At first or even second glance, Illinois’ 8-16 record has the look of a thumbnail recently kissed by a hammer.

A closer look at the Illini, however, shows a group of players and coaches desperately trying to share the pain with any and all of their Big Ten opponents. Tenth-ranked Ohio State (21-2, 8-2), which faces Illinois tonight at Assembly Hall, discovered as much while outlasting the Illini 96-84 on Jan. 22 in Value City Arena.

“I remember that game like it was yesterday,” Ohio State forward Darryce Moore said. “That Illinois team was really tough, and that was a gritty win. Their record doesn’t reflect on how good their team is.”

That loss dropped the Illini to 0-7 in the conference. They are 2-2 since, with wins over Michigan State and Minnesota. They trailed league-leading Purdue by six points with six minutes left on Sunday before losing 77-66 in partisan Mackey Arena.

“I think our players remember every team in the league,” OSU coach Jim Foster said. “This is the time of year where it’s familiar faces, it’s familiar styles. It’s nothing like the preseason. … Illinois is a talented team.”

The sell should no longer feel like a hard one for Foster. Big Ten teams have come after the Buckeyes like tractor-trailers roaring down a steep hill all season.

Wisconsin (8-15, 4-7) chased Ohio State to the final buzzer on Monday before losing 72-58. Afterward, Badgers coach Bobbie Kelsey voiced an attitude that has grown league-wide.

“We’re not here just to lie down and say, ‘Oh well, it’s Ohio State. Poor Wisconsin,’ ” Kelsey said. “We’re here to compete and to try and win the game. I’m a competitor. I don’t like to lose.”

The Buckeyes have played hammer more often than thumbnail in recent Big Ten seasons. They have won six of the past seven regular-season championships and the past three conference tournaments.

“You have to come out hard every game regardless of the (other team’s) record, like you have something to prove,” Moore said. “Wisconsin’s record isn’t good, but playing against them, yeah, we still had to play hard. That team was not going to lie down for us.”

Senior co-captain Samantha Prahalis scored a career-high 34 points against the Badgers. She and Tayler Hill combined to score 54 in the shootout win over Illinois last month.

“Every game is going to be a dogfight,” Prahalis said. “Nothing is easy. We know that we’ve just got to take care of our stuff and we’ll be good.”

The fierce competition is a given.

“It’s the nature of the beast,” Foster said. “(Teams) are getting better. Teams have to make up their minds at this stage of the season that have not had success: Is it worth the investment (to play hard)?

“Wisconsin obviously thinks it is worth the investment. Illinois thinks it is worth the investment. I’d much rather be playing teams that are engaged than not.”

jmassie@dispatch.com