By Rusty Miller
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - All is new for the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are still trying to find their way after a turbulent summer.

"That's a beautiful thing about getting a new coaching staff: It's a completely new start," forward Matt Sylvester, a Moeller graduate, said Thursday.

Major college basketball teams hit the court for their first official practice today. Finally getting back to work gives the Buckeyes a chance to take the first steps toward blotting out the memories of last year's 14-16 season.

But that was just a prelude to the program's troubled summer, when coach Jim O'Brien was fired after athletic director Andy Geiger said O'Brien admitted paying a recruit $6,000. Six weeks later, after a nationwide search many thought would begin and end with Bob Knight, Geiger hired Thad Matta away from Xavier.

Now Matta, who has never failed to make the NCAA Tournament during one year at Butler and three at Xavier, is trying to gauge what needs to be done to rebuild.

"I believe this: People really want Ohio State to do well," Matta said. "We've tried to do as much as we can to drum up the interest again and get them excited."

The only starter missing from a year ago is the graduated Velimir Radinovic. Captain Terence Dials is a lock to start; the roster has only one other big man, career sub Matt Marinchick.

Leading scorer Tony Stockman, swingman J.J. Sullinger and guard Ricardo Billings will vie for playing time on the perimeter, with sophomore Ivan Harris and the 6-foot-7 Sylvester in the rotation at forward. The 2004 Ohio Mr. Basketball, Jamar Butler, will battle for the point guard spot with senior Brandon Fuss-Cheatham.

The weeks leading up to the Nov. 15 opener against Towson in the Guardians Classic will be spent learning Matta's system and seeing who fits where - or who doesn't fit.