MADISON, WIS. ? On Thursday, Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams said last year’s NCAA Tournament game between KU and Illinois was irrelevant because the Jayhawks had so many new players in their rotation.

On Friday, freshman Aaron Miles proved him right.

Miles finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes as top-seeded Kansas squeaked past the fourth-seeded Illini, 73-69, in the Sweet 16.

“I just wanted to spark the team by pushing the ball and getting some baskets, and that’s what I tried to do,” said Miles, who entered averaging 6.9 points a game.

One of his biggest buckets was a buzzer-beater that gave KU a 40-34 lead at halftime, despite foul trouble by starters Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison.

“He played well, extremely well,” KU forward Drew Gooden said. “He was taking the ball to the basket, and he was finding open men. He was playing great ‘D,’ as well as I can think against Frank Williams. Williams is a great player, and he held his own.”

In fact, Miles’ defense on Williams was every bit as important as his scoring. Williams, an All-Big Ten selection, entered the game averaging 16.2 points a game. He dropped 30 on the Jayhawks last season in the Illini’s 80-64 victory at San Antonio.

The junior guard scored 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting Friday.

“Aaron’s matchup was so tough against Frank Williams,” Collison said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen on television when Frank Williams tried to take over a game and win it at the end. He tried to do that again tonight, and Aaron wouldn’t let him.”

Williams missed a potential game-tying shot with four seconds left, but it was off the mark.

Miles’ hard work helped the Jayhawks reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 1996. Ironically, KU will face second-seeded Oregon on Sunday.

“I’m from Oregon, and it’s going to be bragging rights for me, hopefully,” said Miles, a Portland native. “That’s something to look forward to. It’s going to be fun.”

“I was recruited by Oregon. I know some of those guys and they definitely have a great team. I’m looking forward to playing against them.”

“It’s the Big 12 champions against the Pac-10 champions,” added Gooden. “It’s what it should be. Two great teams that like to run with the basketball. It should be a great game.”