The jury selection in Jerry Sandusky’s child sex abuse trial is proceeding faster than some expected, with 9 of the 16 jurors being selected on Tuesday.

Five men and four women, some with Penn State University ties, were picked to participate in the trial of the former assistant football coach.

Jury selection was expected to last two weeks, but could end as soon as Wednesday, the State College News said.

In the questioning of 40 prospective jurors, about half said they or immediate family members worked at Penn State or were university retirees, The Associated Press said.  Four said they knew Sandusky and two others said they knew his wife.

Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola, won the right to have jurors chosen from the local community. He later attempted to remove from the jury some of the university-related officials, but was denied by Judge John Cleland.

“We’re in Centre County.  We’re in rural Pennsylvania,” Cleland said.

He said such connections “can’t be avoided.”

Among those listed as potential defense witnesses are Paterno’s wife and son.  Members of Sandusky’s family also were on a list shown to the prospective jurors, along with assistant coach Mike McQueary and his father.

Cleland told the potential jurors he would allow them to spend nights at home during the trial that is expected to last several weeks, the AP said.

Jury selection will resume at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.  The trial can start no sooner than 9 a.m. Monday.