#84 Penn State: College Basketball Countdown

College basketball is right around the corner. Games will be starting before you know it, and practices are just right around the corner.

Here at Roundballchat I will release my top 100 teams for the 2012-13 college basketball season. I will start at 100 and count my way down. I will rank all the 75 programs in the six major conferences, as well as 25 mid majors in my top 100 countdown.

Along with my top 100 countdown I will also feature a ton of previews. Like the top players at each position, All Conference teams, top players by class, top games, previewing the early season tournaments and much more.

Who will put at number 1? Louisville or Indiana or maybe a surprise stay tuned to Roundballchat for the next month to find out.

#84 Penn State

Coach: Patrick Chambers(1st season at PSU 12-20) Overall 54-48, 3 years

2011-12: Record 12-20 overall, 4-14 in Big 10 ( Tie 11th)

Starters Returning (3) Jon Graham, Tim Frazier, Jermaine Marshall

Preseason Tournament: Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. Boston College

Transfer Out: Matt Glover (San Francisco); Trey Lewis (Cleveland State); Peter Alexis (Philadelphia University)

Sat out: D.J. Newbill (Southern Mississippi)

A year after making the NCAA tournament, the Nittany Lions had another rough season under 1st year head coach Patrick Chambers. Chambers wasn’t left with a whole lot of talent, but you have to love his energy for the program. I think, no question Chambers is the right man for the job. The good news the Nittany Lions return their top 2 scorers and add a highly touted transfer. The bad news 3 players left the program and this team is lacking in the frontcourt.

Leading the Nittany Lions is point guard Tim Frazier (18.8 ppg). He is probably the most underrated player in the country if he were playing at North Carolina; he would be a household name. Last season he led the Nittany Lions in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Joining Frazier in the backcourt is Southern Mississippi transfer D.J. Newbill. As a freshman he averaged 9.2 ppg. Recently Chambers called this the best backcourt in the nation. Starting at the 3 will be Jermaine Marshall (10.8 ppg). Marshall had 4 games last year where he scored over 20 points. The Nittany Lions don’t have much depth here. Providing the depth is former walk-on Nick Colella (2.7 ppg) and freshman Akosa Maduebunam.

While Penn State is loaded in the backcourt same can’t be said in the frontcourt. PSU did not get a lot of production from frontcourt last season. It’s pretty sad when your point guard is your leading rebounder. Ross Travis (4.4 ppg) is probably the best talent here he showed some poteinal as a freshman. Jon Graham (3.9 ppg) will likely get the start at center but he has to become a better rebounder and scorer. The Nittany Lions have some depth here but most of it is unproven. Sasa Borovnjak (4.3 ppg) has the most experience. Also providing depth is Patrick Ackerman and freshman Donovon Jack and Brandon Taylor. Taylor has the best shot at getting some playing time here.

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