Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

in dej By BILLY MOORE Sports Writer Talented returning starters and some sterling sophomores will make N. C. State a contender this year despite the loss of two of the keys to the Wolfpack's 1970 ACC championship. Missing from last year's team, which was 23-7 and ranked as high as fifth nationally, are Rick Anheuser and all-ACC selection Vann Williford. Williford averaged 23.7 points per game and received MVP in the ACC tournament. "We'll really miss Rick's playmaking and Vann's clutch play and consistency," said Norman Sloan, N. C. State's head coach. "How much Paul Coder has Sloan cu Paul Coder joi.n endig improved will determine much of our success, and we look for more rebounding help from 6-5 guard Ed Leftwich, a super leaper who could be one of the ACC's fine reboun ders." Coder averaged 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds while tying the Wolfpack field goal percentage record with a 57.3 figure. Leftwich scored at a 16.4 clip and displayed speed while covering the op ponents best offensive guard. Both were second team all-ACC selections. Also returning is Dan Wells, a 6-6 forward who was State's valuable sixth man last year. Many players seem to feel when playing against "'Dirty Dan", as he is more freguently called, it is advsbet ts the net Ed Leftwich ilen ted ACC wear a steel helmet and carry a stick. Joe Dunning is expected to start again this year at guard after earning a starting role late in last year's season. Dunning averaged 3.9 points per game last year and is expected to boost that mark this year. Rick Holdt, a 6-6 sopomore forward who averaged 23.8 points for the freshman, is the other expected starter. Sophomore guard Bill Benson and 6-7 front court performer Bob Heuts, another soph, are challenging for starting berths. "Benson has the potential to be one of the top outside shooters in ACC history," noted Sloan, "and Let's Big Boy Supports his favorite team and invites all Gamecoci to visit Shon Big Boys - Something g veterai Ch .pt champi he along with Dunning Holdt and Leftwich will make us a better shooting team from outside." Senior guard Al Heartley has playmaking experience and 6-7 senior forward Doug Tilly, along with 6-5 soph Mike Gillespie and 6-3 guard Mark Balbach, will com prise State's bench strength. Al Heartley, who came out for the team without a scholarship his freshman year, has turned into a vital cog in the State attack. 6-8 junior Rennie Lovisa started off well last season but a mid season injury hampered his im provement. One of the team's hardest workers, Lovisa will be a factor in State's play, as will 6-2 guard Jim Risinger, who's started on occasion. Go Gamec c fans ey's after evei seafood - Stra 'ood for every4 HOME o1 is 0nh. SV ons ip Last year State had a 9-5 record in the ACC with their biggest win coming in the last game of the ACC tournament against USC in which they claimed the ACC title, 42-39. They won third place honors in the NCAA Eastern Regionals by defeating Niagra in the losers bracket after losing the opener to St. Bonaventure. The schedule will be tougher this year with the addition of Santa Clara. Davidson, Georgia and West Virginia, but the Wolfpack will face it with basically the same type offense and defense. 'Our program has continuity now," said Sloan. "We don't need to alter our style from season-to-season." ocks! cy game. wberry pie yne you ove at F the BIG BOY