This weekend, Colleen Ward returns to her roots.

Not in her hometown of Naperville, Ill., but in Gainesville, Fla., and the University of Florida, where the senior spent the first two years of her collegiate career.

For Ward, though, it isn’t a big deal. She casually talks about her excitement, but acts like this weekend’s NCAA tournament Sweet 16 is like any other game.

“She’s completely oblivious to most things and she’s a very, very tough kid,” Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly said. “She’s not going to be concerned or caught up with any of that. In fact, I think she’s uncomfortable with the idea that people are going to make a big deal about it. For her, it’s nice to go back to Gainesville, because she liked going to school there.”

This isn’t the first time Ward is returning to Gainesville since she transferred to Illinois, as she spent spring break there last year. She will also get a chance to see her former teammates Thursday in a noncompetitive atmosphere when the Illini are given some down time.

But this trip is not a social gathering. It is a chance for Ward and the Illini (30-4) to get past the Sweet 16 for the first time in their fourth trip in as many years, as they face Ohio State (21-14) at 4 p.m. CDT Friday at the O’Connell Center.

“It will be strange playing for a different team there, but it’s exciting,” Ward said. “Their basketball team plays there, too, so it’s more open, and they can fit a ton of people in there. Huff, the fans are closer on you, so it’s different.”

Florida, which plays Friday at 6 p.m. CDT against Michigan, could potentially play Illinois in the Elite Eight on Ward’s old homecourt. Florida advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating No. 6 Northern Iowa.

“It is a possibility, it’s kind of hard not to think about,” Ward said. “It’s definitely a distraction, so I’m just trying to think of Ohio State.”

The Buckeyes are the first Big Ten team Illinois has faced in the tournament this season and a team the Illini defeated both times they saw them in the regular season. Since then, Hambly said the team hasn’t changed much, except it is playing at a higher level.

“They have the same personnel playing,” Hambly said. “I think if they look at us they’re going to see the same personnel, essentially the same kind of team. It’s gonna be all who executes the best.”

Ohio State defeated Middle Tennessee and No. 14 Tennessee to advance to the Sweet 16. This marks the third time Illinois and Ohio State have met in the tournament, the last in 1992.

Even though Illinois defeated Ohio State twice in the regular season, 3-0 and then 3-1, the Illini know not to look past them.

“Playoffs is such a different beast, every team is playing at such a high level,” junior Annie Luhrsen said. “You’re putting your best out there. Ohio State is a really good team and they’ve showed us different things, especially the second time we played them. I think we need to prepare for the best Ohio State we’ve ever seen.”

Despite the level of competitiveness in the tournament, Ward said she feels the Illini are prepared.

“We feel confident, we’ve had a great start to the tournament, but we obviously can’t look back, we have to look forward,” Ward said. “And I think we’ve been getting better, especially in the tournament, so just improving every match.”