File this problem in the easier-said-than-done folder.

Five days have passed since the Penn State men's basketball team's 104-69 loss at Ohio State, a game that showcased the Buckeyes' execution and the Nittany Lions' lack of it once they were down.

It's a double quandary encased in that single game: once one bad thing happened, more were sure to follow for Penn State. Secondly, the Lions didn't have a readily identified player who could or did stop the bleeding.

"That's a problem. I'm not gonna sit here and say that's not a problem," Penn State men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis said "Somebody's gotta find a way to make a play, defensively or offensively. Make a stand."

Players identified the issue as well. Sophomore guard Geary Claxton said the team has to come up with big plays, either by scoring a basket or making a defensive stand. Senior forward Travis Parker said the team never really competed in that game and didn't try to get back into it.

"When they made their run, we didn't ever make ours," Parker said, "Any time you see that you're down, any player should be ready to get back at them. We didn't compete, and everybody's mad about it."

But just who will that player or group of players be? Claxton said "whoever can make that happen, then make it happen," a statement without much resolution. It could be Claxton or freshman forward Jamelle Cornley, who leads all Big Ten freshmen in scoring with 12.9 points per game.

"We're going to have to come out with a lot more confidence and a lot more energy,"

Cornley said, adding that he brings a you-don't-score-on-me attitude to the court.

"That's going to have to carry over for our team as well," Cornley said.

Moving On

Despite the problems exposed for the Lions in Columbus, many of the players don't seem to be dwelling on the loss with an entire slate of Big Ten games in front of them.

"We're not even thinking about that right now," sophomore guard Geary

Claxton said. "That game is over, we can't bring it back. We gotta come in and compete every game. Were not gonna win any games if we play like we did [at Ohio State]."

Parker said the Lions might have practiced a little harder before the Ohio State game, but it also was the first conference game against a talented opponent.

"You just gotta come here today and get ready...for another game," Parker said. "Forget about that one, move on. We just need to worry about us."

Where Are We Going?

Some of Penn State's problems at Ohio State arose from being out of position on defense and not knowing where to be at a certain time. It's a problem DeChellis compared to being given driving directions.

"The first time you go, you're not really sure how to get there," DeChellis said. "So it maybe takes you 10 minutes. Now the second time you get there it's maybe only going to take you eight minutes 'cause you know exactly how to get there, what turns to make, what's ahead."

DeChellis said his team "kind of" knows where it's going in terms of Big Ten success, but hasn't been there before and is trying to get there as quickly as possible.

"Hopefully, the more we try to get there, the quicker it will be and we'll figure it out," DeChellis said.

Infirmary

6-foot-9 freshman forward Joonas Suotamo only played seven minutes in the Lions' loss at Ohio State, but they were a season high for the player who missed the team's first eight games with a stress fracture in his foot.

Suotamo has played limited minutes in the past four games, starting with three in the team's Dec. 20 victory vs. New Hampshire, and this time is part of a process DeChellis said will be used to get him more comfortable. DeChellis also said Suotamo did some good things in the Ohio State game, but the post spot will likely remain a by-committee approach.

"We're just gonna throw guys out there and whoever's playing well is going to play, give us some minutes," DeChellis said.

Freshman guard Maxwell Dubois got a sour-grapes finish to his fall 2005 semester, as he fractured the fifth metatarsal of his left foot on Dec. 9, according to a Penn State Sports Information press release.

Dubois, who scored nine points in two games this season, underwent surgery on Dec. 15 and is currently out three to five weeks. DeChellis said he is still on crutches for another week and added he didn't think he would return this season.

Sophomore guard Danny Morrissey, who was lost for the season with a patella tendon tear in his left knee on Oct. 21, has started to lightly jog.