Life without a leader has been difficult for the Penn State basketball team that visits Iowa today.

In the three games since an ACL injury ended all-Big Ten senior Geary Claxton's college career, the Nittany Lions have lost each by an average of 21 points while struggling to regain the edge on the boards Claxton provided.

"We have to face the facts. He's not coming back. He's done here," Nittany Lions junior Jamelle Cornley said. "We've got to figure out what to do when games get tight and we are getting pressure."

In the past, the solution was easy - get the ball to Claxton one way or another.

Not only did Claxton lead Penn State in scoring, he led it rebounding as well and his work on the offensive glass has been a constant throughout four seasons in the Nittany Lions' lineup.

"We're in a situation where we're trying to change roles and find a rhythm," coach Ed DeChellis said. "We're not there yet, and I don't think it can be one guy. It has to be a collaborative effort."

Claxton averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds before going down six minutes into a Jan. 15 game against Wisconsin.

Since that time, a team which had out-rebounded eight straight opponents and led the Big Ten in offensive rebounding has seen its rebounding average drop from 40.2 to 24.7 per game and has seen its scoring average tumble from 71.7 to 54 points.

On the other end of the floor, Penn State's last three opponents have combined to shoot 54 percent, nearly 13 points over the team's season average.

"What Geary was giving us was huge. Beyond the points and rebounds, he was our best perimeter defender and he had the experience you would expect from a senior," DeChellis said. "Now, we've become a pretty young team."

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter sees a team in transition as he breaks down tape of a Nittany Lions team which starts three freshmen.

He compares the situation to the adjustments the Hawkeyes were forced to make when Tony Freeman broke a bone in his foot prior to the first game of the regular season.

"I know then I kept saying we'd be a better team with him on the floor and we have been," Lickliter said. "It's hard to lose guys of that caliber."

The transition leaves Lickliter a little uncertain about what to expect from a Penn State team which had relied more extensively on man-to-man defense this season, but spent the majority of a Wednesday's loss to Purdue in a zone look more reminiscent of past Nittany Lions teams.

"We're expecting a variety of defenses, but we don't really know," Lickliter said. "That's part of it as teams adjust."

NO HARM, NO FOUL: Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said Friday morning he was thankful no penalties were given to three Butler basketball players who were guests of Hawkeye assistant coach LaVall Jordan at Wednesday's game at Indiana.

Julian Betko, Pete Campbell and Mike Green made the hour-long drive from Indianapolis following the Bulldogs' practice that day, using tickets left by Jordan to watch the Hawkeyes play and visit with Lickliter, Jordan and Joel Cornette, Iowa coaches who all left Butler a year ago.

Because of their previous relationship with the Iowa coaches, the NCAA cleared the three players of any wrongdoing on Thursday.

"It speaks volumes for them that they understood it was no reflection on them when we made our career move. They're all good friends with LaVall and it made sense if they wanted to be there that he would leave them tickets," Lickliter said.

"There was some concern that it might have been some sort of violation, but (because of their previous relationship) it wasn't. I can't think of a better place for those three to be other than maybe at the library or at a study group."

Contact Steve Batterson at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com