Expectations follow a winner as doggedly as a tailgating driver loves the other guy's rear bumper at rush hour.

So Jantel Lavender wasn't surprised to learn yesterday that the Big Ten coaches and media had picked the Ohio State women's basketball team to win its sixth consecutive conference championship, or her to repeat for a third time as the player of the year.

"In the conference aspect, we expect to be picked," said Lavender, the junior All-America center. "In the player aspect, I expect to be picked. You want to live up to those goals. I'm just ready because I know a lot is going to be thrown at us this year as a team and individually."

She knows because she can hear the honking horns and feel the glaring eyes from people intent on passing. Michigan State, with five starters returning, was picked second in both polls. The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes last season in East Lansing. Minnesota also pulled off a rare conference upset of OSU in Value City Arena.

"Everybody wants to beat you," Lavender said. "They hate us. They want to be in our position. They want to feel what we feel. They want to take our spot. We have to constantly protect our title."

Illinois coach Jolette Law has title designs, if not this year, then in the near future. She sees human nature in the rivalries.

"It's not hate," she said. "It's just something that I want. Everybody always wants to be in that No. 1 spot. Ohio State just so happens to be in the No. 1 spot. I want to be where they are. I love Ohio State. But I want to be in that No. 1 spot."

Catching the Buckeyes won't be easy because the sum of this year's team is more than Lavender's formidable physical presence and ability.

Ohio State sophomore point guard Samantha Prahalis also was selected by the coaches and media for the preseason all-conference team along with seniors Jenna Smith of Illinois, Allyssa DeHaan of Michigan State and Tyra Grant of Penn State. Two-time conference defensive player of the year Shavelle Little also returns to the OSU lineup.

"It's good that they picked us to win," Prahalis said. "But even if they didn't, we still have our own goals. We want to win, and we don't want them to win."

OSU coach Jim Foster doesn't care for preseason (or in-season) polls. He does realize that his players are aware.

"They've had some success and have been a target in the Big Ten for the last five or six years," he said. "I think you just get used to walking around with that on your shoulders. A team gets to make their month or their year (by beating us.) You can't let that happen. You can't let somebody who is not as good and doesn't work as hard walk out there and knock you off one night. You've got to handle the responsibility."

jmassie@dispatch.com

Box Story: Big Ten women's polls

Preseason coaches poll

1. Ohio State

2. Michigan State

3. Minnesota

4. Purdue

5. Iowa

6. Illinois

7. Penn State

8. Northwestern

9. Indiana

10. Wisconsin

11. Michigan

Coaches' preseason all-Big Ten team (all caps unanimous)

JENNA SMITH, Illinois; Allyssa DeHaan, Michigan State; JANTEL LAVENDER, Ohio State; Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State; Tyra Grant, Penn State. Player of the year: LAVENDER

Preseason media poll

1. Ohio State

2. Michigan State

3. Purdue

4. Minnesota

5. Iowa

6. Illinois

7. Wisconsin

8. Penn State

9. Indiana

10. Northwestern

11. Michigan

Preseason media all-Big Ten

Jenna Smith, Illinois; Allyssa DeHaan, Michigan State; JANTEL LAVENDER, Ohio State; Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State; Tyra Grant, Penn State. Player of the year: Lavender