If the men’s basketball team plans on playing post-season ball next year, it will have to do so without Chris Babb, Bill Edwards, Andrew Ott and Adam Highberger.

Ott and Highberger are foregoing their final seasons to pursue various school ventures, but Babb and Edwards are transferring.

I do not mean to diminish the importance of Ott and Highberger, but the more distressing news is that Babb and Edwards have left. Babb was one of the more consistent players on the team, and one of the few that could hit a three-pointer. Edwards did not provide as much as hoped for this season, but he definitely had great potential. He had size and athleticism. Both players will be sorely missed next season.

What do these developments really mean? Many have been calling for Ed DeChellis to be fired, and this will add to their arguments. With these four players leaving, the depth of Penn State’s bench has basically disappeared. Taran Buie will be expected to start and produce next season as well.

I found this development to be a complete shock. Despite the poor record last season, the players seemed to support DeChellis throughout. They were saying all of the right things and there was a sense that next season would be much better, particularly due to maturing players and the addition of Buie. Now the team will have to rely heavily on Battle and just hope that DJ Jackson, Andrew Jones, or someone else steps up their production.

So what is there to expect from next season? Probably a poor record and no post-season play. As a Penn State basketball fan, it is just more of the same.

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