MADISON, WIS. ? It looks as if Illinois may possess a homecourt advantage of sorts during tonight’s Sweet 16 battle against Kansas.

KU coach Roy Williams was loudly booed by several hundred University of Wisconsin supporters as he walked out of a Kohl Center tunnel onto the court for Thursday’s practice session.

About 9,000 Wisconsin fans, who are upset at Williams for criticizing UW’s physical style of play under former Badger coach Dick Bennett two years ago, purchased tickets at the 17,129-seat arena for tonight’s KU-Illinois game, which will tip off at 9:25 p.m.

“We have had success winning on the road in the last 14 years,” said Williams, who has said many times he “loves” Bennett and “respects him greatly.”

“I’ve always thought there’s nothing better than going in somebody’s living room and beating them, being able to focus on the court and playing with poise.”

Williams took the booing Thursday in stride, saying, “Thank you,” in the direction of some fans booing and others cheering him.

Williams expects a pro-Illini crowd tonight.

“I’m sure Illinois will have more fans than we do,” Williams said. “Illinois is a lot closer than Kansas. I still love the way our people follow this team. I’m sure the Illinois ‘Orange Crush’ people will be here for the game. What happens on the court is more important. We’ve got to play well.”

It’s interesting, though, that No. 4 seed Illinois gets to play a better seed  top-seeded KU  in a neighboring state.

“I thought about it a little bit a couple of days ago. Illinois as a No. 4 seed got to play in Chicago last week, a couple of hours from their hometown,” KU senior Jeff Boschee said of the Illini, who beat San Diego State and Creighton in Chicago. “They get to play in a Big Ten arena where they play every year. It’s tournament time. You’ve got to put that behind you and go play basketball.”

Bennett, whose Badgers trailed Michigan State, 19-17, at halftime of the 2000 Final Four semifinals, was stung by Williams’ comment after KU’s 99-98 win over UCLA in the 2000 Coaches Versus Cancer tournament.

“Are you going to tell me you don’t like this more than 19-17?” Williams asked reporters. “I’m not a nuclear physicist, but you make the choice. We’re trying to make it a game of basketball not a weight room contest.”

“When I first heard Roy’s comments,” Bennett said, “it bothered me. When I got a letter from him I realized it didn’t represent his total position.”