No one can say that the Penn State men's basketball backcourt is weak this season.

Led by Preseason First Team All-Big Ten selection Joe Crispin, talented 6-foot-4 Titus Ivory and sophomore Jon Crispin, the Nittany Lions will be one of the most talented backcourts in the Big Ten.

Joe dropped 31 points, including six 3-pointers last Friday in the annual Blue-White scrimmage.

Ivory is known to be a player that can put up big numbers, but is also recognized as a consistent hard worker who gives everything he has when he is on the court.

And Jon is becoming a player who is starting to learn how to take better shots than he did during his freshman season.

The problem with the Penn State backcourt is Joe Crispin and Ivory are gone after this season.

But two of Penn State coach Jerry Dunn's Midwestern recruits are waiting in the wings.

These young guards are quick, flashy and play with loads of intensity and fire.

Sophomore guard Brandon Watkins is one of these players.

The other, freshman Sharif Chambliss, impressed onlookers at the Blue-White scrimmage with his deft touch from behind the 3-point arc and locked up with Joe Crispin in a very good teammate battle.

Crispin put that senior-freshman battle to rest very quickly after the scrimmage.

"It's all right, Sharif is just a hacker," Crispin said smiling. "We make fun of him every day in practice about that."

That aside, the duo of Watkins and Chambliss have the two key things that a coach looks for in his backcourt: leadership and scoring.

Because of the veteran leadership and talent that the Lions can exploit this season with the Crispin Bros. and Ivory, the two younger players might have to sit and wait to play.

Watkins said at Penn State Basketball Media Day that he wants to become more of a scoring threat this season and that his shot selection will be smarter this season.

Now as a sophomore, Watkins has learned quickly in the Big Ten.

And playing limited minutes this season again will only make the fire rage in him for his junior and senior year when he, Chambliss and Jon Crispin will have to hold down the Lions backcourt.

Watkins just wants to see himself and Chambliss on the court together.

"We like to go after people," the 6-foot guard said. "Go after them and make them shake."

Chambliss, who led his team to the Wisconsin State Championship game last season, said he wants to learn from the upperclassmen, so when he has to step in, he will be ready to contend.

Especially in a conference where coaches told him he would never be able to compete.

"I see myself as a leader, that's one of my God-given talents," Chambliss said. "Whatever coach asks to get done, I'll do."