INDIANAPOLIS – Jolette Law's Illini women swear it's nothing personal against Ohio State.

There's no hidden agenda, no reason to hate the Buckeyes, nothing about them that gets under the skin of anyone wearing orange.

But that doesn't seem to be reciprocal. Or maybe something has gotten lost in the translation. Because, given the evidence, it certainly looks like the top-seeded Buckeyes and ninth-seeded Illini – who knocked off Indiana 59-53 Thursday to set up Friday's 5 p.m. battle in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals – don't much care for each other.

True or false?

"I wouldn't say it's a rivalry, not with Ohio State," Illinois senior Lacey Simpson said, preparing for her 11th career matchup against the Buckeyes. "It's just great competition when we play them, especially in the tournament."

Tracing the genesis of the hard feelings – if that's the case – isn't easy. Perhaps it goes back to the two wins Illinois recorded at Ohio State's expense in 2008, the second coming in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. Perhaps it has to do with last October's media day, when the Buckeyes thought the Illini snubbed them.

"(The Illini) didn't look at you," Ohio State's Jantel Lavender said earlier this season about the encounter in Chicago. "They look at you kind of mean. I think it's personal with them. It's OK, though. I like the competition and the rivalry."

Simpson swears there's nothing to it, though she added, "I just know we maybe interact more with Indiana or other teams. But, no, I wouldn't say we dislike them. It's just basketball."

Perhaps, too, the Buckeyes' interpretations of the Illini stem from the pregame "incident" Jan. 14 in Columbus. Only one Illini player, Lydia McCully, shook hands with her Ohio State counterpart during pregame introductions. The Buckeyes clearly took it personally, coach Jim Foster saying later, "I think it comes from the mind-set of who the opponent is and what the leadership structure is and what their respect is for the game. When you respect the game, that stuff doesn't come into play."

The UI has said it was all a big misunderstanding, that the UI freshman who was introduced first had a brain cramp and forgot to shake hands, and the other Illini just followed suit. The Illini didn't mean to send any sort of message.

In any event, that's the backdrop for Friday's game, a rematch of the past two Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. Illinois won in '08, the Buckeyes in '09. Consider Friday's game the rubber match.

"It's always good when you're an underdog playing a top seed," Simpson said. "We've (beaten) them before. I believe we can do it again."

There could be more at work, too. Foster has repeatedly expressed this season that he's no fan of the style of play that permeates the Big Ten these days, a physical style that Illinois employs along with several other league teams.

"We would like to play basketball and not wrestle," Foster said earlier. "I don't think people enjoy games in the 50s and the 40s."

Defensive-minded Illinois, of course, would like nothing more than a game in the 50s or the 40s. And to get it, they'll have to contain three-time Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender and her spunky point guard/sidekick, Samantha Prahalis.

"Sammy Prahalis is probably the best point guard in the country," Law said.

Prahalis, who grew up in Commack, N.Y., on Long Island, carries a big-city swagger with her flashy game. She frequently dribbles between her legs or around her back while throwing some of the niftiest passes seen anywhere in women's college basketball. And when she's finished, she isn't afraid to spread her arms and strut to the other end of the court.

It can rub some the wrong way.

"She's a very animated, in-your-face, play-to-the-crowd type of player," Indiana assistant coach Jose Mori said. "You don't see a lot of that in women's basketball nowadays. Players are a little more reserved. We try to tell our players not to get caught up in that and stay focused.

"I don't mind it at all as long as it's in good taste, not above and beyond in the name of sportsmanship. I see her going between the legs and the next thing I know I see her in Top 10 plays on 'SportsCenter.' I think it's healthy."

Friday night, Illinois (16-13) gets its chance to spoil the Buckeyes' party and extend for another day its hope of winning four games at Conseco to take the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.