ST. LOUIS -- The nickname is the giveaway.

Senior center Roger Powell Jr. is "The Rev" on the Illinois basketball team.

Literally.

Powell, feeling the calling just about a year ago, became a licensed Pentecostal minister. That's not something you see every day in college athletics, especially not at the Final Four, where the commitment to excellence doesn't always allow a lot of free time for preaching. It's also something that could drive a wedge between a guy and his teammates. They go out, have a beer and chase girls. He goes to Bible discussions or maybe bowling with a campus ministry group.

Obviously, that's not a problem for Illinois, which will play North Carolina or Michigan State for the national championship tomorrow night.

That was clear during Illinois' 72-57 win against Louisville last night in the first national semifinal game. Powell had the hot hand, and his teammates kept feeding him. He responded by scoring 12 of their first 14 points in the second half, getting 18 in all in the second half.

It also was clear after the game in the Illinois locker room. Stand in there for two minutes and you can't help but feel that Powell is every bit as popular and respected with the guys and as valuable to the team as player of the year candidate Dee Brown, point guard extraordinaire Deron Williams and future NBA player Luther Head.

"The good thing about Roger is he allows the rest of us to follow his lead if we want to do it," forward James Augustine was saying. "And, if we don't, he's not pushy about it. He accepts all of us for who we are just like we accept him."

If anything, the Illini figure Powell might give them an added edge. You know, like he might have a line to a higher power. It's not as if this Illinois team needs much help. It's 37-1 and will set an NCAA record for single-season victories if it wins tomorrow night. But who's going to complain about a little extra boost?

When Powell said he prayed at halftime after getting in early foul trouble, playing just 5 minutes and scoring two points, he meant it. He got down on his hands and knees and prayed.

"I just asked for strength for us, like I always do, and for confidence to go out and play at a high level," Powell said, before adding with the biggest grin, "It seemed like it worked."

It helps that Powell is a pretty fair player. During his streak to start the second half, he did a nice imitation of West Virginia's Kevin Pittsnogle, stepping out and hitting a couple of 3s. When he missed one from the top of the key, he followed his shot all the way to the basket and slammed in the rebound.

There probably have been better plays in the NCAA tournament, but it's hard to think of one.

Don't worry if you missed it.

They'll show it on "SportsCenter" a million times between now and tomorrow night.

"It just was going my way in the second half," Powell said. "I knew the ball was going to come off like that. I don't know how. I just knew it."

Illinois, which led only 52-49 after Powell scored his 12th point of the second half with 9¹*₂ minutes to go, needed every bit of the offense he gave them. Its big three -- Brown, Williams and Head -- were a combined 1 for 4 with three points and four turnovers in the second half to that point.

You knew that wasn't going to last.

Williams played a sensational game despite scoring only five points. He had nine assists and, more importantly, held Louisville star Francisco Garcia to four points on 2-of-10 shooting.

Head quickly hit two 3-point shots to highlight an 11-0 Illini run that turned a 50-49 game into a 61-49 runaway. Another Head 3-pointer jumped the lead to 64-51 and broke Louisville for good.

At that point, all was right in Illinois' world.

Certainly, all was right back at the Mt. Zion Full Gospel Tabernacle, the church where Powell preaches in Joliet, Ill., not far from the Illinois campus. They love Powell there because he preaches the word of God, but, let's be real, they're also Illini fans. Who isn't in Illinois these days? Powell is huge with the congregation, "especially the little old ladies," he said, grinning again.

"I'm sure they'll be shouting, 'Praise The Lord,' at tomorrow's service," Powell said. "I wish I could be there."

Powell is going to have to wait until next Sunday for that. By then, he could be a champion.

Until then, Powell is more than happy to celebrate with his teammates.

"These guys accept me as 'The Rev,' " he said. "We're all family here. We care about each other. That's the best thing about this team and what we're doing."

Actually, that's not the best thing for Powell.

When the game ended, he raised two hands skyward and pointed toward the best part -- the most influential figure in his life -- just as he had after Illinois came back from 15 points down in the final four minutes against Arizona last weekend to make it to the Final Four.

No, not Illinois coach Bruce Weber.

You know who.