2007-08 College Basketball Preview
Penn State
By Andrew John

The Nittany Lions looked like they had things going in the right direction when the squad finished 15-15 in 2005-06, the third season under Head Coach Ed DeChillis. However, last year they took a little step back when they finished with an 11-19 record including a losing streak of 13 games after starting 10-4.

With four returning starters this year, their top three scoring and rebounding leaders from a year ago along with a strong recruiting class, there is some optimism in Happy Valley that Penn State basketball is on the rise.

The Nittany Lions will be led by one of the top tandems in the Big Ten in senior Geary Claxton and junior Jamelle Cornley. The two of them finished in the Top 15 both in scoring and rebounding in the Big Ten and DeChillis will look for that kind of output again for this season.

DeChillis' squad includes ten upperclassmen, three seniors and seven juniors, with two junior college transfers Stanley Pringle and Schyler King. They also signed two high school players who were on ESPN 150 high school basketball recruits, which include Talor Battle and Jeff Brooks. The recruiting class adds athleticism to the team which will allow them to push the ball offensively and put pressure on the basketball on defense.

"I think this is the most talented team we've had," said DeChillis on media day. "I think we have competition in each spot."

The team last year experienced numerous nail bitters and did not win one game away from home. Penn State will look for the same hot start from a year ago but continue the great play into Big Ten Conference play. The Nittany Lions will look for help from roles players like junior guard Danny Morrissey and senior forward Brandon Hassell along with a deeper and more athletic bench to help the Claxton-Cornley tandem.

The Nittany Lions will be tested immediately when they face South Carolina in the Old Spice Classic on November 22nd. Other top non conference games the Nittany Lions will have to worry about include Virginia Tech and Seton Hall at the Bryce Jordan Center.