Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Steve Parker ~-. ........ . . . Sports Editor Basketball relief USC fans who have struggled through the football team's five losses gained some relief Tuesday when the basketball version of the Gamecocks began practice with an open session. An estimated crowd of 4,000 showed up for'the only public viewing of the basketball team until the Nov. 25 intra-squad game. If not for preseason football ticket sales that total could rival the attendance figures of Carolina's three remaining home football games. And the crowd on hand in the Coliseum was treated to a preview of what should be one of Frank McGuire's best basketball squads. Freshman guard Jack Gilloon displayed a familiarity in dribbling a basketball that might suggest that was the first object handed to him after birth. The two other freshmen, Billy Truitt and Columbia's Golie Augustus, didn't put on the crowd pleasing show tihat Gilloon did, but both indicated they intend to play a good amount of basketball for the Gamecocks this season'. But while the freshmen will contribute to the Gamecock's' high-ranking. aspirations, junior transfer Tom Boswell, 23 points and 17 rebounds a game at South Carolina State two years ago, will be even more significant a factor. Fortunately for the Gamecocks, Boswell will not be counted on to carry the big man's load alone for the team-All-America candidate Alexander English, Nate Davis, Bob Mathias and Mark Greiner will pull down their share of rebounds and fire in many underneath baskets. Perhaps surprisingly, Chuck Sherwood looted good in the season's opening session, crashing the boards for many rebounds. Sherwood looked good for a small stretch during the middle of last season, but a long period of inactivity which followed caused many to write him off as far as any major contributions go to this season. - Guard Mike Dunleavy again showed he would be a key man, passing well and displaying an effective jumper. Carolina's basketball team played quite well for an opening practice, an indication ot the many weeks of warm-ups that the players have put in by themselves in the Physical Education Center. The calibre of play demonstrated Tuesday will give the Gamecock fans something to look forward to during the next couple months. Seeking first win Until basketball season finally arrives, USC fans will have to be content with patiently waiting for the football team to win its first game of the season. By all rights the Gamecock football team, which had so many publications, including this one, tabbing it for national recognition before the season began, should stagger through the next few weeks without win. .Mississippi, North Carolina and North Carolina State should drop the USC mark to 0-8, but -following match ups with Appalachian State and Wake Forest could give the Gamecocks a farcical two-game-i winning streak going into the season finale with Clemson. But before classing those as sure wins, remember that Appalachian had USC tied at halftime last year, 7-7, and that apparently hapless Wake Forest has been the victim of three teams In the top ten this year (Oklahoma, Penn State and North Carolina State). Of course, USC could surprise somebody along the way, but a surprise that would certainly be. With USC's m ark now 0-5, the pressure is off. Any win would be appreciated by the fans, since most fans have given up on a "good" season and some have even given up on a single win. A few wins by the Gamecocks wouldn't be doing next year's coach, and next year's team, any harm either. ~,4J VI In search of win Ole Mis BY BILLY BAKER Gamecock Staff Writer Carolina's want of victory may have to wait a while because a win will be hard to come by against Mississippi before a Homecoming crowd in Oxford Saturday af ternoon. , The Rebels should find its home setting most enjoyable after a 49-0 loss to Georgia in Athens last week. Although they have used a balanced attack through their first five games that has yielded a 2-3 record, it is assumed that a run ning attack will be utilized most of the USC game. Rebel runners will need to pile up more than 515 yards to set a new school rushing record. "They play as a team and their game plans have been to do whatever a team will allow them to do," said USC assisstant Bob Mauro, who scouted the Rebels for Carolina. The Rebels own a 2-0 seeries record against USC, last defeating Carolina in 1972, 21-0, when the Gamecocks mustered only one first down. "The rest of the season is not going to be easy," said Coach Paul Dietzel. "I still feel we can play Biddies open home season V DES Coles runs through U_ s next for like the team I thought we would be before the season began." Taking a 0-5 record to Hemingway Stadium is not much of an incentive for rthe Gamecocks, off to their worse start since the early 40's. It will take a superior effort to beat Ole Miss in their back-yard. Dietzel says that he is undecided who he will start at quarterback. Ron Bass was listed as the probable starter on depth charts earlier in the week. "Both will play a lot, regardless who starts," said the retiring coach. As expected there were several defensive changes following last week's disappointing homecoming loss to Virginia Tech. Jerome Provence, a freshman from Savannah, will start at defensive tackle. Andy Nelson, 6-1, 190 from Glen Arm, Md., will start at rover bacck in pllace of regular Zeb Shue. Gary Mott could be a bright spot for the Gamecocks, if he is a ble to get back in the line up at left middle linebacker at ter a weeks absence. The offense will start the same unit, save Kevin Long, who is slated to start at right halfback. Long is a sophomore from Clinton. Carolina's junior varsity football team meets arch-rival Clemson at 7:30 Monday night at Williams-Brice Stadium. The contest was originally scheduled for Monday af ternoon, ut was changed to a night encounter by mutual agreement of the two schools. The Biddies of Coach Oree Banks won their season opener against Georgia Tech 23-20 in Atlanta more than two week ago, while the Cubs are 2-I, winning over The Citadel 16-0, Furman 35-0 and losing to Georgia 27-14. Carolina's leading ground gainer in the victory over the Baby Jackets was junior Randy Chastain with 76 yards on 11 caries. The Franlin, wAk cq USC The Rebels have a strong defense paced by three seniors among the front four defensive linemen. All SEC-performer, Ben Williams, 6-3, 250, may be the best defensive tackle Carolina will face this season. Two veteran ends will make it tough on USC runners cutting the corner. Gary Markow, 5-10, 195, and Gary Turner, 6-4, 218, have the credentials to make it a long afternoon for USC. On offense Ole Miss runs out of multiple sets, which translated means you can expect to see many different formations. The running load is usually taken by the tailback. Two freshmen share this position. Mike Sweet, a 440-yard dash champion from Vicksburg, Miss., and James Reed, a 6-4, 215 power runner, will provided most of the running attack for Ole Miss. Kenny Lyons, a senior, will quarterback the Rebel atrtack. USC needs to win every game remaining on its schedule to enjoy a winnng season. The setting and the opposition Saturday seem to be very much against that happening. N.C., niative also scored two touchdowns. Running back Kevin Long of Clinton added 47 yards on 12 attempts. Quarterback Chris Cowan, presently suffering from a leg injury, completed four of seven passes for 61 yards and one touchdown. The leading receiver was sophomore split aend Stan Candler with three receptions for 43 yards. Clemson's leading rusher for three games has been Johnsonville freshman Fritz Edwards with 156 yards on 28 carries, lie is averaging 5.6 yards per rush and has scored one touchdown. Freshman Rick Weddington is the Cubs' total offense