ST. LOUIS – They don't have a national ranking, a quality win or a Steve Stipanovich, but Illinois expects nothing less than an eye-gouging, elbow-spearing, 12-round battle royal tonight from Missouri's Tigers.

This is, after all, the Border War.

"It's always a war," Illinois forward Brian Johnson said. "That's one of those games where you can kind of throw out the records."

Yeah, in Missouri's dreams.

Norm Stewart's gang enters the sold-out, ESPN-televised backyard brawl at 5-4. Neither side ever has brought so many losses to St. Louis since the series was moved here in 1980.

"It doesn't matter," Illinois guard Kevin Turner said. "This is the Bragging Rights game. You know they're going to be ready to play."

Now's the Tigers' big chance to make up for last year's 85-69 Kiel Center embarrassment, snap a two-game Border War skid, give fans something to talk about other than the Holiday Bowl, give Stewart career win No. 700 and beat someone worth a hoot.

Every shot they've got, they've missed badly, stumbling against Coppin State (by 10 at home), Arkansas (by 29), Kentucky (by 22) and Duke (by 21).

"A couple of those games, we shouldn't have lost by as much as we did ... but we haven't played no slouches," Missouri forward Albert White said. "That's what you want to do – play top-quality competition to let you know where you stand and where you need to get."

Or, maybe not.

Missouri's through playing Arkansas, and Stewart said Monday he's not too happy with the Border War arrangement. Tiger officials reportedly were irked that last year's game was moved to after Christmas because Illinois added a United Center game against UCLA.

"Illinois hasn't really done a very good job in doing some of the things they're obligated to do," Stewart said at his weekly luncheon. "I think we have always gone over 50 percent of the way."

This is the last year of the current contract, but UI coach Lon Kruger's hopeful another one will be drawn up quick-ly.

"The players seem to enjoy it, and the fans seem to enjoy it," he said. "I don't know any reason why not to continue it."

White's heard good things. He's new to the Border War but no stranger to Illinois. Before the one-time McDonald's All-American was a Tiger, he was a Michigan Wolverine.

He played a year in the Big Ten, racking up the 13th-highest point total for a Wolverines freshman, then split after being suspended for what coach Steve Fisher called "conduct unbecoming a Michigan athlete."

White became eligible when the first semester ended – 5 p.m. sharp last Thursday. The Illini wish he'd waited a week.

"I think he'll make a huge impact," Turner said. "They're not doing well right now, and that's probably what they need. Someone to come in and carry them like he can."

White's ankle was too sore to carry too heavy a load in his first game back, Saturday's 79-56 home victory against Sam Houston State.

He had four points and four boards, leaving the scoring to one-time Illinois signee Tyron Lee and old standby Kelly Thames, who when on, can make for a dandy duo.

Thames, the only Tiger who's been in more than one Border War, is 14th on Missouri's all-time scoring list. Lee, who comes off the bench to average a team-leading 13.1 points, last Monday was named Big 12 Player of the Week.

Both have something to prove after combining for all of 12 points and four rebounds in last year's Border War.

And keep an eye out for another forward who didn't make a mark in last year's showdown. The UI's Jerry Hester, who sat out with a bum back, is coming off his best effort of '97 –a 24-point afternoon againstthe Longhorns.

"He was much more efficient in that ballgame than he's been at any point prior," Kruger said. "To get 24 points with nine shots, that's an awfully good effort. ... I thought that was his best game from an all-around standpoint yet."

Both teams are riding three-game winning streaks, though Missouri's victims (Oral Roberts, Southeast Missouri State, Sam Houston) aren't as formidable as Illinois' last two (Clemson, Texas).

This isn't the same crooked-shooting crew you might have caught in the Gateway City 17 days ago, slipping against St. Louis.

"I think everyone's playing with a little more confidence," Johnson said. "It's hard not to when you have success like this."

The Illini will bus back tonight, then head home for a brief holiday break. They're due back at 5 p.m. Friday in the Assembly Hall to begin preparations for No. 9 UCLA.