Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Pete Feheley Sports Editor Bass to return Carolina's baseball team received some good news this week when pitchng ace Earl Bass decided to return for the 1975 season. Bass was drafted in the fifth round last summer by the Cleveland Indians and in the third round last week by the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Bass had a 1.-1 record last season and was chosen to the Associated Press All-America team. After rejecting a bonus offer from the Indians last summer, Bass is undoubtedly considering more than just money before he signs a professional contract. The Dodger organization is first class from top to bottom and also has a history of outstanding pit - ching staffs. The Indians only positive step in the past 20 years has been to hire the first black manager in professional baseball, Frank Robinson. Before someone thinks Bass has no respect for the value of the American dollar, let us examine how his decision to remain at Carolina might benefit him financially and other wise. First, if Bass has another outstanding season his value as a pitcher will increase because it would prove his arm is fully recovered from a 1972 injury. Second, if Carolina makes it to the NCAA playoffs again this year it will mean much more press exposure for Bass and the entire Carolina team. As every sports fan knows, more exposure means more money. After watching former Oakland A's pitcher Jim Hunter hold the biggest sports auction in history (The New York Yankees finally dangled $3.75 million worth of bait to the land the Catfish), who can blame Bass for wanting to get his piece of the rock? Coach Bobby Richardson's baseballers begin practice Monday with another banner season predicted. With several returning starters and the addition of some fine freshman prospects, Carolina should be making a return trip to the NCAA playoffs again this spring. Carolina has other prospects in addition to Bass that could benefitirom an ap pearance in the postseason tournament. Hank Small, Greg Ward, Jeff Grantz, and Tim Lewis should also have professional offers to consider after this season. Gamecock roadblock Carolina's basketball team stumbled on an old nemesis Tuesday night, a basketball game away from Carolina Coliseum. With Carolina's backcourt shooting a miserable percentage from the floor, the Gamecocks stayed within striking distance of the Marquette Warriors mainly on the strong inside game of Tom Boswell. However, Marquette played volleyball all night off their offensive boards, scoring many times on second and third shots as the Gamecock frontcourt neglected to box out the Warriors. While Carolina was being out-muscled on the offensive boards, help was probably not far away at all. Ru ed for ward Bob Mathias, who can handle himself in any rebounding battle, was conspicuous by his absence from the court. Until the Gamecocks can win consistently on the road, a return to the top ten will be a long time In coming. Losing to a good team like Marquette on the road is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when Carolina can look forward to a return match in Columbia next month. My bet is that the Gamecocks will not get mad on Feb. 22, they will get even. SCOREBOARD Basketball Opponents Scores Top Twenty Scores Monday Monday Pittsburgh 84 Notre Dame 77 (OT) Indiana 79 Minnesota 59 Virginia 58 DavIdson 56 Alabama 74 MississIppi 71 Texas Tech 86 Houston 82 Kentucky 88 Tennessee 82 Tuesday Women's Basketball Princeton 59 Temple 48 Carolina 62 FrancIs Marion 50 St. John's 100 Rhode Island 75 Marquette 69 Carolina 60 Wrestling Marshall 77 Howard 68 Masschuett ... Caoln 12 Marqu down BY BILLY BAKER Of The GamecoCk staff Carolina's 69-60 loss to Marquette Tuesday night proved the Gamecocks inability to win on the road will be a major factor in the teams hopes of a seventh consecutive 20 win season. "They are quicker than we," said coach Frank McGuire. "We couldn't really match up that well against them when we went to a man to man. I just couldn't get over how cold we shot in the last five minutes of the game." It was poor "road plAy," com mon to USC, that hurt the Gamecocks. From the field USC hit 28-66 shots for a 42.4 per cent and made four of nine foul shots. Marquette won the game at the free throw line where they con verted 15 of 19 attempts and from the field they shot 27 of 60 good for 45 per cent. Carolina started in a traditional 2-1-2 zone defense but after falling behind by as many as ten points McGuire switched his team into a man to man defense midway through the first half. Marquette was able to take advantage of numerous "back door" passes and picks for easy buckets. The Gamecocks managed a small rally and trailed by six (32-26) at the half. It was Marquette's shuffle of fense that hurt the Gamecocks in the second half. The Warriors USC eni BY MARK LEARY Asst. Sports Editor The Davidson Wildcats, a t9am with an awesome schedule -and four starters back from last season, visits Carolina Coliseum Saturday night to take on the Gamecocks who are 6-0 on their home floor this season. In addition to Carolina the Wildcats had to play UCLA, NC State, Notre Dame, St. John's and Ohio State in the earlier part of the season. Still remaining for the Wildcats are league games and two crucial contests with defending Southern Conference champion Furman later in the season. Four starters return from last Women 's softball Women's softball team will hold organizational meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m. in the conference room of the Blatt PE Center. All women interested In trying out for the women's varsity soft ball team should attend. For further Information contact Coach Vicki Hamilton at 777-5249. ette str Game Al McGuire Bo Ellis were able -to break away from coverage for easy lay-up shots on numerous occassions. The Gamecocks trailed by only one with 8:53 to go in the game (49-48). However, Warrior - coach Al tertains % Greg Dun.n 5year's team and give the Wildcats good experience. Guards Greg Dunn and Jay Powell, forward Larry Horowitz and center Sheldon Parker all return from last year's club. Dunn was an all-conference guard as he led the team in scoring last year with a 15.3 average. Davidson was among the nation's best in field goal percentage and one reason was Horowitz who shot 57.6 per cent from the floor. According to Davidson's head coach Bo Brickels his teams most important key to the season Is that they must be a "super" defensive team. Brickels said, "We hope defensively to make upfor our deficiencies on the bars I thinkr ategy cocks McGuire seemed to rally his team on as he called timed out each time the Gamecocks appeared to be ready to go ahead. Afterwads the Warrior adjustments paid off as they went ahead by five and six points throughout the rest of the game. Bo Ellis, All America candidate led the Warriors with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Butch Lee, freshman guard and Earl Tatum a forward were next in the Warrior scoring with 14 and 13 points. Carolina was paced by Tom Boswell who tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds. The only other Gamecock in double figures'was Nate Davis, with 10. In the latter part of the game USC lost all hopes of winning when both freshman guard Jackie Gilloon and Boswell missed the front end of one and. one op portunities. The disappointing guard play that McGuire blamed for his loss to Oklahoma earlier in the season was evident again against Marquette. Gilloon and Dunleavey combined for a 7 of 24 showing from the field. Warrior mentor Al McGuire said that he thought this particular USC basketball team "has the best potential of any Carolina team" that he has seen in the past five years. Carolina must win 12 of 14 remaining games to reach the 20 win mark. A NCAA play-off berth is also at stake. rildeats we will play man-to-man most of the way." Brickels commented that one of Davidson's major problems this season will be their inability to control the boards against some of their opponents. Brickels feels if the Wildcats can't control the boards defense will become even more important so that Davidson can control the tempo of the basketball game. Carolina and Davidson have played two common opponents in St. John's and Princeton. Davidson defeated Princeton 72-56 while Carolina stopped Princeton in the first round of the Carolina Classic. The Redmen of St. John's defeated Carolina in an overtime thriller 78-77 in the ECAC tour nament while the Wildcats defeated the Redmen.at Davidson by four points. The Gamecocks should be a hungry ball team after the loss to Marquette on the road. Carolina's record now stands at 8-4, with all four of their losses coming on the road. Pool hours Sunday, Monday and Wednesday - 7:30 pm-10:30 pm Thursday - 8:30 pm-10:30 pm Saturday - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Tuesday and Priday - Clseduw