With the holidays barely in the rear-view mirror, the Packers preparing for the playoffs, the bowl season continuing and college basketball inching into the conference season, not a lot of people are paying attention to the Bucks.

That's probably a good thing.

Many of those who are watching are frustrated, disappointed and screaming for the dismissal of Larry Harris.

That's certainly understandable.

For the first two months of the season, the Bucks have been inconsistent and often disappointing. A humiliating 101-77 loss to Washington Friday night at the Bradley Center, on the heels of a few other deplorable performances, makes you wonder if the team has reached rock bottom.

Attendance is down. Interest is down. The team is playing listlessly. In some cases, the next order of business would be to change coaches. That seems unlikely in this instance because Larry Krystkowiak, a favorite of owner Herb Kohl, is still in his honeymoon phase.

The drums are beating for Harris and one can make a strong case that, as the architect of the roster, he should be held accountable.

But, will firing him now solve anything?

The Bucks have some major problems. They play atrocious defense. They don't have a second star to go with Michael Redd. The team lacks an identity to get it through tough times.

What does that mean?

Most of the teams in the NBA are mediocre. When teams come in to play them on a given night, they say: "OK, this is a good outside shooting team ... " Or, "We have to rebound to beat these guys ..." or something tangible like that.

When the Bucks play, nobody in either locker room knows which team is going to show up: the one that shares the ball, plays hard at both ends of the floor and can upset Dallas or Los Angeles; or, the one that doesn't break a sweat on defense, falls behind by 20 in the second quarter and mails in the second half.

Krystkowiak seems like a sharp, hard-working guy who wants to emphasize selfless offensive play and intense defensive effort. Harris has handed him a roster full of players who seem interested in neither.

Though it probably will run contrary to his personal philosophy, Krystkowiak may simply have to accept the hand dealt him, let his players run and gun and try to win games by scores of 120-115. He doesn't seem ready to do that yet.

If he doesn't, the Bucks' only chance at respectability may lie with Harris. If the GM can pull off a major trade that upgrades the talent and changes the chemistry, that would make life easier for the coach.

Harris dug himself a hole by giving big contracts to non-contributors like Bobby Simmons and Dan Gadzuric. That's going to make his task harder. In fact, the situation already may be unfixable.

But, Harris has to try. He has to do something bold to save his job.

A lot of fans may feel better if Harris is fired now, but given Krystkowiak's standing that move would put the Bucks in the unenviable position of bringing in a new GM who would then have to wait until the owner gives the OK for him to bring in his own coach.

That's not exactly an ideal start for a new regime, is it?

The clock is running out on Harris' tenure at the helm. (Rumors already are circulating that veteran NBA man Rick Sund will replace him). Bucks fans are looking for something positive to happen to this team. If it doesn't, they'll be looking elsewhere for winter entertainment.

Demanding a recount: New England's Bill Belichick is the best coach in the National Football League right now. He may be one of the best ever. What his team accomplished this season -- going 16-0 with amazing records, point differentials, etc. - was unprecedented and incredible.

But, I wouldn't have voted him as Coach of the Year in the NFL.

It also was unprecedented and incredible that an NFL coach was fined $500,000 and his team was docked $250,000 and a draft pick because they were caught illegally videotaping an opponents' sideline in an attempt to steal signals and gain a competitive advantage.

I've heard the counterarguments from people who think it wasn't that big a deal and Commissioner Roger Goodell overreacted with his penalty. Some people that the Patriots didn't gain a significant advantage with the taping and that Belichick did it out of paranoia.

I disagree.

We'll probably never know the extent of the advantage gained, but even if it didn't alter one play Belichick violated the spirit of the rule. He did it willingly. He did it without remorse. And, he did it after the NFL expressly told him not to do it.

Those aren't the traits of a coach I want to honor.

Turnaround: UW-Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter believes that adversity often leads to opportunity and that tough times reveal character.

The Panthers have endured some very tough times this season. But, Jeter's belief in his core principles has kept the team afloat.

Memo to Chicago freshmen Kevin Johnson and Tim Flowers: Good luck at your next destination. Hope you realize that you missed a chance to develop as players and people under a head coach.

Familiar faces: Seven former players will represent The University of Wisconsin football program when the NFL playoffs begin.

Center Casey Rabach (Wisconsin letterwinner from 1997-2000) and his Washington Redskins will face the Seattle Seahawks in the first NFC wildcard game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on NBC.

Saturday's second wildcard contest is an AFC matchup between former Badger DB Scott Starks' (2001-'04) Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers that starts at 7 p.m. and airs on NBC.

Sunday features two more wildcard games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with former Badgers RB Michael Bennett (1999-2000) and OL Dan Buenning (2001-'04), face the New York Giants at noon CST in a game that will be televised by Fox. Later that afternoon, WR Chris Chambers (1997-2000) and the San Diego Chargers take on the Tennessee Titans at 3:30 p.m. CST on CBS.

Two former Badgers -- QB Jim Sorgi (2000-'03) of the Indianapolis Colts and OL Mark Tauscher (1997-'99) of the Green Bay Packers -- play for teams who have byes this weekend.