They're starting to see it, and Talor Battle's teammates have definitely heard it -- the junior point guard is taking over the men's basketball team.

"He's definitely very vocal, he's one of our vocal leaders he talks a lot but in a good way," junior forward David Jackson said. "He's always getting everybody amped up and ready to go and helping out the young guards, how to be, where to play things like that."

With the graduation of Jamelle Cornley, the mantle of leadership has fallen to Battle, the Big Ten's leading scorer from last year. The Nittany Lions enter the season with no seniors on the roster, Battle has had to become more vocal and find ways to keep his teammates together.

Battle said being the leader is still a work in progress, and every day things get better for him as he adjusts. Aside from being a good communicator, the junior said keeping the energy high is something else he wants to do.

"All of the guys are looking up to me," Battle said. "So it's my job to try stay positive as much as I can even if my shot's not falling. That's been the toughest adjustment."

Something the coaches will be monitoring is the point guard's minutes. Battle led the nation in minutes played last season, but Jackson said he isn't worried the junior will try to do too much and will let the coaches know if he needs a break.

Getting more rest is something Battle would like to do this season, but he admitted there are times when he gets so caught up in the game he doesn't want to come out. Coach Ed DeChellis said Battle has great trust in his teammates, and that finding a break for the floor leader will come in practice as well.

"For this season I think it's definitely important for me to find time to catch my breath," Battle said. "Even if it's just one minute or two minutes I think it'll pay off and make me more effective and efficient later in the year."

DeChellis said its just as important to monitor Battle's minutes in practice as in games, and that it's not prudent to take every rep.

Junior guard Adam Highberger said while Battle can be a 40-minute player, the length of the season warrants rest. With freshman Tim Frazier already drawing hype and Highberger returning from injury, the junior said it would create an advantage if he and Frazier can come in and spell Battle during the year. DeChellis said he has talked extensively over the summer and fall with the junior regarding his role this year.

"Talor is one guy and he's a very good player," DeChellis said. "My discussions with him have been, 'You gotta play the way that you play.' There's some nights where it's human nature you just can't play well 30 nights a year, you'd like to but some nights you're just going to miss a shot you usually make."

For the point guard, he will have a unique off-court influence to help him through the season. Battle's family moved from Albany, N.Y., to Boalsburg over the summer, and the junior has been making frequent visits home.

"I've been sneaking over there whenever I can for dinner and my brothers have been hanging out and just seeing my little sisters," Battle said. "Saturday at the scrimmage I was just sitting and talking with my mom and my sisters and that was something I just didn't have when they were in Albany. For them to come down to a scrimmage, that's a blessing, and I'm grateful that they were able to make that move and transition."