(AP) The names have changed, the starting lineup will have a new look and the expectations at Indiana are increasing.

Coach Kelvin Sampson, though, isn't changing his style in Season 2 with the Hoosiers.

Sampson, whose team is expected to be ranked in the Top 25 to start the season will still rely on that tough, scrappy defense and those overwhelming workouts that have become his trademark over the last two decades.

"I don't know if I'm smart enough to change my approach in October," he said Thursday at the Hoosiers' annual media day. "We'll do what we've done the last 24 Octobers. I think where you change is offensively."

Fans, however, will undoubtedly notice some big changes Friday night at Hoosier Hysteria, the school's version of Midnight Madness.

Gone are guards Roderick Wilmont and Earl Calloway, two of Indiana's fan favorites and top scorers from last season.

Yet they'll again watch D.J. White, the Hoosiers' top scorer and rebounder in 2006-07, starting his final season in Bloomington and see highly-touted newcomer Eric Gordon make his debut — a year after announcing he backed out of his commitment with Illinois to play at Indiana.

Gordon, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound reigning Mr. Basketball in Indiana should give the Hoosiers a bigger, more consistent scoring threat from the perimeter as well as driving ability.

That one-two scoring punch, combined with the addition of six other new players including 6-foot-8, 302-pound DeAndre Thomas, may force opponents to play a little looser around White.

"One of the things that hurt us last year was that when D.J. was on the floor, he'd touch it inside," Sampson said. "But when he wasn't in the game, we didn't really throw it into the middle because we didn't have anyone else in there who scored consistently. I think DeAndre gives us another option. We just have to see if DeAndre and D.J. can play together."

The plan, however, is far from settled.

Freshman forward Eli Holman has been practicing with the team, but his eligibility remains in limbo at the NCAA's clearinghouse.

Senior swingman A.J. Ratliff will miss the first eight games of the season after being declared academically ineligible, and sophomore guard Armon Bassett, who scored 9.5 points per game primarily off the bench last year, has moved to point guard where he's still getting acclimated.

Sampson acknowledges Bassett may not look like the prototypical college point guard, nor does he want him to.

"We need him to be a good point guard, but I'm not sure he's used to that," Sampson said. "His identity comes from making baskets and we want to free him up to do that. ... He's never going to be a point guard like John Stockton, but there are different ways to play point guard and we're going to have to adjust to Armon, too."

The Hoosiers also appear to have more depth.

Freshman Jordan Crawford and junior college transfer Jamarcus Ellis are expected to be quick contributors in the backcourt, while forward Brandon McGee could play a prominent role in the frontcourt.

Yet the biggest changes may be the underclassmen, who weren't sure what to expect from Sampson at this point last year.

Now, they've gotten comfortable with Sampson's style and the idea that they're projected to be a Big Ten contender even with so many new faces.

"They'll have to quickly learn the system and what we're about," White said. "But I don't think it will be as big a transition for them as it was for us last year. We know how he wants us to play and how he wants us to practice now."

The familiarity should help this season's progress.

Swingman Lance Stemler said players spent much of their time early last season learning the ropes and the expectations.

This year, Stemler believes Indiana can focus more on perfecting the intricacies of Sampson's system — even if everything else stays the same.

"We're a lot more comfortable," Stemler said. "Everyone was a little uncomfortable coming into last season because we really didn't know what to expect. I feel better now than at the end of last season because I've got legs underneath me."