If you were expecting coach Keith Dambrot to ease his team into 2008-09, guess again.

Having graduated his top three scorers, Dambrot has put the pedal to the floor in identifying a top eight or nine for the rotation and getting his team ready to be immediately competitive. The plan is to fast track his young squad in order to shorten the learning curve.

"We are not going to use our youth as an excuse, what we have to do is grow up in a hurry," Dambrot said.

Nine of 13 scholarship players are either freshmen or sophomores. Forward Nate Linhart is the team's only three-year senior letter winner.

"Nate is one of the better defenders in the nation, and he has made himself into that," Dambrot said."He has shown he can guard any position and is a good offensive and defensive rebounder."

Jimmy Conyers is listed as a senior, but by making academic progress is expected to return next season.

With the graduation of Jeremiah Wood, it'll be necessary for junior forward Chris McKnight, a 6-foot-7, 225-pounder, to provide an inside presence. If you project McKnight's 2007-08 stats (6.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg) to 25 minutes per game, then his averages jump to 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds. He had 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists in the NIT win at Florida State. Sophomore center Mike Bardo (6-foot-10, 240) appeared in all 35 games last season and chalked up 19 blocked shots. Bardo started three games.

McKnight's younger brother, Brett, is a big-bodied sophomore swingman who should become an offensive force this season

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