The ones you’d expect to care don’t, and the ones who do care don’t matter.

With the win over Indiana last Thursday, the No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball team was off to its best start in school history and looking down the barrel of a Monday night on ESPN2 against the team with whom it shared first place in the Big Ten — at No. 10 Purdue.

It was a fact not lost of head coach Jim Foster.

When asked where this team stacked up to his previous ones, he looked to his left and right, as if to gauge how the question had effected seniors Brandie Hoskins and Jess Davenport, and with that slight, Jim-Foster smile, said, “We play Purdue Monday.”

For the old ball caoch, in his fifth season at Ohio State after spending 11 at Vanderbilt, you’re only as good as your last game, and Monday’s was a dandy.

It’s a trademark that has become apart of the program under his guidance, and his team is a direct reflection of the man calling the shots.

On the court it’s the business-like, rimless glasses, black slacks, crisp, collared shirt popping out of a black sweater and salt-and-pepper hair that seems to let you know he’s been around long enough to know what’s up, but still with it enough to drop the hammer.

Off the court, on off-days between practices, he trades in the more formal look for a black or red OSU, Nike sweat suit and some white kicks. He strolls to the interview room with an ease as comfortable as his get-up, like he’s on his way to meet with some old friends, and, in a way, that’s how it feels for reporters, too.

Knowing Jim Foster feels like being a part of a club, like knowing an inside joke. A few weeks ago, after the commotion of the postgame interviews had subsided and the players went their separate ways to answer individual questions, Foster remained in his seat.

“So how about (Jeff) Garcia?” a reporter asked Foster, referring to the NFL playoffs.

Foster, an Abington, Penn. native, was obviously an Eagles fan.

“Man, I’ll tell you what,” he said, proceeding to provide analysis.

It’s a scene that plays out often, guys sticking around to chitchat even after their questions have all been asked. He refers to most guys by their first names and considers each question seriously, taking his time to provide an intelligent, and sometimes sarcastic, answer.

And his team, now 19-1 (8-0 Big Ten) and alone atop the conference standings thanks to that 64-55 win at Purdue, has inherited many of his traits.

The team’s chemistry is all business on the court and quietly confident off it, with just streak of playfulness.

And what’s more, they’re all apart of something no other team, not in 42 seasons of Ohio State women’s basketball, has done. And none of them are satisfied.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Hoskins said following the Indiana game, “but the worst thing we can do is to be happy with it.”

There is plenty of time to be happy later.

“I think it’s something the girls will look back at down the road and it will be something they’re proud of,” Foster said. “But for me, this is why we do what we do.”

With 13 seconds remaining in the Purdue game, Star Allen stood on the free throw line. The sophomore was having the best night in her young career — 21 points and 13 rebounds. The first foul shot didn’t go and she looked over the to bench.

“Lets make a free throw,” Foster said.

The game was in hand but Foster was still coaching. There would be time for record counting later, right now; there’s still time on the clock.