Todd O'Brien and Darryl Shazier thought they were going for some bonding time away from the basketball court when they joined senior captain John Griffin at the Lewisburg Subway and a video store last Sunday afternoon.

Somewhere in between the dramas and comedies, Griffin showed the freshmen where his mind is most of his non-sleeping life.

"We're in the video story and (Griffin) is down in a stance showing me stuff," O'Brien said laughing.

As if there haven't been enough warning signs, Griffin's display proved just how important O'Brien, Shazier and fellow freshman G.W. Boon are to this year's Bucknell team.

All three first-year players have contributed. All three are learning under fire. But this is no burning bush.

There is a California forest fire with Santa Ana winds.

Bucknell is without three returning lettermen (Jason Vegotsky, Rob Thomas and Darren Mastropaolo) because of injuries and play the likes of Big 5 power Villanova, two-time defending America East champion Albany, returning NCAA participant Marist, Ivy League preseason favorite Cornell and ACC notable Wake Forest all in the first 10 games.

It was certain that all three freshmen would play this season, but circumstances have led to more than a few surprises.

O'Brien was working on his shooting touch in the driveway of his family's New Holland home on a warm August day, when his cell phone rang.

The soon-to-be Bucknell freshman got the news from Griffin that fellow senior captain Mastropaolo suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and would be out indefinitely.

O'Brien's disappointment quickly turned to a deeper commitment to his backyard workout.

"That's when it hit me," the 6-foot-11 center said. "I had to step it up."

O'Brien figured he was going to play anyway. The injury to Mastropaolo, a three-year starter, only made it more necessary for O'Brien to be ready.

He has been. So have Shazier, a point guard and Boon, a shooting guard.

With Bucknell, which had four first-time starters in the opening-night lineup against Albany, struggling for consistency, another surprise was dropped on a couple of the freshmen.