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Surprising success stories

Maybe someone ought to check the Chinese calendar and see if this is the year of the Duck.

Okay. There's no duck in the calendar. But given the success of the football team and now, more surprisingly, the men's basketball team, perhaps no one would cry foul if 2002 were renamed.

The Ducks (13-4) have won nine of their past 10 and at 5-1 in the Pac-10, they're in second place. They haven't waded into such waters since 1975-76, when they finished just behind UCLA.

"I saw it coming that we were going to be a good team just because of their work ethic last spring, their commitment in the summer with everybody staying around and the commitment they brought in the fall," coach Ernie Kent said.

"Once practices started, we were just so consistent in our scoring, in our defense, in our energy, that you knew you had an opportunity to be good."

A convincing sweep of Arizona and a victory against Stanford, both in the Top 15 at the time, proved that. "They've got very good players in Freddy Jones and Luke Ridnour and a great player in Luke Jackson," said Oregon State coach Ritchie McKay, whose team hosts its intrastate rival tonight. "I think he's by far the most underrated player in the country. He's a terrific talent."

In most seasons, no one could rattle off the names of so many gifted players at Oregon.

"We've tried to bridge a talent gap and get better over the years, and now year in and year out, we're hoping to be a competitive basketball program," said Kent, who is in his fifth season at his alma mater.

"That's where we feel we've gotten to. We have a chance to play with people."

AND IN CONTRAST ...: For the first time in years, Michigan State (10-7, 1-3 Big Ten) is struggling. The Spartans even lost at home, ending the nation's longest home win streak at 53. Coach Tom Izzo is the first to admit the Spartans, given the losses of Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph, Charlie Bell and Andre Hutson from a team that reached the Final Four, were overrated at No.15 in the preseason. But this season's team is lacking more than experience.

"When people tell me we're this rough, tough football team, I kind of giggle and laugh because they must be talking about last year's team," Izzo said.

"We're lacking a little physical and mental toughness that we have to regain and regain it quick or watch this season kind of disappear."

The Spartans showed more of their old grit Wednesday in a 65-56 victory against Purdue that snapped a four-game losing streak. But Purdue isn't exactly the Purdue of old, either, at 9-10 and 1-4 in the league.

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE: Ball State junior forward Theron Smith, a former standout at Auburndale High, was the Mid-American Conference West Division player of the week after averaging 17.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in victories against Central Michigan and Toledo.

MUST-SEE TV: It's early, but no one could have predicted that today's Indiana at Ohio State game at 4:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Net would be for sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

Where's Illinois? Where's Iowa? Two and three Big Ten losses behind, respectively, that's where.

The Hoosiers (11-5, 4-0) have won four in a row. And the Buckeyes (13-2, 4-0) have won seven in a row and, dating to a loss to Indiana last season, have reeled off 11 consecutive regular-season league victories.

HE SAID IT ... REALLY: "For us, every ACC game is the same because the conference is so good. If you take one game and make it your championship, then I think that's a mistake. We've never done that. Ever." -- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski before his No.1 Blue Devils beat visiting No.3 Maryland 99-78 on Thursday. The Terrapins had won the past two games in hallowed Cameron Indoor Stadium and tested Duke more than any other team last season, thrice squandering double-digit leads -- once in a loss at the Final Four. Just another ACC game? Right.

- Brian Landman covers men's college basketball. He can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

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