It was a brief, shining moment in an otherwise miserable season.

Midway through the 2004-05 Big Ten season, an injury-prone Michigan squad took then-undefeated Illinois to the brink. With less than 10 minutes to go, the Wolverines held a 41-37 advantage, bringing the Crisler Arena faithful to a fever pitch.

The Illini eventually prevailed 57-51, but the Wolverines learned an important lesson: Even at its weakest, Michigan could hang with Illinois.

"(Last year's game) helps build your confidence," senior co-captain Sherrod Harrell said. "We were down a few guys last year due to injury. We weren't full force, and to be able to battle with them at such a close level definitely builds your confidence."

While the name on the front of the Illini uniforms is the same, a whole lot has changed since last year's Michigan-Illinois tilt. The Illini lost three of their top four scorers from last season - Luther Head, Roger Powell and Deron Williams - but retain a powerful inside-outside combination in seniors James Augustine and Dee Brown. The duo is averaging nearly 30 points per game this season.

Where Illinois has lost, Michigan has gained. For the first time since last season's Notre Dame game, the entire Wolverine roster will be in uniform. During last year's Illinois matchup, Michigan played without two key backcourt players - Daniel Horton and Lester Abram. This season, junior Brent Petway returned from academic ineligibility in time for Jan. 3's game against Indiana, but Abram sat out the squad's first two Big Ten games with a foot injury. Abram hasn't fully recovered - he's participated only intermittently in recent practices - but he is healthy enough to take the floor in Champaign.

"Lester's been arguably our most consistent player since he's been here on campus," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "It's obvious that when we haven't had him, we haven't been the same team. We've relied on his toughness, his ability to score. And his teammates have great confidence in him."

Abram isn't the only Wolverine returning to the Illinois-Michigan rivalry. Horton's comeback sets up an enticing showdown between two of the Big Ten's premier point guards. Dee Brown, who considered declaring for the NBA Draft before a foot injury derailed his plans, entered the season as the most hyped player in the conference, earning preseason Big Ten Player of the Year honors. But so far this season, Horton, flying under the radar, has matched the speedy six-footer step-for-step. Horton tops Brown in nearly every statistical category - averaging 15.8 points per game to Brown's 14.9, 5.7 assists per game to Brown's 5.3 and shooting 47 percent from the field, compared to Brown's 37 percent.

While acknowledging the importance of slowing Brown, Horton downplayed his emphasis on the one-on-one matchup.

"I want to win, yeah, but it's nothing special," Horton said. "It's nothing between me and Dee Brown. I'm not trying to battle him. It's just Michigan against Illinois."

Even if Horton brings his "A"-game, knocking off Illinois in Champaign will be a tall order. The Illini have won an NCAA-best 30 consecutive games at Assembly Hall, home of the feared Orange Krush student section. Michigan, in particular, has had trouble defeating the Illini - the Wolverines have lost nine in a row at Assembly Hall and 10 straight overall to Illinois.

"It's loud in there," Horton said. "It's a very tough place to play. I remember my freshman year, when (Illinois' Brian Cook) scored like 22 straight. I think I felt the floor shaking. It'll be a great environment for college basketball."