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COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes were as loose Wednesday as their shorts will be Friday.

The No. 1-ranked Ohio State basketball team had fun answering questions about their next-generation uniforms.

Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler debated about who would look better in the long, baggy shorts and tighter-fitting jerseys from Nike debuting in Friday's noon Big Ten tournament game.

"I just think I'm going to look the best," Butler said, taking off an accompanying shoe and pointing out the block "O" logo.

"I'll make it look good," Lewis said, adding that his haircut matches his stylish clothing.

"The fit, I like it real tight on me," Daequan Cook said. "It makes me look stronger."

Mike Conley Jr. wasn't so sure the jersey is good for him: "I'm kind of skinny, so ..."

Greg Oden just wants the jerseys tight enough that officials see players tugging on them.

"It's a great incentive for the new guys to hit the weight room and make sure they watch what they eat," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "They should be sharp."

Matta, who said he hasn't seen the finished look, wasn't fired up to hear the shorts are like Capri pants and that there are "options" like long sleeves (see photos at DaytonDailyNews.com/osu). There may need to be a tailor on site if the Buckeyes rip off their warm-ups and look like Spiderman wanna-bes.

"I guess I'll see them Friday," Matta said. "I don't think they'll be too bad because I told them I'm kind of a conservative guy."

Jump shots

• Matta kept the mood light when asked about Oden's improving right wrist: "We've got him shooting 3s now."

• Conley, Cook, Oden and David Lighty played together at the United Center before, in the Roundball Classic last spring.