Shazier and O'Brien were taking part in a shootaround on the day of the Saint Francis (Pa.) game last Saturday.

Taps on the shoulder led to edicts from head coach Pat Flannery. Both were getting their first college starts that night.

"It caught me off guard," said O'Brien, who is averaging 6.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots per game this season.

Both responded with generally positive results -- for freshmen thrust into such situations.

But, there's more.

Shazier learned from Menchville High (Va.) coach Erick Mays, a pretty intense man. Shazier figured he was well groomed for the next level. Man, was he surprised.

"I thought I was prepared, but coach Flannery is real intense," the 6-foot guard admitted. "I like it. I like that you have to be held accountable."

Shazier, O'Brien and Boon are roommates inside Smith Hall and do a lot together, though Boon often gets separated because of his major -- biomedical engineering.

"He's up until 2 a.m. every night, so he goes to bed after us and is up and gone before we get up," admitted Shazier, who like O'Brien, plans to major in something business related.

Shazier and O'Brien were up until 2 a.m. Monday working on a paper for the same logic class, so they've gotten a taste of what Boon's regular schedule is like.

And, they've got the look of first-semester freshmen athletes facing their first set of college final exams.

On the court, they get more than passing grades for adjusting well to the intensity of the college game. If they have been overwhelmed, they have hidden it well. They played extended minutes in Bucknell's biggest game to date -- at Villanova.

All have had moments of brilliance.

After semester exams end, they will be expected to take the next step in their progression on the court. They will need to with the uncertainty of the three injured upperclassmen.

"The pickup games before the season starts are pretty intense and the practices, we don't call fouls, so they are pretty hard," Shazier said.