Illinois didn’t just beat Kansas last year.

The Illini beat up the Jayhawks, winning the battle of the backboards by 15 in an 80-64 Sweet 16 victory over the Jayhawks on March 23 in San Antonio.

“They beat us in every aspect of the game  offensively, defensively, rebounding, in transition. They dominated us,” said KU coach Roy Williams, who compared the Illini’s frontline players to football linebackers.

“That wasn’t to imply they were overly rough or aggressive. They just were a physical, aggressive team. They still are physical. They just might not have as many numbers this year.”

Indeed, the Illini (26-8), who will meet Kansas (31-3) in a Sweet 16 rematch on Friday night in Madison, Wis., still have beefy big men in 6-foot-8, 230-pound Lucas Johnson and 7-foot, 250-pound Robert Archibald.

Also on hand is 6-10, 240-pound forward Brian Cook.

Bangers Sergio McClain and Marcus Griffin are missing from the lineup, however. They used up their eligibility following last season, one that ended with an Elite Eight loss to Arizona.

“It is hard to bully such a talented squad as Kansas,” said Johnson, who scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds in last year’s game as Illinois outrebounded KU, 45-30. “They might have been worn out physically last year. They are so different this year.”

Johnson is different, too.

The Des Plaines, Ill., senior has a three-inch scar on his right knee  a reminder of the knee surgery he had in the preseason.

“I am still able to pound but not able to move quite as well. Now I just kind of find my way inside,” Johnson said.

In fact, he told the Chicago Sun Times he just now is gaining total confidence in his knee. He grinned while glancing at his bloody left knee  a trophy from Saturday’s 72-60 second-round victory over Creighton.

“It felt good to dive on the floor again,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if I’ve been tentative all year because of my knee or what. I needed that.”

Johnson is taking a carefree attitude into his final Sweet 16.

“We have nothing to lose,” he said. “Going in we might be a little hungrier than last year because we have so many seniors and it might be their last game.”

Contributing seniors include Johnson (3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Cory Bradford (11.7 ppg), Archibald (10.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Damir Krupalija (7.1 ppg. 4.8 rpg) plus junior Frank Williams (16.2 ppg., 4.4 apg) who will turn pro after this season.

“Guys have been playing good for over a month now. That’s how we’re going to continue to play,” said Williams, who scored 25 against Creighton and 20 in a first-round victory over San Diego State. “We’re going to try and make it a fair game, but we know that’s a good team  that’s a great team.”

The Illini have won 11 of 12 games after dropping five of eight in a midseason stretch.

“They have proven to be the best team in the country over the course of the season so far. We’re definitely going in there with a predator mentality, that we’re the team that has something to prove,” Archibald said.