Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Us be, Offensiv fires titi Gamecocks a at.every posi BY STEVE PARKER Sports Editor For the first time since Carolina's Atlantic Coast Conference championship team the basketball Gamecocks appear to have a team capable of challenging for the national title. Recognized by every major basketball publication, and slipping out of the top ten in just a few, Carolina will be in a psition to leap ahead of UCLA, North Carolina State and the like if they should falter. "We are capable of staying with anybody," Coach Frank McGuire, who is entering his 11th season as coach of the Gamecocks, said. "We have to work on our defense," McGuire continued. "But, offensively they can play. On offense, we are betti.. than any team we've had in scoring points. "But to survive being ranked you have to be balanced," McGuire added. In practice sessions, the 25 r head coach of collegiate ketball stressed the im portance of defense, often shouting "What good did the last basket do if you gave it right back?" Still, with McGuire's sight worries of his team's posibe defensive shortcomings, the coach recognizes his squad as being extremely talented. "I m digto see them in real good competition," McGulre said. And the coach will definitely have that wish come true, for Carolina plys one of the toughest scheus for a top-ranked team. Marquette, Houston, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Oklahoma represent some of the Gamecock's tougher foes, and four of those games are on the road. 'The Gamecock squad could achieve or lose its regular season ranking aspirations on the basis. of those tough en counters. "We have a better bench than any team we've had," McGuire said, mentioning C's st? e power e hopes re talent-rich tion. in lineup something which might be needed to meet that rigorous schedule. "We've got a number of different combinations we can put in. We'll go to our best men." But McGuire said he would not substitute in the manner labeled "freely. We won't go to the bench any more than we have to. I don't just substitute for no reason at all. Not unless the guys are tired or they have to come out." Should McGuire decide to substitute he surely has an abundance of talented players to go with. In every position Carolina has replacements, who will not cause much of a reduction in talent. So talent-filled is the Gamecock roster, starters in the season opener could well be second-stringers a few games into the season. Perhaps the only three "sure"v starters are transfer Tom Boswell, who averaged 24 points and 17 rebeunds a game at South Carolina State 2 years ago, and co-captains Mike Dunleavy and Alexander English. Boswell and English were both drafted by the American Basketball Association as underclassmen following the last season, so both are sure All-America candidates. Boswell participated in the Pan American games, despite having never paed a minute of major college basketball. Both Boswell the Gamecock's probabie center, although his ball-handling capabilities make him a possible forward, and English can shoot excellently and rebound with the best. Dunleavy, a junior, as Is English, is a leader of the tean). His hustle and good outside shooting have graced the Carolina court since early in his freshmen year. Dunleavy averaged 16 pints a game last year, behin only the now departed Brian Winter's 20.O and English's 18.3. The other guard position will likely see a number of players. Senior Jimmy Walsh, brother of Associate Cach nnne USC co-captain in rec Walsh and the only senior on the team, is a steady ball handler and good assist man. But, where his between-the legs dribbles used to cause great excitement in the Coliseum, a new crowd-pleaser has arrived on the scene and will be hard to keep out of the starting lineup. Freshman guard Jackie Gilloon, from W. New York, N.J. has been calied the "best ball handler" in the nation by many who have been him ractice. His slick behind-the bk and between-the-legs dribbles and psses are much like those of ex-Providlence star Ernie DiGregorio. Behind Walsh and Gilloon Is another very talented fresh man, Billy Truitt from Lackawanna, N.Y. He is a good ball handler and a strong percentage shooter from outside. &pomore Stu 10ltenic, a goutside shot who saw little paying time -last year, Is UieD neaysoe etnrsqa g am avaiableand houl seemer action. Theoter orar poito also hasa host o caal plaer vyngforth sptwt supe leper ateDavi th mostlikly, lthugh efesiv stadou 5akGene2ol ~fk uleadin score ls ers4 etm ithra8q tad game available an gsreouder woth Th r hoteg eye,waragedio ao as ahots,bt alf capbeim plyrong ith the sptwithr hape eners Nate Dasthe sandou Mrk reinercod. theams, alae atya whoavseroge Columia au. Qabreuhi, ppas the foodtho beleftin sorer on laest yar'sn Glinep, au good reoner th 40hayttong ato peetuae oahis shoutl wee con sieAle wciat the two are we iljT ut b'een cally somr "heios improved player on the tearn." Continued on Page il Dec. 2-BUCKNELL Dec. 7-at Oklahoma Dec. 11--ST. jOSEPH'S (PA.) Dec. 20-21-CAROLINA CLASSIC Dec. 26-30-ECAC Tournament at Providence, R. I. Jan. 4-MANHATTAN, 3 P.M. Jan. 8--FORDHAM Ian. 8-at Virginia Tech Ian. 14--at Marquette Jan. 18--DAVIDSON Ian. 20--at Niagara Jan. 25-MARSHALL Jan. 28-ST. LOUIS Feb. 1--t Houston Feb. 5-PITTSSURCH Feb. 8-at Notre Dame Feb. 12---GEORGIA SOUTHERN Feb. 15-at Dayton * eb.. 17-at Toledo - Jeb. 22-MARQUETTE, 1 P.M. Feb. 26-CANISIUS Mar. 1-GEORGIA TECH %Iar. 3--VILLANOVA