Panther head women’s basketball coach Linda Wunder has gotten in over her head.

Eastern sits on the verge of oblivion this weekend. The Panthers won’t come through against Tennessee Tech (5-9 in Ohio Valley Conference play) Saturday and narrowly escaped defeat Thursday against Tennessee State (4-11).

But even if the Panthers can pull out a pair of wins this weekend, their reward will likely be a lashing from No. 1 seed Austin Peay or Eastern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri, the favorites for the second and third spots in the conference tournament.

So Wunder said Tuesday she plans to take things “one game at a time.”

For a team that has trouble playing one minute at a time or one possession at a time, that is asking for a lot.

Wunder ought to take a micro-management role. What little control she may have left of her team will be put to the test this weekend.

If the Panthers go winless this week, Wunder’s Panthers will have won only 16 league games in her three-year tenure.

The women’s basketball program deserves better. The team has talent but it’s being misguided.

Even if the Panthers win out this weekend, Wunder will have been a part of three consecutive six-win seasons. Micro could be used to describe her impact here. Time to take her major malfunctioning coaching skills out of here.

– With a name like Frank DeFilippis, how could the Eastern senior not be a wrestler? Here’s to flipping over the competition at the NCAA Regionals held in Lantz next weekend. The 157-pounder flipped No. 25 Brad Happer of Purdue last week.

If only DeFilippis doesn’t flop, wrestling fans won’t get flip about it.

– Panther quarterback Tony Romo may not have Michael Vick moves, but you can bet the farm he’s smarter.

Romo answered 37 of 50 questions in an IQ test taken during the NFL combine. The speed of his throw was clocked at 57 mph. Brett Favre, whom Romo has said he looks up to, throws at 61 mph.

But the real question and test that was left unanswered is how relevant is the combine? Why does this test matter?

A Mensa-level IQ couldn’t figure it out.

– Some say Ron Santo doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Unfortunately, this week they were right. The Veteran’s Committee didn’t give Santo enough votes to make the Hall of Fame.

He said he’s more hurt than disappointed and wants to make the Hall while he’s still alive.

Here’s hoping Santo will still be around to see another run in 2005.

– Halas Hall must be the cat’s meow these days after the Bears let go of James “Big Cat” Williams and Jim Miller.

Of course this decision is a year too late. But it certainly isn’t out of character.

Williams played well past his prime last season and Miller couldn’t be counted on to be healthy from week to week.

The Bears could have been in the market for Drew Bledsoe, but instead they’ll have to compete in the Jake Plummer and Kordell Stewart derby.

Whatever happened to “Bear down” Chicago Bears? The Monsters of the Midway will be quieted to a simple meow.