Trevor Booker was as surprised as everyone else when he found out Terrence Oglesby was leaving Clemson for Europe.

"I had no clue," said the Tigers' underrated big man. "He called me one morning when I was in Las Vegas and said he was going to play pro ball overseas. I was shocked, but wish him nothing but the best."

Without Clemson's top two perimeter shooters, K.C. Rivers and Oglesby, Booker is well aware that many have written the Tigers off for this season. But Booker and the rest of his teammates feel as though they have enough competent long-range shooters, but the difference will come on the other end of the court.

"I think we'll be a better team, especially defensively," Booker said.

"Our chemistry will also be improved," he added. "I think late last season everyone's egos got in the way and everyone started to do their own thing. A lot of people saw it."

Booker let Rivers lead the way last season, but now it's his turn to become the leader, particularly with a group that includes some talented freshman.

Milton Jennings comes in with as much hype as just about anyone to enter the program in a couple of decades. Whereas Booker was a fringe top 150 guy, the 6-foot-9 Jennings is a McDonald's All-American who is arguably the team's top perimeter shooter.

Booker's younger brother, Devin, is already nearly an inch taller and already weighs more (242 pounds) than Trevor. Clemson also landed Noel Johnson late after the top 100 player and ex-USC commit re-opened his recruitment.

Booker said that his recent foot injury is nothing for Clemson fans to be concerned with. In fact, he said he's been playing with it for a year or so and that doctors just wanted him to rest for a couple of weeks.

When he does return to the court this season, he'll finally go from an under-the-radar player to one that has the target on his back – especially now that North Carolina big man Tyler Hansbrough is finally out of the ACC.

"I really liked going up against him," Booker said. "But now it's time for me to get my shine on and have a breakout year."

It might be difficult to break out any more than Booker did last season – when he averaged 15.3 points and 9.7 boards.

UNDERMANNED JOHNNIES RETURN FROM CANADA

Anthony Mason strained a hamstring and sat out while Dele Coker didn't make St. John's trip due to visa issues. Justin Burrell went down with a hand injury in the first 10 minutes, and his trip was history. Rob Thomas played sparingly with a groin injury, Quincy Roberts suffered a concussion after taking an elbow to the face and Sean Evans battled through turf toe.

St. John's didn't exactly have a full complement of players for the Red Storm's trip north of the border this past weekend, but Norm Roberts wasn't complaining.

"It gave our young guys a chance to play," Roberts said.

Guys like junior college guard Dwight Hardy, who scored 20 and 18 in two of the four games on the trip, fellow JUCO product Justin Brownlee and freshman Malik Stith.

"Dwight can really score," Roberts said. "He can shoot it, and you can tell he's been well-coached in high school and at Indian Hills. He's tougher than I thought."

Roberts said that Burrell will be re-examined today, but the early prognosis was a slight fracture on the top of his hand. It didn't sound as though Roberts was overly concerned about Burrell missing extensive time in the preseason.

Mason was held out with a strained hamstring, and Thomas played a total of 17 minutes on the trip while sitting out the final game.

When Roberts does have his entire team, he said they'll be able to play the way Roberts has envisioned when he first took the job – fast.

"We're more athletic than we've been," he said. "We'll be able to get up and pressure teams and be aggressive."

But the difference with this year's group isn't just the fact that the Big East won't be as powerful as it was last season.

"We have more maturity," Roberts said. "We have nine juniors and a senior and the young guys are unselfish and know what they need to do. This is the best group we've had."

It's also a team that has balance. Mason led the team two seasons ago at 14 points per game and Burrell averaged 10.8 points in 2007-08, but last season Paris Horne (14.6). D.J. Kennedy (13.0) and Sean Evans (10.3) led the team with Mason on the sidelines and Burrell having a disappointing season.

"It's not a 'me' thing," Roberts said. "It's a 'we' thing. It's going to be different guys each night."

TEXAS STATE'S DAVALOS RECEIVES EXTENSION

Texas State coach Doug Davalos is set to receive an extension that will bring his contract through the 2010-11 campaign.

Davalos recently picked up Kentucky transfer A.J. Stewart, and he feels as though that will help the perception of the program.

"Without a doubt," Davalos said. "He was a nationally ranked guy coming out of high school and has played at the highest level. We've never signed a nationally ranked player. He'll pay dividends – both on and off the court.

"We think he can be a Player of the Year candidate in our league."

RANDOM NOTES: DeMatha wing Victor Oladipo committed to Indiana. ... Wisconsin suspended freshman Diamond Taylor and Jeremy Glover after charges of burglary and underage drinking in the thefts of iPods, a cell phone and $400 cash from dorm rooms. Glover is a walk-on from Virginia while Taylor is a guard who played at St. Joseph in Illinois. Both will not be allowed to play or practice. ... Oklahoma State picked up Texas big man Michael Cobbins, who missed most of July with a knee injury. ... Trevor Booker's toughest player to go up against: Former FSU forward Al Thornton. ... Greg Paulus was 19-for-31 in his college football debut with one touchdown and an interception in overtime. Syracuse lost, 23-20, to Minnesota. ... Former Miami big man Jimmy Graham played in the Hurricanes' victory against Florida State last night but did not catch a pass. ... Ex-Michigan basketball player Kelvin Grady had one reception and a carry for 11 years in the Wolverines' season-opening rout. ... Central Michigan picked up a verbal from junior guard Jorddan Myrick of West Ottawa (Mich.). ... Radford landed Polk CC forward Masse Doumbe, a versatile player from France.