COACH: Ed DeChellis, eight years at Penn State, one year in NCAA tournament.
HOW THEY GOT IN: At-large bid.
GO-TO GUYS: Senior guard Talor Battle is the only player in Big Ten history to pile up at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. He drains 25-footers, he drives to the hoop, he does almost whatever he wants. This year, though, DeChellis made sophomore Tim Frazier the point guard to take some of the burden off the first-team all-Big Ten pick. Senior forward Jeff Brooks, a top-100 recruit, ranks as one of the nation's most improved players. He averages 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds and is equally dangerous on the 3-point arc and in the post. Senior David "D.J." Jackson will burn teams with mid-range jumpers.
X FACTOR: Sophomore PG Tim Frazier came on strong during Big Ten play and finished behind only national leader Jordan Taylor in assist-to-turnover ratio. Frazier's quickness is almost unrivaled, which makes his improved decision-making more devastating. The variable is whether his inconsistent jumper is falling. He shoots just 40 percent from the floor and 28 percent on 3s.
STRENGTHS: With four seniors in their lineup, there's not much that fazes the Nittany Lions. There's a reason they went to the wire at Ohio State and Purdue -- and defeated Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan State at home. Battle gives Penn State a guy who can score at any time -- plus he loves to take the clutch shots. Brooks shoots 41 percent on 3s to keep opponents from focusing on Battle.
WEAKNESSES: Penn State gets virtually no production from its bench. Billy Oliver (2.7 ppg) and Cameron Woodyard (2.0 ppg) are the only guys who'll play when it matters. If and when big man Andrew Jones (6.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg) gets into foul trouble (he's the team's best post defender), then it's open season for opposing players.
