge. Senior forward and MVP of the South Padre Island Invitational, James Augustine made it clear that things are different this year.

“It will be a good game, but two completely different teams,” Augustine said. “A lot of people are hyping it up to be a rematch, but it’s two completely different teams.”

North Carolina (3-0) lost all five of its starters from last year and Illinois lost three. The Tar Heels are a team with a few strong upperclassmen but for the most part led by freshmen.

Marcus Ginyard, Bobby Frasor and Tyler Hansborough are all new to the Tar Heels, but were all high-profile recruits; it’s a new team, but it’s a dangerous one.

After winning on a last second shot in its first game, North Carolina has easily disposed of its last two opponents.

“They got a great team, but we are going to watch film and get ready for them in practice,” Brian Randle said Saturday. “I think we’ll be ready for them by Tuesday.”

North Carolina’s famed “Dean Dome” is one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. Its sea of Carolina blue is comparable to Assembly Hall’s orange.

So when Illinois heads into Chapel Hill, they are going to need the seniors to step up.

James Augustine and Dee Brown have played against North Carolina every year at Illinois. They are 1-2 so far and Augustine said if they play the way they are capable, they can tie it up. The trip to the “Dean Dome” will be an accurate measuring stick as to the progress so far.

“We will know more in a hostile environment Tuesday night what we’re about,” Bruce Weber said.

One thing Illinois was missing from its latest trip was great games out of All-American Dee Brown. Weber says that Brown has always loved the limelight and all of it will be aimed straight into North Carolina’s Tobacco Road.

“I think he played very well, he took care of the ball and did what he was supposed to,” Augustine said. “Thats what Dee does. If he doesn’t play well one day, he plays well the next. He’ll get hungry and take it into North Carolina.”

Tipoff is at 8 p.m. and is the game of the night on ESPN.