"If Jauron is hired he will bring the experience and stability that the Browns need at defensive coordinator. Fans should wait and see what the defense looks like in the preseason before they start pulling out their hair. Holmgren knows what he is doing." - Kabasi

View full sizeLynne Sladky | Associated PressDick Jauron.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns will hire Dick Jauron as defensive coordinator, source says, cleveland.com reader Kabasi will take a wait-and-see approach with Jauron. This reader writes,

"If Jauron is hired he will bring the experience and stability that the Browns need at defensive coordinator. Fans should wait and see what the defense looks like in the preseason before they start pulling out their hair. Holmgren knows what he is doing."

"J.J.'s best fit is in an offense like Phoenix's or New York's - he would thrive in those offenses - but the Cavs will not have any long term success playing him at the center. He needs to learn how to be successful at the power forward. He needs to learn how to play in the extended post, catch, turn, face and either shoot or put the ball on the floor and get into the defense and finish strong. He has to learn to make quick decisions with the ball." - cyrenj

View full sizeJoshua Gunter | The Plain DealerJ.J. Hickson has had an up-and-down season so far.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers' J.J. Hickson turning his season around, cleveland.com reader cyrenj thinks J.J. Hickson is a ways away from being a strong NBA power forward. This reader writes,

"J.J.'s best fit is in an offense like Phoenix's or New York's - he would thrive in those offenses - but the Cavs will not have any long term success playing him at the center. He needs to learn how to be successful at the power forward. He needs to learn how to play in the extended post, catch, turn, face and either shoot or put the ball on the floor and get into the defense and finish strong. He has to learn to make quick decisions with the ball."

"This isn't a national championship team in 2011, even if the suspensions were to magically disappear. The Buckeyes lose too much on defense, and while I don't doubt Tressel's ability to pull a rabbit out of his hat, this team is going to struggle. Keep in mind that 10-3 with a BCS appearance is struggling based on the standards that the program has set over the past decade." - ghostsof1948

View full sizeDarron Cummings | Associated PressTerrelle Pryor is set to miss the first five games of 2011, which doesn't bode well for the Buckeyes' national title hopes.

In response to the story Ohio State Buckeyes football underclassmen are all in for 2011 season, cleveland.com reader ghostsof1948 doesn't see a title in Ohio State's future. This reader writes,

"This isn't a national championship team in 2011, even if the suspensions were to magically disappear. The Buckeyes lose too much on defense, and while I don't doubt Tressel's ability to pull a rabbit out of his hat, this team is going to struggle. Keep in mind that 10-3 with a BCS appearance is struggling based on the standards that the program has set over the past decade."

The Buckeyes have been impressive, but that could change as the schedule gets tougher.

Marvin Fong, The PDOhio State coach Thad Matta.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have an impressive basketball resume.

Marla Ridenour of Ohio.com writes how the team has won three league titles over the past five years, and how six players were first-round picks over the past four years.

The Buckeyes are undefeated (19-0) and they are ranked No. 1, but don't get too excited she writes, especially since OSU's schedule gets tougher over the next few weeks.

But the Little Sisters of the Poor portion of OSU's schedule concluded with the 70-48 rout of Iowa on Wednesday night. Now it's time for the Big Sisters of the Rich, aka the powers of the Big Ten.

Starting with a visit Saturday to No. 23 Illinois (noon, WOIO, Ch. 19), eight of the Buckeyes' final 12 games come against teams ranked in this week's Associated Press Top 25. That also includes road trips to No. 15 Minnesota, No. 18 Wisconsin and No. 14 Purdue and home games against Purdue, No. 17 Michigan State, Illinois and Wisconsin. Even a Jan. 29 game at Northwestern could be trouble.

The Buckeyes are blowing teams out, but their schedule is 69th in the country.

The No. 1 ranking might be a coronation that Ohio State's program has arrived, a confirmation that Matta can keep things going despite the one-and-done players he recruits. No longer do fans have to recall the glory days of Jerry Lucas.

But with what's coming ''down the pipe,'' as Matta said, holding onto that ranking should be the least of the Buckeyes' worries.

Old school

Remember Bobby Watkins? Well SouthCoastToday.com reporter Buddy Thomas writes how Watkins played and excelled in the 1955 Rose Bowl game for Ohio State.

Fifty-six years ago this month, Watkins played well by scoring a touchdown to help Ohio State to a 20-7 victory over the USC that gave the Buckeyes a split of the national championship.

Interview with Colt

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy sat down a week ago for this interview with Jamir Howerton on Clevelandbrowns.com.

McCoy talks about his experiences this past season, and how he made the adjustment to the NFL from college.

Willie O'Ree

NESN has this piece on Willie O'Ree, the first black hockey player to play in the NHL. O'Ree played for the Boston Bruins 52 years ago.

O'Ree didn't enjoy the major league success that Jackie Robinson did in baseball, writes Bryan Quinlan, mostly due to only having the use of one eye, but it didn’t stop him from achieving his dream to play professional hockey in a league that didn't want him.

It was this injury that limited O'Ree to just two seasons in the NHL, as he played in the minors the rest of his career. Regardless, O'Ree broke the race barrier during an racially charged time period, and in doing so paved the way for other black hockey players, including current stars like Jarome Iginla, Dustin Byfuglien and young star P.K. Subban.

Browns wanted to keep him, but would not stand in his way if he wanted out.

Lisa DeJong, The Plain DealerSpecial teams coach Brad Seely is likely headed to the 49ers.

BEREA -- A Browns sourced confirmed to The Plain Dealer that special teams coordinator Brad Seely has left the team.

 The Browns offered to retain Seely but agreed not to block him from leaving.

 Under Seely, the Browns' special teams were ranked No. 1 overall in 2009 in the formula devised by Dallas Morning News football writer Rick Gosselin that includes 22 statistical categories. They dropped from that perch in 2010, but still were in the top third of the NFL.

 As assistant head coach to Eric Mangini, Seely enjoyed substantial influence on the makeup of the team's final roster. Seely was able to bolster his units with several players who specialized in kicking games.

 Seely was rumored to be talking with the San Francisco 49ers, but the club has made no announcement.

"It seems to me that the players are sweating this. My guess is the majority of them won't be able or willing to hold out for a whole season, and when they capitulate, that's when the lockout will end. The owners seem not just ready, but anxious for this confrontation. That's why I don't see them giving any ground in negotiations." - Sorry, but you're wrong

View full sizeWally Santana | Associated PressNBA commissioner David Stern.

In response to the story NBA and its players' association will meet next month, trying to work toward collective bargaining agreement, cleveland.com reader Sorry, but you're wrong thinks the owners have the power in these negotiations. This reader writes,

"It seems to me that the players are sweating this. My guess is the majority of them won't be able or willing to hold out for a whole season, and when they capitulate, that's when the lockout will end. The owners seem not just ready, but anxious for this confrontation. That's why I don't see them giving any ground in negotiations."

"After six seasons under Crennel and Mangini, the Browns have been acquiring players for a 3-4 defense. It would make zero sense to switch now to a 4-3, especially since they have absolutely no defensive line as it is." - omo2

View full sizeAP Photo | Mike RoemerOutside of Ahtyba Rubin, the Browns lack young linemen to step in to a 4-3 scheme.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns: Time is right for switch to West Coast offense and 4-3 defense, says Tony Grossi (SBTV), cleveland.com reader omo2 doesn't want to see the Browns switch schemes. This reader writes,

"After six seasons under Crennel and Mangini, the Browns have been acquiring players for a 3-4 defense. It would make zero sense to switch now to a 4-3, especially since they have absolutely no defensive line as it is."

The Bucks are the lowest-scoring teams in the NBA at 91.2 ppg. Will that change against the Cavaliers' woeful defense?

Mark Duncan / Associated PressJ.J. Hickson and the Cavaliers take on the Bucks tonight.

First quarter update -- Bucks 27, Cavs 25:

The Cavaliers suddenly have three healthy players to add to the rotation -- Christian Eyenga, Anthony Parker and Joey Graham -- and Byron Scott is going to use them all for what might be the squad's best chance to win in January. Rookie Samardo Samuels is already the most important newcomer, though, as he played seven minutes in relief of J.J. Hickson at center and used his bulk to help slow down 7-footer Andrew Bogut (six points on 3-for-6 shooting).

More bodies gives the Cavaliers more of a chance. Antawn Jamison leads Cleveland with eight points on 3-for-7 shooting, and the Cavaliers are shooting 43.8 percent while holding the Bucks to 40.9 percent.

Cavs starters: F Alonzo Gee, F Antawn Jamison, C J.J. Hickson, G Manny Harris, G Ramon Sessions.

Bucks starters: F John Salmons, F Ersan Ilyasova, C Andrew Bogut, G Corey Maggette, G Keyon Dooling.

Injuries: Mo Williams (left hip flexor strain), Leon Powe (right knee surgery) and Anderson Varejao (torn tendon, right foot) are out for Cavs. Brandon Jennings (left foot surgery) and Michael Redd (left ACL/MCL) are out. .

Inactives: Mo Williams, Powe, Varejao for Cavs. Redd and Jennings for Bucks. 

Officials: Scott Foster, Tony Brothers, Eli Roe

Three things to watch

1. The Bucks are the lowest-scoring teams in the NBA at 91.2 ppg. Will that change against the Cavaliers' woeful defense?

2. Will J.J. Hickson continue his strong play at center? Paired up against Andrew Bogut, it will be a true test.

3. Will the return of Joey Graham and Christian Eyenga to the healthy list give any boost to the Cavaliers?

Cleveland, Ohio -- The University of Texas just announced a deal with ESPN for its own network. It makes fans in Ohio dream longingly of an Ohio State equivalent.  The beauty of the deal from the perspective of BevoVision (BV in your programming guide), or whatever they decide to call it, is that Texas won't have to do any...

Cleveland, Ohio -- The University of Texas just announced a deal with ESPN for its own network. It makes fans in Ohio dream longingly of an Ohio State equivalent. 

The beauty of the deal from the perspective of BevoVision (BV in your programming guide), or whatever they decide to call it, is that Texas won't have to do any of that "share" stuff with its brethren in the Big 12, as does Ohio State with the Big Ten Network (BTN). Each school's BTN take comes to a maximum of $22 million per year. 

Provided OSU were ever allowed by the conference to follow Texas, what would Buckeye Vision look like? An improvement on the drabness of more than a few Saturdays, I say. 

In the long view of college football history, the Buckeyes are known for their near-dynasties foiled, their budding empires lost, and always for the inexplicable slip-up. They lost in 1998 to the wrong Michigan (State). They lost to the University of Michigan for most of the rest of the 1990s. They lost the Rose Bowl to UCLA after thumping the Bruins in the regular season. They lost the Rose Bowl to Stanford. They lost BCS Championship Games to Florida and LSU. 

There is, however, no reason to endure such unhappy endings. Buckeye Vision's corrective lenses can perform a little nip-and-tuck on the record, much as plastic surgery refurbishes faces and thighs. 

There would be three major programming formats -- shows about Woody Hayes, shows about beating Michigan and endless replays of the BCS national championship game against Miami. 

The latter is shown on the Jumbotron at The Horseshoe before every home game. It is too bad viewers have to sit through Keith Jackson's befuddled play-by-play, but at least all the plays are there. 

The idea behind BVTV is simply an adjustment to BTN's "The Big Ten's Greatest Games" series. Inexcusably, critical plays are often cut out and key momentum shifts are braked because everything is squeezed into a two-hour time frame. 

I have never looked at BTN the same way after its editors left the most important play of the 2010 Rose Bowl on the cutting room floor. That was the fumble and subsequent drop-kick of the ball by Oregon's LeGarrette Blount. The ball bounced through the red zone and out of the end zone for a touchback just as Oregon was about to take control of the game. 

If Ohio State fans couldn't watch Blount fumble on BTN, then BVTV will spare them Shawn Springs' slip in man-to-man coverage against Michigan in 1996, too. 

Earle Bruce, remembered as "Old 9-and-3," would with judicious editing simply be "Old 9." 

The whole John Cooper era, at least when it comes to the Michigan game, could just about go, too. If Maurice Clarett, who was instrumental in the 2002 national championship before being suspended for his career, could be cut out of a photo montage at the restaurant where Coach Jim Tressel used to hold news conferences, then Cooper, "Old 2-10-and-1" (vs. Michigan), can be excised. 

A panel show would debate whether or not Woody really said he went for two points at the end of the 1968 Michigan game, a 50-14 OSU rout, "because they wouldn't let me go for three." Some say it was an invention of assistant coach Lou Holtz. "This is the Midwest," the BVTV director will say. "When the legend becomes fact, film the legend." 

BVTV would be, oxymoronically, the real fantasy football. It would not be a 3-D vehicle, but viewers would need rose-colored glasses to watch it. 

Some Gloomy Gus will say defeat makes triumph all the sweeter, much as rain is necessary for a rainbow. Nonsense. On BVTV, we will have blue skies and green FieldTurf. 

There would be some basketball, of course. The Jerry Lucas-John Havlicek teams of 1960-62 would win the three straight national championships that were expected of them. 

So would Hayes' "Super Sophomores" of 1968. 

One thing upon which BVTV will insist is no more cheesy, Nike-made "throwback" uniforms for the Michigan game. That candy-apple red abomination of last year belonged at a concession stand at the state fair, not on the field at The Shoe. Scarlet or white jerseys and Buckeye-leaf helmets only are permitted for the Michigan game. 

Buckeye Vision will colorize them, if necessary. You have the remote, but they have the control. 

They're ready for your close-up, Mr. Tressel.  
 

Norris Cole and Aaron Pogue had to find new roles within their decade-long friendship when both began playing basketball for Cleveland State.

View full sizeLonnie TImmons III l The Plain DealerCleveland State's Aaron Pogue, left, and Norris Cole had a power struggle as high school teammates in Dayton. Now playing together in Cleveland, it's just that, playing together.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — In high school, Norris Cole once was locked in a room with Aaron Pogue for 30 minutes, long enough for the teammates to work out their differences.

The Cleveland State men's basketball guard has participated in special leadership seminars with his head coach to learn how to influence people; he's read books on how to win friends. He tried to take command of his Vikings squad by force, and tried to remind his teammates that he worked hard for his accomplishments.

But the only method that won over the 6-9 Pogue for good was when Pogue finally stopped to look at what Cole has accomplished in four years at CSU.

When they both attended Dayton's Dunbar High School, Pogue was the dominant force. He was the school's top prospect, intimidating and fierce.

Cole was just another little guard, decent but far from the standout his big friend Pogue was.

The two players went their separate ways after Dunbar, but when Pogue rejoined his one-time high school point guard at Cleveland State a couple of years later, something had changed.

"He was wondering how all of a sudden he was good," CSU coach Gary Waters said with a laugh. "How did this happen?"

It was then Pogue realized Cole wanted the same things he did -- to win with the Vikings, and to be the best.

And it was then, too, that Pogue realized Cole reached the point where he was the undeniable CSU leader only through hard work and endless hours in the gym -- and he could improve by following Cole's formula.

"It's his team," Pogue said. "But there's a mutual respect."

A TEAM DIVIDED

At Dunbar, Pogue and Cole never could agree on whose team it was. Pogue was a year older than the guard, and, he believed, wiser, too.

Each of the players had his own faction of followers on the squad, a group that adhered to what Pogue believed was necessary to win -- namely, lots of shots from him -- and a group that believed strongly in Cole's philosophy of sometimes shooting quickly.

"It was that both of them wanted to win," Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. "And Norris having the ball in his hands the majority of the time, he didn't distribute as well as he should have."

Cole and Pogue were friends off the court, having known each other since eighth grade. But when clashes on the court became too frequent, Pullen did the only thing he thought would help: force them to get along. He accomplished that by locking both players in a classroom for about 30 minutes until they agreed to form a unified front and work together.

"We needed them both," Pullen said. "After we had that 'Come to Jesus' meeting, they realized it. They both wanted to win, I don't know if egos were involved, but they just had different personalities."

Dunbar went on to win a state title, and Pogue went on to attend a community college to strengthen his academic record. A year later, Cole was in Cleveland.

REUNION AT CSU

When Pogue joined Cole at CSU a couple of years later, he had gained about 40 pounds on what was once a lean 250-pound frame, and he was unsure of how he'd fit in with his one-time high school teammate. While Pogue sat out of competition for a year with the Vikings, he gradually learned one thing through observation.

"Everybody knows this is his team," Pogue said.

As he realized Cole was the leader in more than just points -- as he averages 20.5 this season for the Vikings -- Pogue realized his friend could help him become a better version of himself, too.

Pogue began to follow Cole's workout advice, which meant going to the gym after practice for more work instead of returning to his room to play video games. And it meant staying in Cleveland during the summer to work with the team, watching what he ate, and bonding.

"If somebody thinks he can't do something, he'll prove them wrong," Pogue said. "He'll do the extra work, he'll go hard each and every day."

When this season began, Pogue had lost about 30 pounds and was fully on Team Cole.

"It's totally different than day and night," Waters said. "Aaron has submitted to Norris. And he listens to Norris when Norris talks to him. But Norris has learned to communicate with Aaron, too. You've got to understand, that was a hard situation to change."

For Cole, it meant remembering Pogue has always been in his corner, from the time he was the left tackle to his quarterback spot on the Dunbar football team; to now, when Pogue joined Cole at CSU because he believed the Vikings could win.

"He always knew he could trust me," Cole said. "And he gives us another option, it's like having a good 1-2 punch."

Now, there is only one thing Pogue won't fully submit to Cole in: video games. When the two find time to play their favorite "Call of Duty," Pogue still triumphs regularly.

"But he's getting better," Pogue said with a laugh. "He's competitive at everything. That's one of the things I love about him."

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — St. Edward is not the tallest boys basketball team around. The Eagles' starting five could just about qualify for a 6-foot-and-under league. However, what the Eagles lack in height, they more than make up for in quickness, tenacity and shooting ability. Just ask the players from Shaker Heights, who walked out of the St. Edward gym...

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — St. Edward is not the tallest boys basketball team around. The Eagles' starting five could just about qualify for a 6-foot-and-under league.

However, what the Eagles lack in height, they more than make up for in quickness, tenacity and shooting ability. Just ask the players from Shaker Heights, who walked out of the St. Edward gym a little stunned after an 86-61 loss Friday night.

"We went from having our four and our five [power forward and center] being 6-9 and 6-10," St. Edward guard Elijah Brown said. "They're gone this year. We had to change our whole play style. Now we're a completely different team. Getting up and down the court is how we play."

Shaker Heights (7-5) hung close for about 2 1/2 quarters until Myles Hamilton (19 points) hit a jump shot, a 3-point goal and split a pair of free throws to help the Eagles turn a 43-36 lead into a 52-38 margin.

Brown then ignited the final flurry that blew the game wide open with a four-point play, swishing a shot from the top of the key while being knocked to the floor, then converting the foul shot.

Delbert Love (19 points) hit a 3-point shot, then converted a three-point play in the closing seconds to give the Eagles a 70-44 lead at the end of three quarters.

St. Edward, ranked second in The Plain Dealer Top 25, improved to 9-4, with all the losses coming to teams from outside Northeast Ohio.

"We were expecting a close game," St. Edward coach Eric Flannery said. "We have nothing but respect for Shaker Heights. They're a great basketball team. Tonight we just made some shots, and our pressure really got to them. It was almost a perfect storm. We just kept stepping up the level of intensity."

The new-look Eagles forced 26 turnovers while committing just 12.

"I'm enjoying it," Flannery said. "It's the first time I haven't had a true big guy. It means having to run and get after people. It's fun."

The Raiders, ranked fourth in The Plain Dealer Top 25, started well, taking a 14-10 lead on a drive by Nick Townes, a 3-point goal by Terry Rozier and a layup by Rozier (21 points).

The Eagles answered with authority. Love started a 13-0 run with consecutive 3-point shots from nearly the same spot in the left corner.

"I need to take the blame for how we played," Shaker Heights coach Danny Young said. "I didn't do a good job getting them prepared for St. Edward's intensity. No excuses. We played a very good, well-coached St. Edward team. They came out of the gate ready to play and we weren't ready to play."

Bob Migra is a freelance writer in Westlake.

MENTOR, Ohio — Justin Fritts wants opponents to fear Mentor. "Coming down the stretch, we're trying to win every game and we want other teams to fear us," said Fritts, a senior forward. "We want other teams to know that this is a special game because you're playing Mentor."

MENTOR, Ohio — Justin Fritts wants opponents to fear Mentor.

"Coming down the stretch, we're trying to win every game and we want other teams to fear us," said Fritts, a senior forward. "We want other teams to know that this is a special game because you're playing Mentor."

Cleveland Heights showed no fear Friday night in Mentor's gym. But the Tigers needed more than courage to overcome an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. They needed to hit free throws and perhaps catch a break or two. They fell just short as Mentor held on to win, 83-81.

Mentor, ranked third in The Plain Dealer Top 25, improved to 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the Lake Erie League Lake Division, where every team has at least one loss. Fifth-ranked Cleveland Heights (11-3, 1-3) slipped two games behind.

"We got the 'W' against one of the two or three best teams in Cleveland, but we've definitely got to take care of the basketball a lot better at the end, especially with that lead," Mentor coach Bob Krizancic said.

Leading 76-65, Mentor committed four straight turnovers. Cleveland Heights senior Aaron Ashley, who continues to play well after missing two seasons with a serious illness that nearly claimed his life, had two steals and scored five points. But the Tigers missed a layup and two free throws, and Ashley (18 points) was called for a charge while making a left-handed hook shot.

As he has done all season, Fritts followed with a big shot -- a 3-pointer in the right corner to extend the lead back to 79-70.

Fritts was part of an unusually unbalanced Mentor box score in which he scored 27 points. Guard Collin Barth had 25 after scoring 19 in the first. Guard Cole Krizancic was held to nine points.

Ashley responded with his own 3-pointer and Heights sophomore Maurice O'Field's layup made it 79-75 with 1:20 to play. But Cleveland Heights waited too long to foul Mentor on its next two possessions as Barth and twice sank a pair of free throws for a 83-78 lead with 15 seconds left.

Heights guard Sean Dominick split two free throws, and his layup with 3 seconds to play pulled Heights to within 83-81. Mentor's final inbound pass was a long heave that Cleveland Heights tipped. Tigers guard Tyree Gaiter (16 points) gained control 52 feet from the basket. There was contact as he fell to the floor before he could get a shot off, and time expired. Cleveland Heights coaches argued for a foul that would have at least produced a one-and-one free throw attempt, but to no avail.

"We guarded a little bit better and some good things happened, but we were [seven] of 14 from the line and we missed shots from point-blank range, and against Mentor, you can't afford to do that," Cleveland Heights coach Barry Egan said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — The Strongsville hockey program has come a long way in 10 years. Moving up to the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League's top division, the Red North, the Mustangs knew they were going to face some rough going. Friday night in Lakewood, they had one of those humbling experiences.

St. Edward's Riley Egan is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's first goal Friday against Strongsville. - (Gus Chan l PD)

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — The Strongsville hockey program has come a long way in 10 years. Moving up to the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League's top division, the Red North, the Mustangs knew they were going to face some rough going.

Friday night in Lakewood, they had one of those humbling experiences.

St. Edward, with 11 state championships to its credit, put their sticks to the visitors with a 6-0 victory that showed the Eagles will be in the hunt to make it a dozen titles.

"We are not pretty," said St. Edward first-year coach Troy Gray, whose club improved to 5-2 in the division and 13-9-2 overall. "We are a muck-and-grind team. Our game is to attack, get physical and get pucks to the net."

The Eagles were mucking and grinding early as they put two goals on the board in the first nine minutes. Senior wing Riley Egan got the first one when he controlled the puck off the glass and flicked it past Strongsville senior goalie Justin Jakubik from the right circle with less than three minutes gone

"That was just an impulse reaction," said Egan, who added the sixth goal and had two assists. "We learned a lot up in Buffalo. We went 0-4 against prep teams, but we came out of it better."

The Eagles went winless at the St. Francis Invitational Tournament two weeks ago, but came back to go 4-1 at the Meadville (Pa.) Tournament. That competition must have had them geared up to return to league play because they dominated the first two periods, outshooting the Mustangs, 35-7.

Sophomore Gabe Lampron netted two goals to make it 3-0, with seniors Danny O'Sullivan and Clay Jarrell scoring to make it 5-0 after two periods. It made for one of the few relatively easy nights for St. Edward junior goalie Jonathan Lacoste, who appreciated his club's effort.

"Tonight I could enjoy my teammates' hard work," said Lacoste, who made 10 saves. "They've been working hard the last couple weeks. It was a good start with six league games to go. We're one for one and want to keep it going."

The Mustangs (3-2-2 division, 16-4-2 overall) came in tied for the division lead with the Eagles and St. Ignatius. They had lost to St. Edward in overtime, 2-1, on Dec. 4 and were hoping to put in another strong outing.

"That was a rough one today," said Strongsville coach Carl Wagner. "They really took it to us and got us off our game. We had some illness [flu]. But that's no excuse."

Things will not get any easier as the Mustangs host defending state champion St. Ignatius tonight.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS, Ohio — Walsh Jesuit was doing just fine Friday night against Gilmour Academy without junior guard Evan Payne. Two first-quarter fouls severely limited his playing time in the first half, but the host Warriors (11-1) took a 10-point lead into halftime anyway. But once the third quarter began and Payne was unleashed by coach John Norris, Walsh's...

CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS, Ohio — Walsh Jesuit was doing just fine Friday night against Gilmour Academy without junior guard Evan Payne.

Two first-quarter fouls severely limited his playing time in the first half, but the host Warriors (11-1) took a 10-point lead into halftime anyway. But once the third quarter began and Payne was unleashed by coach John Norris, Walsh's lead ballooned, and it ran away with a 74-43 boys basketball victory.

The Warriors, eighth in the Division II state poll and 22nd in The Plain Dealer Top 25, extended their winning streak to five games.

Payne did not play in the fourth quarter and finished with 24 points, 17 of which were scored in the third quarter. He began his outburst scoring all 10 of the Warriors' points in a 10-2 run in the first two minutes of the third quarter.

"A lot of that run just happened to be Evan," Norris said. "He was able to force some defensive turnovers himself and then create offense himself. In that one stretch of the third quarter when we expanded the lead, it just happened to be Evan's time."

Payne said during halftime he focused on starting the second half well and forgetting about the fouls that forced Norris to leave him on the bench in the first half.

"As one of the leaders, you can't really stick on one play; you've got to get to the next play always," Payne said. "I just try to not let it get to my head and just get to the next play."

The only other Warrior to reach double figures was sophomore guard Mark Mittigen, who had 11 points.

While Payne's third-quarter barrage put the Lancers away, it was the Warriors' tough defense that allowed them to lead the whole game. Walsh scored the first six points and forced three turnovers by Gilmour in the first 1:24.

"We want to set the tone defensively," Norris said. "[It's] much easier to play offense when the defenses aren't set."

Senior forward Connor Deckard led Gilmour (5-5) with 14 points, including all eight it scored in the third quarter.

Senior forward Michael Zavagno added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Lancers.

Teddy Cahill is a freelance writer in Shaker Heights.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — With a little less than four minutes to play and his team giving top-ranked Garfield Heights a game, Strongsville coach Joe Lynch turned to no one in particular and said, "If nothing else, we're gonna make them work for it." The Mustangs did just that Friday but when it came time to go to work,...

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — With a little less than four minutes to play and his team giving top-ranked Garfield Heights a game, Strongsville coach Joe Lynch turned to no one in particular and said, "If nothing else, we're gonna make them work for it."

The Mustangs did just that Friday but when it came time to go to work, the host Bulldogs punched the time clock.

Pulling away over the final three minutes, Garfield Heights remained undefeated and did nothing to tarnish its status as the top-ranked team in The Plain Dealer Top 25 with a 60-51 victory in a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game.

"We played sloppy," said Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson, whose team improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in league play and is ranked 10th in this week's Division I state poll. "I told the kids afterward that if they think they'll be able to beat St. Edward by playing like that they were wrong."

St. Edward, ranked third in The Plain Dealer, plays at Garfield Heights on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The mark of a good team is that more than one or two players are capable of making a difference and the Bulldogs proved that Friday. While all-Ohio guard Trey Lewis led everyone with 24 points and 6-6 sophomore Tony Farmer had 16 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots, it was junior Mike Davis who was in the right place at the right time.

The 6-1 Davis, one of a many players to come off Garfield Heights' bench, scored six of the Bulldogs' final seven points as they turned a 52-47 lead with 3:12 to play into a nine-point victory. Despite not starting, Davis is the team's third-leading scorer behind Lewis (Penn State) and Farmer (watched by Michigan on Friday).

"Mike can be explosive," Johnson said of Davis, who is averaging 15 points. "We count on him to use his athleticism to make plays, and he made a lot tonight."

Strongsville, whose woes at the free-throw line continued with a 9-of-19 performance, were led by Iowa recruit Aaron White, who finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Gurjeet Gill scored 17 points, but only six in the second half, and Iowa football recruit Ray Hamilton had nine points -- six in the fourth quarter -- and 13 rebounds.

Strongsville, which has to be the best 6-5 team around, was in the game until the final three minutes. The Mustangs, ranked 18th in The Plain Dealer, led until midway through the third quarter when Garfield Heights went on a 9-2 spurt.

Garfield Heights led, 45-43, entering the final eight minutes and Farmer canned a long 3-pointer and Lewis followed with a layup off a Farmer steal.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

School administrators, get your calculators ready. The Ohio High School Athletic Association on Friday released the vital details of its proposed sweeping playoff changes for football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. The change aims to level the playing field between private and public schools.

School administrators, get your calculators ready.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association on Friday released the vital details of its proposed sweeping playoff changes for football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. The change aims to level the playing field between private and public schools.

The groundbreaking formula, a first nationwide, has been placed on a referendum ballot to be voted on by the OHSAA's 830 member high school principals May 1-15.

If passed by a majority, it would go into effect in either the 2012-13 or 2013-14 school year.

In future years, additional sports would be considered for the formula. All the factors could be modified by the OHSAA's Board of Control.

Here is a rundown of the factors and how they would be applied to each school.

-- Tim Warsinskey

Starting point

Explanation: Begin with a school's enrollment. Boys and girls enrollments are factored separately. Add the boundary and tradition factors. Subtract the socioeconomic factor.

The sum is the "Athletic Count," which is the school's new enrollment figure. As it has in the past, the OHSAA then divides each sport into divisions, assigning roughly the same number of schools to each division, such as six divisions for football.

Beginning Enrollment

+ Boundary Factor

+ Tradition Factor

-- Socioeconomic Factor

------------------------

= "Athletic Count" (new enrollment figure)

The factors

Boundary factor

Explanation: In the proposal, the OHSAA said it recognizes that where and how private and public schools receive students affects athletic success. It identifies five categories and assigns each a value, or a multiplier, that is applied to the school's enrollment.

The boundary multipliers:

1. Nonpublic schools with no boundaries: 10 percent times enrollment will be added.

2. Nonpublic schools with limited boundaries: 8 percent times enrollment will be added.

3. Public schools with statewide open enrollment: 6 percent times enrollment will be added*.

4. Public schools with adjacent districts open enrollment: 4 percent times enrollment will be added*.

5. Public schools with no open enrollment: No percentage will be added.

* This percentage will not be applied to public schools with open enrollment if their net number of open enrollment students is negative. That is, if they have more open enrollment students leaving the school than coming into the school.

Tradition factor

Explanation: The proposal concludes that tradition affects athletic success, stating "success breeds success" and student-athletes are attracted to a program that has a tradition of success. The factor looks back at the number of regional final and state tournament appearances in the last four years in each sport. The highest percentage would be used for each individual year. The total percentage for all four years would be added together to arrive at the tradition factor.

The tradition multipliers:

1. Appearances in a regional final: 6 percent of enrollment will be added.

2. Appearances in state tournament: 8 percent of enrollment will be added.

3. Appearances in state finals: 10 percent of enrollment will be added.

Socioeconomic factor

Explanation: The proposal states the socioeconomic makeup of a district is a key factor in competitive balance, just as it is in the probabilities of educational success. It states if a district is disadvantaged, the participants may have fewer resources available to participate and be successful in interscholastic athletics. The proposal uses the number of free lunch participants in a high school or district that is reported to the Ohio Department of Education.

The socioeconomic multiplier:

1. The number of free lunch participants within the high school times 10 percent equals the number to be subtracted from the beginning enrollment figure.

The Cavaliers are finding new ways to lose, allowing the worst-shooting team in the NBA to crack 100 points and shoot more than 50 percent as Milwaukee wins 102-88.

avoid.

On Friday, there was a simple plea scrawled beneath all the details.

"Find a way to win," someone wrote. "Believe -- as a group."

Instead, these Cavaliers are finding new ways to lose. Friday, it was 102-88 to Milwaukee.

The worst-shooting team in the league (42.1 percent) that averages the fewest points in the NBA (91.2) found a way to crack three digits and hit more than half its shots on the way to sending the Cavs to 8-34.

It marked only the fifth time this season that Milwaukee has sunk more than half its field goals (50.6 percent), and only the ninth time the Bucks have cracked 100 points.

The Cavaliers dropped their 15th straight game, their 25th loss in the past 26 games. The franchise record for consecutive losses is 19, a figure that draws perilously closer with road games against Chicago, New Jersey and Boston up next for Cleveland.

The Bucks cruised to the victory while exploiting two of the Cavaliers' greatest weaknesses -- their youth and lack of size. Both those yielded another subpar defensive effort in the same week that Cavaliers coach Byron Scott declared a new emphasis on defense for the second half of the season. And it came despite the return of three injured Cavaliers players -- Christian Eyenga, Anthony Parker and Joey Graham.

Rookie Manny Harris (0-for-1, 13 minutes) and young newcomer Alonzo Gee (two points, 23 minutes) were both starters, but both seemed out-of-sorts from the start.

And J.J. Hickson, who has played solidly at center since assuming the starting role when Anderson Varejao was lost for the season with an ankle injury seven games ago, faced his greatest task to date when called upon to defend Bucks 7-foot center Andrew Bogut. Not only does Bogut have three inches on Hickson, but he also outweighs the Cavaliers center by about 20 pounds.

Hickson lost the battle early when he picked up his third foul in the second quarter, managing just seven minutes of play by halftime. Though rookie Samardo Samuels used his strength and bulk to battle Bogut when he came in for Hickson, he also surrenders three inches to the Milwaukee center.

And so nearly everything Bogut tossed up -- from left-handed hooks to putbacks at the basket -- fell. He had 23 points on 11-for-14 shooting in 31 minutes. Bogut attempted only two free throws, and Scott said second-half defensive adjustments to double-team the center went unheeded.

"We should have put him on the line 10, 12 times," Scott said. "We tried to make adjustments in the second half with our double-teams, but we just kept coming late. We just kept waiting [for the double-team]. For what?"

For the first time in several games, Scott was disappointed in his team's effort. The Cavaliers were behind just 41-39 with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter when the Bucks closed the half with a 12-2 run that Cleveland never recovered from. Antawn Jamison and Ramon Sessions each scored 22 points to lead the Cavaliers.

Milwaukee scored 18 points on second-chance points, and 25 points off 16 Cavaliers turnovers -- figures that were most disturbing to Scott. Corey Maggette had 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting, and Keyon Dooling added 12 points and 11 assists.

"Playing hard isn't good enough," Scott said. "We've got to play harder, we've got to play smarter and we've got to be tougher. That's the bottom line."

Daniel Gibson, who scored 15 points on 4-for-11 shooting, was visibly frustrated afterward.

"It's at the point right now where there's enough talking about it," he said. "It's time to do it. . . . There's no more excuses. We've just got to go out and do it."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654

Byron Scott won't use the word "rebuilding" to describe this year, and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert Tweeted before Friday's game that the team "will strike" with player movement.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey l The Plain DealerAntawn Jamison checks for blood after taking an elbow in the lip Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

"We've never used that word -- rebuilding," Scott said. "All we're talking about is it's going to be a process, and we know that. We want those guys to understand that. We're trying to win basketball games. But in turn, we're also trying to develop some guys who are going to be part of something special in the next few years. Because we know we're going to be back on top. It's just a matter of time."

From afar, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert Tweeted his faith in his team, too, and that he was patiently enduring what had reached 14 straight losses before Friday's game against Milwaukee. Gilbert has not spoken to the media since the season opener.

"The pain IS our motivation," Gilbert posted on his Twitter account @cavsdan. "I have learned patience. Don't like it but accept it."

Scott said the fact that the Cavaliers are not panicking despite a streak of 24 losses in 25 games, and have not traded top assets -- yet -- reflects that Cavaliers brass believes that a turnaround is possible with the current roster. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 24.

"If we're using that word "rebuilding" then we would have traded Antawn [Jamison] a long time ago," Scott said. "We would have traded some of the assets we feel we have. We would have traded J.J. [Hickson], we would have traded Mo [Williams]. We're not doing that.

"We still think we have some pretty good players out there, we've just got to get them all healthy and all on the same page. And in the process, we're still trying to develop some of our younger guys that are going to help us in the long run, and help us in the near future."

As if to support Scott's words, Gilbert Tweeted his philosophy on player trades, and said that the Cavaliers are positioning themselves to make moves.

"You don't panic when things get tough," Gilbert wrote. "You think. You examine. You calculate. THEN you strike. And we will strike."

Until then, the Cavaliers prefer not to call this year a "rebuilding" one.

"I'm not using that word," Scott said. "You guys can. But I'm not going to use that word."

Jamison retiring? Rumors of Jamison's retirement have been premature, the Cavaliers forward said Friday. An AOL Fanhouse story earlier this week quoted Jamison as saying he will "definitely" retire after his current contract expires at the end of next season.

"I'm getting people texting me and asking, 'Are you retiring?' " Jamison said. "Nah. I'm not close to retiring. I feel good. My body feels good."

Jamison, at 34 years old, is the second-oldest Cavaliers player (Anthony Parker is 35). He will earn $15.1 million next season, the final year of his contract.

Until then, Jamison said, he's not putting definite on anything.

Rotation fluctuations: As players get healthy and return to the lineup -- Christian Eyenga, Parker and Joey Graham all returned Friday -- Scott will have to rework his rotation and decide who starts. However, Scott said he likes rookie Manny Harris starting at shooting guard, while Daniel Gibson comes off the bench. The lineup stayed that way Friday, Gibson's second game back since suffering an ankle injury before the Cavaliers' five-game road trip.

"He's done a good enough job to continue to play at that position," Scott said. "I know Boobie can come in and play both positions and supply us with a lot on both ends of the floor. Manny's progressed pretty nicely, and he's doing some good things for us on both ends of the floor."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654

Illinois hasn't been at its best since that season, while the Buckeyes are now on top. Illinois could use the kind of boost that comes from taking down No. 1.

View full sizeJay LaPrete l Associated Press file photoMatt Sylvester and the Buckeyes celebrate a 65 - 64 win over No. 1 Illinois on March 6, 2005, in Columbus. Now the top-ranked Buckeyes want to make sure the Illini don't return the favor today.

It provided "our guys with belief in our system and what we were trying to do," Matta said.

The stakes aren't quite that high today with the roles reversed, Ohio State now undefeated and playing its first road game since moving to No. 1, and the 14-5, No. 23-ranked Illini serving as hosts. Since that 65-64 Ohio State victory on March 6, 2005, in Value City Arena, though, Ohio State clearly has had the edge on Illinois.

The Illini lost the national title game that season to North Carolina, while the Buckeyes were banned from postseason play. But in the past five seasons, Ohio State is 7-2 against Illinois, has a 67-25 record in the Big Ten compared to 50-42 for the Illini and has gone 8-4 in the NCAA Tournament compared to 1-3 for the Illini.

Today, Illinois is the underdog, and Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Ohio State's win as the underdog six seasons ago has been mentioned this week. Ohio State's Matt Sylvester making a game-winning shot then won't help the Illini defend Jared Sullinger now, but for one of the most relentless home crowds in the Big Ten, it should enter the emotional mix.

That was Illinois at its best, and Ohio State, in the moment, took something away from the Illini. And Illinois hasn't been at its best since that season, while the Buckeyes are now on top. Illinois could use the kind of boost that comes from taking down No. 1.

"I'm sure they're not going to like us," David Lighty said of the crowd.

It should only add to the Illini intensity that the Buckeyes won all three matchups last season, including a double overtime win in the Big Ten Tournament that Weber thought his team should have won and believes was the final straw that kept the Illini from getting an NCAA Tournament bid. Now they're trying to stay with the Buckeyes again.

"Besides playing No. 1, I told the guys this is to keep us in the Big Ten race," Weber said Friday. "And to make sure there is a race, to be quite honest. If [the Buckeyes] keep winning, there won't really be a race."

While the programs have diverged, the lineups this season are similar, both featuring seven-man rotations made up of four veterans and three youngsters. With senior Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis, Illinois has size to attempt to defend Sullinger inside, though the OSU freshman is about as wide as the two Illini seniors put together. And it sounds like Illinois might not double-team Sullinger that much.

"Davis has had some success guarding big guys with his quickness and moving his feet, but if he lets Sullinger get his body on him, it'll be tough," Weber said.

Weber is also worried about Lighty, with the Buckeyes burning Illinois, and many other teams, in the past by using Lighty at power forward and then exploiting bigger teams with his athleticism. But Illinois can cause some problems for the Ohio State defense, too, with the 7-1 Tisdale floating outside and with 6-3, 200-pound senior Demetri McCamey at the point, averaging 16 points and seven assists per game. He might be a load for OSU freshman Aaron Craft to handle.

"He shoots [52] percent on 3-pointers, so you've got to respect that, he's strong and he's big and that size helps you a lot at point guard," Lighty said. "I have confidence in Aaron, he'll keep everything in front of him. But it's a team defensive effort."

Six seasons ago, Lighty was upset that high school practice at Villa Angela-St. Joseph kept him from attending OSU's upset of Illinois in person. Now he'll be trying to keep the Illini from creating their own memories. Illinois has the kind of talent and home-court edge to win today, and the Buckeyes are only 1.5-point favorites. But Ohio State has the kind of confidence that comes from being an underdog no more.

A landmark Browns season ends with one of the biggest letdowns in team history. This was the Browns' third chance to get to the Super Bowl, the game that four teams play for this Sunday.

Associated PressDenver's John Elway about to deliver a pass during the 1986 season AFC championship game, beating the pass rusn of the Browns' Bob Golic (79).

This Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears play for the National Football Conference championship, and the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers play for the American Football Conference title. The winners advance to the Super Bowl.

Five times, the Browns have come within one win of playing in football's biggest game. This is about their third chance.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the 1986 season began, the Cleveland Browns had gone the previous 16 campaigns without winning a playoff game.

Having set the standard for consistent winning over nearly their first three decades as a franchise, the Browns then won 81 games and lost 96 from 1974 through 1985.

The drought made 1986 feel that much better for Browns fans. With Bernie Kosar, 23 and a native of nearby Boardman, at quarterback, Cleveland went 12-4. The Browns had never won more than 11 regular season games since their entry into the NFL in 1950. During their heyday, the league's schedule had consisted of 12, and then 14 games.

The Browns rallied from a late 20-10 deficit to defeat the New York Jets, 23-20, in the second overtime of a divisional playoff game at Cleveland Stadium. It was Cleveland's first postseason triumph since 1969, and the first time since then that they needed just one more win to get to the Super Bowl.

The Browns would play the Denver Broncos and their gifted, but -- according to some -- under-achieving young quarterback, John Elway, for the AFC championship on Jan. 11, 1987 at Cleveland Stadium.

Pro-Football-Reference.com details the 1986 Browns and the 1986 Broncos. It has the boxscore and statistics for the championship game, the famous overtime contest known as "The Drive," when quarterback John Elway drove Denver 98 yards for a last-minute touchdown to force overtime. The Broncos won, 23-20. They went on to lose to the New York Giants, 39-20, in the Super Bowl.

Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi covered the game. His complete game story is included on the PD's Browns History Database, which includes Plain Dealer stories on every regular season and playoff game the Browns have played..

Part of Grossi's story:

They watched that ball try to hook outside the upright.

But not even the will of an entire city, nor the swirling Lake Erie wind, could keep it from sailing inches inside.

Karlis' field goal, 5:48 into overtime, made the Broncos American Conference champions yesterday, 23-20, and earned them their second Super Bowl appearance in nine years.

The winningest Cleveland season in the NFL expired at 4:20 p.m. after 13 victories in 18 games.

"We just felt we were on a trek to Pasadena," said linebacker Clay Matthews. "When the ball went through, my feelings were, 'What do we do next?' "

In the dressing room, the Browns threw no helmets, slammed no fists into walls, cursed no one but themselves.

"Being mature (stinks)," said center Mike Baab. "I wanted so bad to throw my helmet and let it all out."

Denver won this game the same way the Browns defeated the New York Jets a week ago. The Broncos put their faith in their quarterback, and John Elway responded with big plays in the clutch.

For nearly 55 minutes, Elway had been contained and sometimes flustered. He had been held to 14 completions in 26 passes for 116 yards and had been limited to 36 yards on two runs.

After a 48-yard touchdown pass from Bernie Kosar to Brian Brennan gave the Browns a 20-13 lead - their first advantage since the first quarter - the Broncos muffed the kickoff and took possession at their two-yard line with 5:34 to go.

"I knew if anyone could do it from there, it was us because we have John Elway," Karlis said.

Video: From youtube.com, some pre-game commentary by the NBC annoucning crew, and the boisterous Cleveland Stadium crowd welcoming the Browns' defensive starters.

Video: The first few plays of the Browns' first touchdown drive, from youtube.com.

Video: The Browns finish their first touchdown drive, from youtube.com..

Video: The Browns take a 20-13 lead with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter, from youtube.com.

Video: From youtube.com, the first few plays of "The Drive," from youtube.com.

Video: "The Drive" ends with a Denver touchdown, sending the game to overtime. From youtube.com.

Video: The first several plays of overtime, from youtube.com..

Video: Broncos win, 23-20. From youtube.com.