Penn State vs. Slippery Rock: Pat Chambers, Nittany Lions Open 2011-2012

Penn State's 2011-2012 season unofficially kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday as the Nittany Lions host Slippery Rock in an exhibition game at the Bryce Jordan Center. It will be the team's only exhibition game before next week's home opener against Hartford.

The matchup will offer fans their first glimpse of a roster that's seen a lot of changes since the team's NCAA Tournament appearance last spring. Gone are seniors Talor Battle, Jeff Brooks, David Jackson and Andrew Jones. In are 11 players with freshman or sophomore eligibility to support captains Tim Frazier, Cammeron Woodyard and Billy Oliver.

Frazier, who averaged 6.3 points, 5.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds last season, is the team's only returning starter. Woodyard is the team's lone senior and Oliver, a junior, is the only player with significant experience in the front court.

Woodyard had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee earlier in the preseason, but he is expected to play while the status of injured freshman guard Trey Lewis remains unclear. Suspended sophomore guard Jermaine Marshall is not expected to play.

First-year head coach Pat Chambers will likely rotate a lot of underclassmen into the game to get a feel for how they can perform outside of practice with fans in the stands. Among those likely to see time are junior college transfer Matt Glover, redshirt freshman Jonathan Graham and freshman forward Ross Travis.

For updates from the Jordan Center, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.