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Penn State University
By Pat Tholey

Scroll down Penn State's roster and you probably won't recognize too many names. The Nittany Lions, who finished 7-23 overall and in the basement of the Big Ten last season, return just seven players and welcome eight newcomers, including three European players, to this year's squad.

While many would consider it a rebuilding year for the Lions with seven freshmen, it's really just the beginning of what Ed DeChellis has been trying to accomplish since he was hired as head coach in April 2003. For the first time in DeChellis's three seasons, Penn State will have a 15-man roster.

"It's been fun. We can do some things and we're more competitive and you can demand more out of guys because they aren't in every single rep," DeChellis said. "One thing that we have this year that is important is options. We got several guys at several different positions."

Despite having just one senior and three juniors, the Lions bring back 70 percent of their scoring. Big Ten All-Freshman Geary Claxton added five pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-5 frame in the off-season and will once again be the go-to guy on the hardwood. He averaged 12.7 ppg in 2004-05. Ben Luber, Danny Morrissey and Travis Parker are three other returning starters. Freshman Joonas Suotamo, a native of Finland, is expected to replace Aaron Johnson, who decided to transfer after last season.

Newcomer and junior college transfer David Jackson should make an immediate impact in Penn State's backcourt. He averaged 18.2 ppg and converted 55 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla.

"He can shoot the ball well. He can dribble, play defense. He can do it all so he"ll be a big contributor to the team," Claxton said.