As the nation throws off its collective straightjacket, ready once again for another Mad March, Penn State fans may gaze eagerly and forlornly on the 65 teams that made this year's NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.

But as 6-foot-10 forwards with silky smooth moves on the court and NBA dollar signs in their eyes throw down alley-oops, the most important things for Nittany Lions fans is passing. That is, give Penn State men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis a pass on the Nittany Lions' 7-23 season this year, which included just one win in 16 Big Ten games. Sure, the record is as dismal as were the myriad of empty seats at many games in the Bryce Jordan Center this season. But DeChellis seems to be germinating success in the Lions' program, which could spring forth as early as next season. First and foremost is the young talent, which DeChellis seems to be grabbing in bunches. Forward Geary Claxton was one of five players to make the Big Ten's all-Freshman team this year, the second straight season that the Lions have placed someone on the squad. Add to that shooting abilities of guards Mike Walker and Danny Morrissey, who each showed flashes of better things while playing in their first NCAA seasons this year.

At times this year, Penn State started four players with two or fewer years of playing experience at the Division I level. That situation was exacerbated when doctors discovered that sophomore guard Marlon Smith, arguably the team's most viable offensive threat, had a blood clot in his brain and had to miss the rest of the season. Coupled with the transfers of several other players, DeChellis' program was left with little in the way of talent and even less in bench capacity.

And at this point, it's important to remember that each coach requires several years to put his stamp on a program.

Take, for example, Vermont's Tom Brennan, who is now in his 19th, and final, year at the school. He has led the Catamounts to a 21-12 record this season and a No. 13 seed in the NCAA tournament. Things looked bleak at the beginning for Brennan, who went just 14-68 in his first three years. DeChellis is a tireless worker, and a program-builder himself. He was responsible for the growth of men's basketball at East Tennessee State, where he and guard Timmy Smith led the Buccaneers to the NCAA tournament in 2003. That was seven years after a dismal 7-20 start to DeChellis' stop in Johnson City, Tenn. And he is recruiting talent to Happy Valley as well, but it must have time to develop. Year three is a crucial time in the process, and much progress remains to be seen. For now, however, give DeChellis an assist. He can use it.