Opponents have scored a total of 235 points in two home games since the player called The Glove has joined the Bucks.

Gary Payton, acquired last week for Ray Allen, hasn't been able to help the Bucks' defense so far.

To be fair, a couple things should be mentioned up front. First, it's probably too early to expect Payton to have a big impact on either end of the court. He's had only two practices with the Bucks so far.

Second, the Bucks primarily got lit up by Minnesota's Kevin Garnett and Phoenix guard Stephon Marbury. As coach George Karl said, "We got beat the last two games by great performances by great players."

Finally, Payton might not be able to fix what really ails the Bucks' defense - the interior of it. Tim Thomas is too soft, Anthony Mason too slow and Dan Gadzuric too inexperienced to stop opponents inside. Jason Caffey sees limited time. Ervin Johnson is over the hill and sees even more limited time. Desmond Mason, who came here with Payton, might have the most potential on D inside, but he's only 6-5.

Despite this, Karl says the Bucks are "going in the right direction on defense. We just have too much newness right now to handle great performances by great players."

Payton certainly isn't proud of the D at the BC. "We have to get better on defense," he said after a 118-112 loss to Marbury and the Suns Wednesday night. "To score 112 points and get it beat is pretty big. The offense is great, but we have to learn our rotations better and switch better."

One thing has already become clear. Payton will do everything he can on the court to make the defense better. In addition to hustling on defense himself, he barks out orders and directs traffic. Now, the other Bucks need to get on his page.

Michael Redd might have said it best Wednesday. "I think we're getting into an emergency situation as far as the playoffs," said Redd after the Bucks dropped to 28-29. "We're voiding out our offense with our defense. We have to find a way to get it fixed right away."

Karl was very excited Wednesday night about the future of his Friends of Hoop Foundation. The charitable organization plans to build a basketball and youth recreation and education facility in the new $300 million PabstCity development that was announced earlier that day.

Friends of Hoop has hosted a Martin Luther King Day prep tournament called King Holiday Hoopfest for the last several years and offers scholarships and other assistance for underprivileged youth.

By clinching at least a top three finish in the regular season, UWM will host much of the 2003 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship at the U.S. Cellular Arena next week.

After three first-round games on campus sites Tuesday, March 4, six league teams will be in Milwaukee Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, for second round and semifinal play. Should UWM advance to the championship game, it would be played at the U.S. Cellular Arena Tuesday, March 11, at 6:05 p.m.

The full championship bracket will be set this Sunday, following the conclusion of the regular season. Thanks to clinching no worse than the second seed for the championship, UWM knows it will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8 in one of two semifinal games.

If the Panthers win the tourney, they are assured of making it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in their history.

The Horizon League indoor track meet was scheduled for this weekend at the Klotsche Center on the UWM campus.

The 2004 PGA Championship has not even been played yet at Whistling Straits, and the premier course outside Kohler already has been mentioned as the site of two more major tournaments.

Reports surfaced this week that the U.S. Senior Open could be held at the course in 2001 and the U.S. Open in 2011.

Some have suggested the GMO be moved to Whistling Straits or Blackwolf Run, but officials of the courses have preferred to pursue major tournaments rather than an annual PGA event.

The Big Dog will return to the Bradley Center Sunday afternoon when the Atlanta Hawks meet the Bucks in an afternoon game. Glenn Robinson was injured the last time the Hawks played at the BC.

Marquette hosts UAB Saturday at 8 p.m. at the BC. First place Wisconsin travels to Minnesota Sunday afternoon. Before starting Horizon League tournament play, UWM faces a showdown for the regular season first place honor at Butler at 1 p.m. Saturday.

While on collegiate sports, it was confirmed Wednesday that the Badger Hockey Showdown will move to the Kohl Center in Madison next season because of slumping attendance at the BC. That unfortunate fact was dealt with in The Sports Buzz a couple weeks ago.

The Admirals will play hockey at the BC against the Utah Grizzlies at 7:12 p.m. Friday. The Wave plays Cleveland at 1:05 p.m. Saturday at the BC. The next soccer event at the BC will be the MISL All Star Game on March 9. See an advance of it in next Friday's Sports Buzz.