MADISON, WIS. ? Friday night’s Sweet 16 game between Kansas University and Illinois will go in the record books as a neutral-court game.

It sure felt like a road game to the Jayhawks.

Kansas' KEITH LANGFORD, center, gets fouled by Sean Harrington (24). Langford hit the two resultant free throws to help Kansas clip the Illini, 73-69, on Friday in Madison, Wis.

Kansas coach Roy Williams was booed for the second straight day at Kohl Center. Williams heard it from hecklers during Thursday afternoon’s practice and again when he was introduced prior to Friday’s 73-69 victory over the Illini.

“I understand what the Wisconsin fans are upset about,” Williams said.

For those that don’t, let’s review.

Wisconsin and Michigan State scored 36 points combined in the first half of their game at the 2000 Final Four. Last season, Kansas played UCLA in the Coaches Versus Cancer Classic. In a foul-filled game, KU managed to beat the Bruins, 99-98.

After the game, Williams was asked about the officiating and said, “It still had to be better than 19-17.”

The seemingly innocent comment has been rehashed a few times in the Wisconsin newspapers this week. Williams said the comment was taken out of context, and that he meant no offense to former Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett.

“Everything I said about that was taken as a slap at Dick and his style of play, and it’s not true,” Williams said. “I have a great deal of respect for Dick Bennett and his club, what he did and the way he coached. That has not changed.

“It bothers me. I’m human. When 5,000, 25,000 people are booing you, it bothers you. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t say it. I’m no dummy. I didn’t understand I was saying something that would offend people, especially people I have a lot of respect for.”

For the record, Kansas is 13-0 at home, 11-1 on the road and 8-2 on neutral courts.

“I said, ‘Fellas, we’ve got a road game. You’ve played your tails off in road games, so let’s do it again tonight,'” Williams said.

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Lucky penny: Too far from the Mississippi River to spit for good luck as the Jayhawks did before a second-round game against Stanford in St. Louis Williams settled for a lucky penny he found while walking to the Wisconsin Capitol.

Then he lost the penny.

“I about panicked,” he said. “I went up to my room, and it had fallen out of my pocket.”

Waiters who served the team during a pregame meal helped the coach find his good-luck charm in the dining room.

“You guys have to understand that coaching is a pretty sophisticated business,” he quipped.

Gulp: Kansas senior Jeff Boschee, an 80 percent foul shooter, missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with KU clinging to a 71-69 lead with 19.4 seconds remaining.

Play of the game: With Kansas leading 71-69, KU freshman Keith Langford rebounded a shot missed by Frank Williams, was fouled and sank two free throws with 2.8 seconds left to seal the victory.

The worst: Kansas forward Nick Collison picked up two fouls in the game’s first 2:23 and wasn’t a factor in the first half. Guard Kirk Hinrich was whistled for his third foul 7:53 in and went to the bench. Collison redeemed himself in the second half, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

Hinrich, who was in foul trouble in last year’s Sweet 16 loss to Illinois, scored three points in 17 minutes.

Big three: KU joined Big 12 rivals and Thursday winners Missouri and Oklahoma in the Elite Eight.

Best tourist stop: Downtown Madison has more than 60 restaurants, 200 shops, a couple of lakes (not that you’d want to take a dip any time soon) and the University of Wisconsin. But this city’s best attraction might be the Wisconsin Capitol.

The state’s third Capitol, completed in 1917, featured the nation’s largest dome by volume and the only one made of granite. The building’s interior features 43 varieties of stone from around the world, murals, mosaics and hand-carved furniture. Tours are available daily.