The Penn State men's basketball team has a secret.

While the Nittany Lions have played with a painstakingly shallow bench all season, two players have received more practice time with each passing month and have presented quite a challenge to the other players on the court -- all while not seeing a single minute of playing time in an actual game.

And no, one of those players isn't Cilk McSweeney, a Chevon Troutman look-a-like (only a bit smaller) who has been practicing with the team as a redshirt after transferring from Towson University.

Then, why, you might ask, aren't these two particular players being utilized on a team that has struggled mightily in Big Ten play?

It's because the "players" in question are assistant coaches James Johnson and Hilliary Scott.

Pressed into duty for a second straight year, the duo plays on the Lions' scout team during practice because of the roster's lack of depth.

"Well, it's not the ideal situation," head coach Ed DeChellis said. "And I told them they might have to go through full conditioning next year because they can't really get through practice ... but they've done a great job with it."

The two returned to the practice court last season, their first on campus, after transfers by Sharif Chambliss, Brandon Cameron and DeForrest Riley-Smith left Penn State short-handed.

The Lions hoped to have more depth this year, a plan that quickly lost its luster. Senior Jamaal Tate asked to become an inactive member of the team, redshirt freshman John Kelly transferred to Iona and floor general Marlon Smith was lost for the year because of a blood clot in his brain. Before the Lions knew it, it was déjà vu.

"You never want to be in that position, you'd rather be able to just coach and concentrate on what's happening out there on the floor," Johnson said. "But it's fun, I enjoy it a lot."

A former three-time Defensive Player of the Year at Division III Ferrum College, Johnson has a reputation with the current Lions as a scrappy player who can get underneath a player's skin.

"Oh man, Coach J, he'll get in your head man, he's crazy," freshman guard Mike Walker said. "He can still play, he knows so many little tricks, he'll hold your shirt, do all that type of stuff."

"Coach Johnson's all over the place," fellow freshman Danny Morrissey added.

And if "Coach J" beats you, he's not afraid to let you know it.

"I talk a little smack if I make a good play," Johnson said. "An old-school guy like myself, if I make a play I've got to let them at least hear about it. But I'm really trying to make it look as much like it's going to be during a game."

Scott, on the other hand, is more finesse. He was a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-American during his playing days at Roanoke College in 1993 and 1994, and had his jersey retired by the school. He then played professionally in Europe from 1994-97.

"The team knows that Coach Scott may be our best player," student manager Mike Carney said. "I definitely think he could [still play today]. His jump shot is money."

Scott likes getting back on the court, but admitted it's not as easy as it used to be.

"I enjoy getting out there because obviously we enjoy the game, we played it for so long," he said. "But not after practice, we're not liking it at all. My back is sore, legs are sore, arms are sore."

The assistant believes that by actually competing with the others, it helps not only the team, but also makes him improve as a coach. On the floor, he gets to see some things he might not catch from the sideline.

"It does give you a different perspective, kind of what the guys are thinking and looking at on the court at the same time," he said. "Hopefully we can add a little leadership out there since we're so young. I think they enjoy having us out there and being able to sweat and communicate and those sort of things. ... But I'm sure as coaches that we enjoy it a lot more than they do."

So what do the players think? Do they enjoy going up against their coaches?

For the most part, yes -- as long as they're winning.

"It's tough when you lose to them, but if you're beating them it's all that much better, it's a lot more sweeter," Morrissey said. "Not only are they your coaches that you can joke with, but you can also beat up on them, so it's double the trash-talking."

Walker also enjoys the friendly competition.

"It's kind of weird because you don't want to take them out or anything like that, you don't want to set a hard pick on them," he said. "But once you get in the competitive spirit of it, all is fair in love and war."

What about fellow assistant Kurt Kanaskie -- why hasn't he joined Scott and Coach J?

"Kurt's on the shelf cause he's going to shoot anytime he touches it anyway," DeChellis said. "He's been the scout team coach. Now Kurt gets on those two guys in practice if they don't execute properly, the scout team stuff, so it's pretty fun to watch."

And will DeChellis be returning to the court anytime soon?

"No, I'm not," he answered quickly with a smile.

Of course, it all works out in the end, as Scott thinks the coaches have some extra motivation to add more players to next year's roster.

"We thought we were going to have that luxury [of sitting out] this year, but obviously it didn't work out that way," Scott said. "But that's our recruiting tactic right now -- we're trying to recruit some guys so we don't have to play."