M. Hoops meets new-look Ohio St.

When Ivy League teams do battle with the most powerful conferences in America, the one difference that is usually the most notable is pure, physical size. The Ivy teams are usually overmatched under the basket. The Big Ten particularly, has become synonymous with size, muscle and physical strength. Typically, talented Ohio State fits right in with this trend. This is anything but a typical Ohio State team that will take to the Palestra court tomorrow at 2 p.m. (ESPN2, WXPN 88.5-FM). With five seniors departed, two players transferring and the program placed on probation, it is easy to see why the Buckeyes (1-2) are searching for an identity. Gone are the likes of Lawrence Funderburke, Jamie Skelton and Derek Anderson. Into their places step names like Antonio Watson, Doug Etzler and Rick Yudt. From experience and power, Ohio State has been transformed into a young squad known more for shooting jumpers than banging heads. "We're a finesse team and that concerns us tremendously," Ohio State coach Randy Ayers said. "We're not a very good rebounding team. We have to improve quickly in that area." Paving the way for the Buckeyes is Watson, a 6-foot-9 senior forward who averaged 5.4 points per game a season ago. Three games into the season, Watson is notching nearly 20 ppg. Watson's frontcourt mate is the relatively unknown Yudt. The junior college transfer is in his first year at Ohio State and has already stepped into the starting spot. Feeling more and more comfortable in the offense, Yudt lit up Marquette for 23 points in a losing effort Wednesday night. "We have to shoot the ball well in order to be successful," Ayers said. "Watson and Yudt are our two key players and we have to keep the ball in their hands as much as possible. They have to make things happen." While the personnel may be different, the Buckeyes' scheme is the same. Ayers has his players pressing all over the court and looks to force the tempo. Ohio State mixes up its defenses using a lot of man-to-man and matchup zones. While the Buckeyes may not employ the physical style in the paint, the squad still has some outstanding athletes. "They might not be as talented as they were last year, but they're still capable ball players," Penn guard Jerome Allen said. "Last year we fared well against their pressure defense. We have to make smart decisions and be smart with the ball." While the Quakers (1-1) did handle the Buckeyes' press last year, Penn saw a double-digit lead and a victory escape in the second half in Columbus. Penn enters this season's contest with a veteran squad, and the Quakers know they need to raise their performance to be successful. "We're still trying to put together all the pieces," senior guard Scott Kegler said. "We haven't played really well for 40 minutes yet this year." Like the Quakers, Ohio State fell victim to a home-court loss in the opening round of the Preseason National Invitation Tournament. Following the loss to eventual-champion Ohio University, the Buckeyes rebounded to knock off up-and-coming Drexel before seeing a second-half lead dissipate against Marquette. The Quakers have also been involved in a couple tightly fought games, and have struggled shooting the basketball. "We're not playing on all cylinders at this point," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "We're not shooting the ball particularly well." Tomorrow's game takes on special significance for Kegler, a Columbus native. With friends, parents, grandparents and cousins making the voyage to the Palestra, the senior knows what a victory over home-town Ohio State would mean. Still, he is just excited to have a chance to line up against the Buckeyes. "It's great," Kegler said. "It's going to be a lot of fun. I'd like to graduate from here with a win against them. I would have loved to have won that game last year." If the Quakers hope to get revenge for one of their three defeats a year ago, Penn is going to have to raise its intensity and start to knock down some of those open jumpers.