Despite a nine-point loss at the hands of No. 2 Ohio State, the ninth-ranked Penn State men's gymnastics team says it is one of the best in the country.

"We've seen what the big teams are doing," Nittany Lion all-arounder Jose Palacios said. "And we can do it just as well as they can."

The charge comes out cocky and empty, but it's not entirely unsubstantiated. Last season, the Lions finished next to last at the Big Ten Championships and then went out and won the National Championship the next weekend.

So, clearly anything is possible.

But the team suffered another tough Big Ten outing Saturday at St. John Arena in Columbus, losing 217.200-208.200 and dropping to 0-2 in league competition. At the site of this year's NCAA Championships, the Buckeyes won five of seven events and clearly established themselves as not only the best in the Big Ten, but maybe the best in the country.

"I think they have to be the favorite going into Big Tens and NCAAs," Penn State head coach Randy Jepson said. "What's so impressive about them is their amazing depth. So many guys have stepped up this season and they're strong all the way through."

Jamie Natalie, the top all-arounder in the country, again dominated the event, posting a 53.450, a full three points higher than second place finisher Tobias Ekman of Penn State.

Natalie also won the horizontal bar with a 9.350 score.

Raj Bhavsar, who earned a spot on the U.S. National Team with his performance at the Winter Cup, won the pommel horse (9.300) and floor exercise (9.200) for the Buckeyes.

For Penn State, Chris Lakeman (9.750) continued his domination on the still rings, beating top-ranked Daren Lynch (9.600) in the event.

"I was really tired and worn down all week, so it was a bit of a surprise," he said. "I can still do better. I certainly didn't feel stellar by any means."

Rob Saliski won the vault (9.300) for his first individual title of the season.

"It's nice to see Rob step up in an event like that because it's going to be very important for us," Jepson said.

So where are the eight or nine points the Lions will need to compete for a title going to come from?

Nobody has an answer.

And the Big Ten Championships are just a month away, and since this year Penn State will host the event, the team wants to be ready.

"Now is the time when you zero in on a few things," Jepson said. "We're going to have to take things out of routines that haven't been consistent."

That means lower starting values and more pressure for guys to hit their routines.

Penn State has been especially weak on the pommel horse and on landings.

Yet the feeling around the locker room is that the team's struggles stem not from technical difficulties, but from mental errors.

"For whatever reason, we aren't hitting routines during meets," Palacios said. "When we are in the gym, we can hit the routines that are just as good Ohio State. We're putting in the hard work and the practice. I don't know why it isn't turning out well in meets."