Attitude adjustments

Buckeyes continue to disappoint

The Buckeyes haven't won a Big Ten game since last season, and it would be easy to say they might not do it this season.

Their play in the Big Ten has been atrocious.

It started off well, as the Buckeyes looked like they might knock off Wisconsin.

Casey Laughman Ohio State Lantern

The Badgers were on the ropes, but they fought back and the Bucks turned the ball over four times in the last minute without getting a shot off.

Things have gone downhill since then. The team was in a hole to start with, losing Shaun Stonerook, Trent Jackson and Jermaine Tate. New coach Jim O'Brien kicked all three off the team. The hole got deeper when Damon Stringer suffered a back injury and was lost for the season.

But the team looked pretty good in the early going.

They picked up a few wins, stayed close against Kansas and generally inspired a feeling of optimism heading into the Big Ten season.

Then it got ugly.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Neither Ohio State nor Michigan may be fighting for the Big Ten regular-season title when they meet tomorrow, but at least the Wolverines have the NCAA tournament ... maybe.

In the Big Ten season, the Buckeyes have had their problems. An inability to shoot from the floor and the free throw line, coupled with some bad defense and a ton of turnovers, have added up to debacles like Saturday's 107-75 loss to Purdue.

The intensity has also been lacking at times. O'Brien has blasted the team on a couple of occasions for playing with no heart. After his most vehement tirade, the Buckeyes came out strong against Illinois, but a late-game defensive breakdown - of which there have been many - drove the stake through Ohio State's heart.

Michael Redd, the freshman shooting guard, has been impressive, but Redd's shooting percentage has fallen through the floor as teams have begun double and triple teaming him, knowing no one else has been able to step up and take charge.

A lack of leadership also exists. Carlos Davis, the thrown-into-battle point guard, has been adequate, but his lack of experience at the position comes through.

From an offensive standpoint, the team has been inconsistent and unable to find a second scoring threat. Redd is taking the bulk of the shots and scoring most of the points.

But no one on the team has taken responsibility and said, at least publicly, "I'm sick of this." About the only thing to come out of the locker room recently has been the news of Sean Tucker's dismissal/quitting.

Tucker caused a stir when he accused O'Brien of "harassing" and "dissing" him. To which O'Brien replied, "I kicked him out of the film room for falling asleep. If that's harassment, that's the way I coach."

It would seem something like this would unify the team, either on one side of the fence or the other. But most of the team seems to be ambivalent towards the whole episode.

Things could get better for the Buckeyes. But that seemed to be the general consensus before the season started, too.

Fans can only hope that the players will manage to retain their sanity before the season ends. If the team gets discouraged and gives up, it could hurt next year's team as well.

02-10-98