OSU's Newest Star

The first comparison you make to Ohio State freshman Greg Oden when you see him up close isn't Bill Russell - unless you happen to be an opposing center. The first name that comes to mind is Abe Lincoln.

It's not just that Oden looks old for his age. It's not just his scraggly beard and sad, sleepy eyes that would make him look in place on the front of a penny. The comparison comes from honesty, a grounded persona that made him a sports icon before anyone saw him block a layup all the way to Toledo.

He sat down recently and talked about school. He loves it, although he had no clue what the prof in his History of Rock 'n' Roll was talking about that day. He once gave $20 to a campus volunteer after hearing his spiel on wind power, and he once signed a man's sneaker in a restaurant.

Oh, yes, he's getting death threats. What?

"A guy (from Indiana) told me to die because, 'You should've went to IU.' That's kind of sad," Oden said. "I just changed my number, because I used to get phone calls like that."

While it shows the desperate need of a life by some in Big Ten basketball country, it also shows the threat Oden is on the college hoops landscape. The son of a divorced mom who is a rehab technician, Oden is the real deal. He's a 7-foot, 280-pound man-child with a 35-inch reach and the quickness of a 6-8 forward.

He has the court awareness of a point guard and the unselfishness of a coach's son. The only reason college basketball is seeing him at all is that the NBA changed its early entry rule, now requiring draft picks to be at least 19. He's widely expected to be the No. 1 overall draft choice whenever he comes out.

"He would've been taken last year (No. 1) and the top guy the year before that," one NBA executive said. "That's according to anyone who has a brain. Anybody who seriously entertains a conversation that he won't be the first guy should not be in this business."

Yes, he's that good. He makes Ohio State an instant national title contender. Defenses are throwing three or four defenders around him and changing entire offensive game plans.

Nothing has had this big of an impact in the college game since the 3-point line and Patrick Ewing.

"He's a 7-foot Bill Russell," Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said. "I grew up in Boston and was a huge Celtics fan. He's got a chance to be one of the great defensive centers in the NBA all time."

Added Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, who watched Oden score 21 and block four shots in Ohio State's 74-67 Big Ten- opening win: "It's his awareness and ability to run the floor, block shots and the other thing that

Oden has led the seventh-ranked Buckeyes to a 14-3 record, with their only losses coming against top-ranked Florida, No. 2 Wisconsin and No. 4 North Carolina. He leads the team in scoring (14.9 points), rebounds (9.8) and blocked shots (3.7) while shooting 61 percent.

Not bad for an 18-year-old with one hand.

He hasn't had full use of his right (shooting) hand since tearing wrist ligaments in a fall during last year's Indiana state high school tournament. He played through it, and his Lawrence North High School team in Indianapolis won the state title for the third consecutive year. But he had surgery in July and didn't debut until Dec. 2.

He still wears a brace, and it's limiting his offensive game to dunks and putbacks. The nation hasn't seen his repertoire of jump hooks, turnaround jumpers and moves around the basket that helped make him the consensus prep player of the year in 2005 and 2006.

"You'll see him go up for a rebound," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "Like against Illinois, he goes up with one hand and pulls it under his arm with his left hand. We miss a free throw late against Wisconsin. He gets in rebound position and just can't get his hands on it."

But asked if he'll have full use of his hand by season's end, Matta said softly, "I don't know."

Neither does Oden, who, fortunately for his future bank account, doesn't have to impress the NBA anymore. But he wants to impress the people he deems most important in his world: his teammates and fans.

"It's really frustrating," he said. "I know I can play so much better. I can't use my wrist as an excuse. I just have to step up."

He'll definitely step up next year. Here in Columbus, Ohio, you are looking at basketball's next spokesman. He has more personality than Dwyane Wade, a better rep than Kobe Bryant, and is more approachable than Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James. If you think Ohio State won a vicious recruiting battle, wait until you see the shoe companies go after him.

"The only negative is he's a center," said Sonny Vaccaro, a consultant who has worked for Nike, Adidas and Reebok. "People haven't gravitated toward centers as spokespersons. But he's the most communicative and nicest player I've come across in years."

You also wonder how great a player he'll be when he has both hands. In Saturday's 68-66 victory over 22nd-ranked Tennessee, he finally went against a player his age in freshman Duke Crews. Oden had 24 points, 15 rebounds, three blocked shots and four assists. Having to shoot foul shots left-handed, he made all six.

He found open teammates along the baseline. He served as the towering safety valve against Tennessee's withering press. Oden, as usual, dominated the news conference.

Told he blocks shots to teammates rather than the "popcorn stand" like most freshmen, Oden deadpanned, "But it looks good when it goes into the popcorn stand." Asked what teams do to stop him, he said: "I swear to God nobody blocks out. They just push me in the back. Even today I think somebody grabbed my shorts."

On the face of a penny? Put him on the face of a dollar bill. Soon, you might as well.

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