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14F George Groom Rebels in WC By JIM HERSH Sports Writer High basketball expectations are floating around the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this year. After a 16-10 record in his first year, head coach John Bayer is hoping to guide the Rebels to the Western Collegiate Athletic Conference championship this year. "If we can restrict our turnovers and do a good job of containing our opponents we will be a tough team to beat," Bayer said. Last year the Rebels had defense problems and their opponents ran up a 78.9 average points per game against the UNLV defense. "Defense has got to be our biggest concern," Bayer com mented, "because this is the only way we can win a league title. I am pretty sure we have plenty of men who can play offensivcly, but they must work harder at the other end of the floor." Five lettermen, among them three starters, return to Bayer this year. Also four, players from UNLV's freshman squad last year, three junior college transfers, and three redshirts give Bayer a fifteen man squad with plenty of depth. The guard situation Is especially promising for Las Vegas. Booker Washington, a 6-1 senior, Is back' after leading the Rebels in scoring last season. Washington hit for 20.4 points a game overall and 24.4 points in WCAC contests. Ed Carman, a 6-1 junior and let terman, and AM Clise, a two year letterman, who is 6-3, are ex perienced in the backcourt. Clise can also play forward and will probably be the Rebel swing man this year. Bayer has been im pressed with two newcomers, Harry Shaw and Phil Bluitt. Shaw is an excellant defensive guard while Bluitt, a junior college transfer, has also caught the eye of -the head coach as a new man who will aid the ReEi attack this year., Gary Radunich, a 8-2 redshirt, and Ralph Piercy, a 6-3 sophomore, are other newcomers who are trying to find a spot in the UNLV line-up. The Rebels play offense with a hree forward attack because Bayer feels that the Rebels do not have a big enough man to play the pivot position. Toby Houston, a 6-9 junior, started for UNLV last year and he is the tallest man on the squad. He pulled down 10.5 rebounds per game a year ago to lead t he Rebels in that category. USCs during BY JIM HERSH Sports Writer The Carolina b4sketball team will find itself in Philadelphia over the Christmas holidays as one of eight teams playing in the Quaker City Classic, December 27, 28, and 30. seekin. AC scr starter in the frontcourt. Whaley is a 6-7 junior who averaged 11.9 points and 8.0 rebounds last year. In addition he was selected to the Academic All-America team. A host of newcomers will try to break into the Rebel frontcourt this year. Norman Knowles, 6-7 junior college transfer, and Robert Florence, a 6-5 sophomore, are the best bets to see considerable action for the Rebels. Florence averaged 35.8 points for the UNLV freshman team a year ago which was the fourth best total for freshman in four year schools. 0HI FAE B's SAN. Strong field i et for Christi The Quaker City promises to be an exciting tournament. Boston College, Fairfield, LaSalle, Manhattan, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Villanova will compose the competition for the Gamecocks. Boston College is coming off a 15 g title amble Lonnie Wright, 6-6 sophomore, Warren Walk, 6-8 recWhirt, and Jerry Baskerville, a 6-7 redshirt, are all fighting for a position in the frontcourt. "Everyone is putting out," Bayer said, "and so far no one has received any kind of injury which would prevent him from rounding into shape." Bayer feels this year's team is ahead of last year's club at the same stage. "Defense and rebounding will continue to take up most of our time, and this is something we will stren all vear." Bayer said. lET'S 'oUS BOY WISH ) 006~ \ n tournament ?uaker nas va 11 season and will be breaking in a new coach this year. Bob Zuffelato, a BC assistant last year and only 33 years old, replaces Chuck Daly in the Eagle head coaching job. Zuffelato is expected to use a great many young players in his initial campaign. Dave Walker is back at forward for the Eagles after improving greatly during his sophomore year. Walker, 6-5, will be com plemented at forward by either of two sophomores, 6-7 Mark Raternick or 6-6 Dan Kilcullen. Center Pete Schmid averaged 12 points last year. Herrick Lengers, a 6-9 sophomore, will be his back up.man. Boston College must replace their playmaker, Jim 0-Brien, who graduated. Sophomores are again looked to in order to replace last year's starters. Jere Nolan, 5-11, is to be the playmaker, while another sophomore, Dave Ulrich is counted on to provide the scoring punch. Ulrich averaged 20 points a game for the BC freshman a year ago. An outstanding backcourt combination of a great shooter and great playmaker is the strength of Fairfield this year. However the backcourt cannot do it all and there is little help up front for the Stags. Coach Fred Barakat was deprived another scoring threat when freshman star Phil Rodgers left Fairfield for "personal reasons". Rodgers scored 37.2 points per game and was counted on heavily to help the Stags this year. Without him the backcourt of George Groom and Bob Kelly will be worked overtime. Groom, 6-2, averaged 20.0 points for the Stags last year while his running mate, Kelly scored 8.7 points a game but even better passed out 128 assists. Graduatibn took a heavy tool on LaSalle last spring. The Explorers lost several starters, including All America Ken Durrett, who is now with the Cincinnati Royals In the NBA. Durrett was Mr. Everything for LaSalle as he averaged 27.0 points and led the Explorers to their 20-7 record.. Durrett was not the lone LaSalle loss. Bobby Fields, at 6-3 the leader of the Explorer fast break, also graduated, taking with him the 22.4 points a garnie he produced last year. Westhead does have 6-5 Jim Crawford back for another cam paign. Crawford is a tremendous leaper and will help on the boards. In addition he scored 12.2 points for the Explorer's last year. The Explorers are hoping that several sophomores can come In and start in their Initial varsity campain .. Frank Doyle, a 6-3 guard who scored 16.3 a game for the frosh, and Jim Haggerty, also 6-3 with 16.3 a garrie for the fresh are being counted on heavily to step In and start in the backcourt. Also sophomore Joe DiCocco, 6-5, Is a promising forward. Last year Manhattan went 13-11 and had two players who scored In double figures. Both of the double figure men are graduated which leave -the Jaspars without an ex perienced scorer. Four men are expected to carry the load for Manhattan. In the habckennert Rehie Gynaner. I. th City cati John Betancourt g main hope. He averaged 9.7 points a game a year ago. In the front court two 6-7 players are spotlighted. Mike Moore, a trans fer from NYU, and Ron Manning are likely starters. Sophomore Gerry Oswald is another forward that Coach John Powers is looking forward to aiding the Jaspar cause. Massachusetts breezed through their schedule last year with a 23-4 record but lost their star player, Julius Erving, to the pros and along with him went the Redmen's hope of another big season. However they still have some good players back. The Redmen have an ex perienced backcourt led by John Betancourt, 12.6 average last year, and Mike Pagliara, 10.6 average. Up front Massachusetts has junior Tom McLaughlin, who averaged 8.6 last year. Al Skinner, 6-3, had a 19.4 average for the frosh last year. Guard Rick Petino, 6-1, scored over 16 points for the Redmen freshmen team. Peter Trow is another sophomore expected to help the Redmen. He scored 15 points as a freshman. Tennessee is predicted to do better in the SEC conference than they have in quite awhile. Two of last year's regulars are returning and Coach Ray Mears has several newcomers capable of breaking into the staring line-up. Mike Edwards is the top returnee, after he scored 17 points a game last year. The other regular returning is 6-7 Lloyd Richardson. The top newcomers are 6-11 Les Kosmalski, 6-0 John Snow, and junior college transfer Larry Robinson. Howard Porter is gone but Villanova is still a threat to beat anybody. The Wildcats made it to the NCAA finals last year and have several starters from that team back. Five starters on the Wildcat team averaged 13 points or greater last year. Villariova is hoping for another such team effort this year. Seniors Chris Ford and Hank Slemiontkowskl are experienced performers and will key the Villanova team. Ford will move from guard to forward this year, after scoring 13.8 points a game In the backcourt. Siemiontkowskl will play center this time after spending last season In the corner, scoring 15.8 points every game. Tommy Inelsby, a starter at guard last year, will be joined by Ed Hastings, Injured most of last year, in the Wildcat backcourt. With Ford at the one forward, Coach Jack Kraft will use senior Joe McDowell, or one of three sophomores at the other forward spot. Larry Moody, 19.5 frosh scoring average, Larry Storn, 14.6 for the frosh, and John Gaspair, 13.5 averae, will fight Mcnowell