Trent Johnson is a glass half-full kind of guy.

The Stanford coach could be full of pessimism because his most talented player, sophomore 7-footer Brook Lopez, is ineligible for the first semester.

``We're as healthy as we've ever been," Johnson said. "In my 16 years, I've never gone into a year with a full complement of guys."

It was also be different for Brook Lopez from a year ago, when he was injured and missed the first five games after offseason back surgery. After missing about 10 practices, Brook has been able to practice with the team since last Friday.

Johnson told FOXSports.com that he anticipates Lopez being cleared to play after grades are posted - which will be somewhere mid-December. That would mean he misses the first nine games and could return at home against Santa Clara on Dec. 19.
 
``What we're talking about with Brook are maturity and accountability issues," Johnson said. "It is what it is and Brook's fully aware. He's not going to let the NBA talk get to his head."

``He knows what's at stake," Johnson added. "He knows he has to mature and be held accountable. There's no grey area."

Johnson said he's hopeful that the Cardinal can take care of the ball more effectively than a year ago, when they had just one more assistant than turnovers as a team.

``It was a team-wide problem last year," he said. ``It wasn't just the point guard."

Look for Mitch Johnson and Drew Shiller, who transferred from San Francisco, to get the majority of the time at the point guard spot with Fred Washington filling in at times.

HOKIE POKIE

No ACC team lost as much as Virginia Tech.

Hokies coach Seth Greenberg will have to find a way to replace the backcourt tandem of Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon, who helped lead Virginia Tech to a 22-12 record last season.

Greenberg knows what he has with athletic wing Deron Washington and shooter A.D. Vassalo. The rest is somewhat of a mystery as the Hokies open up tonight against Elon.

``We're getting better, but I still don't know what we have," Greenberg said.

The Hokies biggest question mark comes at the point guard spot after Nigel Munson, who was slated to run the team, surprisingly transferred out of the program.

Diminutive freshman and Las Vegas native Hank Thorns (5-9, 140) hasn't been overwhelmed in two scrimmages against Jonathan Wallace (Georgetown) and Devan Downey (South Carolina), two of the better floor leaders in the country.

``He's been solid," Greenberg said.

The Hokies will need some post production out of the combination of 6-foot-9 junior Cheick Diakite and sophomore Lewis Witcher. Expect 6-foot-7 freshman Jeff Allen to produce immediately at the power forward spot.

Freshman forward J.T. Thompson will give the team energy off the bench - and Greenberg is hopeful that Thompson's cousin, Dorenzo Hudson, will be able to join the team after the first semester - maybe in time for the Dec. 16 contest at Old Dominion. Hudson is a talented scoring wing who wasn't academically cleared in time to join the team for the first semester.

GRAND MARSHALL

A day after Kentucky lost to Gardner-Webb, 7-foot senior Garrett Stutz committed to Wichita State despite heavy interest from the Wildcats and SMU.

Believe it or not, Stutz actually committed to new Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall's 11-year-old son, Kellen.

According to one source, the pair played a game of Pop-a-Shot (an electronic basketball game) while Stutz was on his official visit this past weekend. Stutz called up last night and asked the younger Marshall if they could play the game for the next four years.

This was a huge get for Marshall, who has a trio of seniors - P.J. Couisnard, Matt Braeuer and Phillip Thomasson - leaving the program after this season.

Marshall said he's excited about the future. He has long, 6-foot-8 freshman Aaron Ellis, who has been a pleasant surprise, and then Stutz and 6-foot-4 guard Toure Murray out of Houston will come in next season.

Marshall is also waiting to hear whether athletic 7-foot Nigerian Ehimen Orukpe will be eligible and play second semester this season. Orukpe, the perfect complement to Stutz, is still trying to pass his exit exam in Nigeria.

However, Marshall isn't looking past this year, either. It's just that the ex-Winthrop coach goes in not knowing much about the Missouri Valley Conference.

RANDOM NOTES: LSU coach John Brady's team will be more perimeter-oriented after losing Tyrus Thomas and Glen "Big Baby" Davis in the last two years. ``We'll run the ball more than in the past," Brady said. "For this team, an 18-foot jumper may be better than an 8-footer." ... Tennessee guard J.P. Prince had shoulder surgery yesterday and is expected to miss the next month or so. That's not a huge hit for the Vols because Prince wasn't eligible to play until mid-December after transferring from Arizona in the middle of last season.