CHAMPAIGN  Clergy members, convenience store employees and a few lucky News-Gazette staffers weren''t the only ones who spent their Christmas days hard at work.

   After a 3 1/2-day break, the University of Illinois basketball team reported to Parkland College''s gymnasium for a two-hour workout Wednesday night.

   Bah humbug.

   "We need to shake off the turkey and get started again," UI coach Lon Kruger said. "The guys had a good three-day break, and they''re anxious to get ready for Missouri.

   "It''s the last game before the conference season, so it''s critical that we keep making progress."

   After the Christmas workout, the team met for a chicken dinner at Aunt Sonya''s. This morning, it was back to Parkland, back to preparing for Missouri, Saturday''s 7 p.m. opponent at the Kiel Center in St. Louis.

   "The break was nice," Illini junior forward Brian Johnson said. "You kind of clear your head, give your body a rest, let your bumps and bruises heal and come back fresh.

   "It takes a little adjustment when you get back, but if you work hard, it can be beneficial."

   Bryant Notree needed a little more healing time than his teammates, the junior forward missing part of Wednesday''s workout after rolling an ankle. Kruger expects no problems for Missouri.

   Kruger spent his Christmas Eve and day driving around Kansas, visiting family and the in-laws. Johnson spent the break in bed, trying to rid of a stomach flu. Chris Gandy and other Illini had sweet dreams of last Saturday''s 79-63 victory over UCLA.

   None bothered to glance at Monday''s Associated Press Top 25, of which 9-2 Illinois still is not a member.

   The Illini are three spots from joining the elite club, which is better than last week when they didn''t receive a single vote.

   "I didn''t even notice it," Kruger said. "Quite honestly, I didn''t know where we were and didn''t know we didn''t get any votes. It''s not all that significant at this point."

   "It''s all political," Gandy said. "You start off in the polls, you stay up there unless you have a really down season. Trying to get in there is a little harder than staying in there."

   Beating 7-3 Missouri should help the Illini cause. If it doesn''t land them a spot in the Top 25, it at least should make Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan  their first three Big Ten opponents  worry a little bit.

   "We keep doing the things we''re doing, people will take notice," Johnson said. "I don''t care about those people that rank teams, but our opponents will start to notice."