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Men's By Jim Corbett Staff Writer You can't identify the players without a scorecard. When Coach Bill Foster's inaugural USG basketball team plays their first few games at the Frank McGuire Arena, veteran Gamecock fans will be burying their noses in their programs, trying to match unfamiliar faces with familiar numbers. Veterans are what the 1980-81 edition of the BIHBBI^Jmm1 i Freshman Brad Jergensc rebound. (Photo by Kyle Ht Carotin trederi B> John StaM V\ nnu^ 1: i i ii 11 inu ^uiuimu uasKtuuan rot senior, but the 6-2 guard feels 1 1980-81 season. "I've been locked up for thr haven't had a chance to take < this year." Fredrick got his chance whc l^ad the Carolina nrneram 1 with Fredrick during his fi promised to institute a runnin good news for the Gamecoc siderable success under thi: Matthews High School. FREDRICK HAD HIS troul paced offense used during j Carolina. "I had always playe here I had to work with a I cnmpthinf v nr?u/ mi> " While never making a compl style, Fredrick still made an ir scoring average as a sophomoi over to his junior year as 1 i almost 10 points and his scorini "I just didn't get to play eno sitting on the bench," he said.4 to play or how much I would prepare for a game with all tha Fredrick also had to contem frequently left the idea of teanr I i i newcon Carolina team is missing, with only three lettermen returning. Six freshmen, one sophomore junior-college transfer, and four walk-ons will combine with the three returnees to form what has been described as America's youngest college team. IF THERE are any rnmmnn phsira^fprictins shared by this diverse group of eleven newcomers who B )n (34) goes up for a til and) ia's new ick's fai i Swift rfritor ;ter lists Zam Fredrick as a ike a freshma i going into the ee years," Fr?drick said. "I Advantage of my ability until n Bill Foster came aboard to rhe former Duke coach met irst visit to Columbia and g game. That vvas extremely rk guard who enjoyed con5 philosophy at nearby St. bles in adjusting to the slow Frank McGuire's reign at d a fast game, but when 1 got patterned offense. It was Fredrick said. lete adjustment to McGuire's npressivc show ing with a 13.9 re. This success did not carry lis shooting percentage fell 14 ouipui leu 10 seven. ugh and then I got frustrated '1 was never sure I was going I play. I didn't know how to it uncertainty." d with some teammates who iwork at practice. "Last year lers stn hail from as far away as Wisconsin and as near as Columbia, it's a respect and affection for Foster and his coaching style. According to Gerald Peacock, a transfer from Brevard Junior College in Florida, Foster is the reason he came to Carolina. "He saw me play a couple of times in high school and he knows just about what I can do," the Raleigh, N.C., native said. "I've seen him coach and I like his style, and I think I can fit into the type of running game that L M we iittvu. The six-foot point guard feels his strong point is defense. "In junior college last year I averaged about three steals a game, anu I try to work hard on my defense," Peacock said. "Evervbodv has a role on the tea*-\ and I think I fit better i the defensive role instead of mainly offense." ONE NEWCOMER who will have to play two roles will be 6'6" swing man Billy Bessior. The freshman from Srrnntnn Prpn in Srrantnn Pa. will play both small forward and big guard i where the deft shooting touch he has exhibited in ] workouts will be an advantage. i Bessoir also points to i r osier as one 01 me main reasons he entered Carolina, j "I was very impressed with j Coach Foster," he said. He ] also mentioned the former Duke mentor's fast-break i offense as a major factor. "1 love it. That was one of the reasons why 1 came here. I love tc run." Freshman guard Scott Sanderson, who played on a run oriented team in high school, said the crowd has a major influence on a fast break attack. "I think the running is exciting," the 6'3" native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., said. "The fan support always picks you up and aiways gives you a wnoie 101 of help," said Sanderson, who's father is head basketball coaeh at The University of Alabama. _ rr ojjense st stvle i 'I've been locked up haven't had a cha vantage of my ability we had a lot of individuals, doing what they wanted and it played," he said. BUT A NEW attitude prev squad and it has made the gam "The key word to describe o all get along and have respec Fredrick said. Earlier this year, Foster nar captain along with senior guar has enthusiastically accepted t "I have to keep the younger ? going to be up all the time," 1 We're down will be important ir With a team featuring so in, assumed the title of veteran. A: Ik? counted on for hisfleadersh said he is not concerned with would like to see the team finisl 2ss teai THE GAMECOCKS will rely on two tall freshmen to grab rebounds and start the fast-break attack. Jimmy Foster will attempt to overcome his long layoff and return to the form that enabled him to average 28 points and 19 rebounds per contest while a junior at Wade Hampton High School. The 6'9" Foster sat out his senior season for personal reasons and attended PofAlino /inltr of I % / lncf vui vuiici win jr ui IVII y u;oi fall. Foster credits the coaching staff for getting the team ready for the season. "They run you real hard and work you, but you have a good feeling when you come in trom practice,'1 the Greenville native said. "You feel like you've accomplished something." Brad Jurgenson is the other freshman big man who will have to contend with the dominating centers that dot the Gamecock schedule. THE tt-8 Manitowac, Wis., native was attracted to South Carolina by Foster and his offensive philosophy. "He (Foster) was a big reason. I like Coach Foster very much. I like the way he plays and his style of ball. That's one of the reasons I came here, I thought I could fit in his urogram." The fast break attack also attracted Bob Home, a 6'6" forward, to USC. "That's my kind of game," he said of the running attack. "It's an exciting game that will draw a lot of fans." Home also stressed the team concent th?it nil th#? players belie-e in. "Team is the first woi\., that's all we think about. And that's how we're gonna win," Home said. IK ESI! MAN forward Kenny Holmes also wants to win. "I'm looking to win," the 6-6 native of Savannah, Ga., said. "The whole team, we're looking to win right now. We don't want to wait two or three years. The future is now and I fenl that we have to win now." suits of play 1 for three years. / nee to take ad. . .~?:b ? ' ' tit hii i/j/o year. -Zam Fredrick 'voruhnHu nn tho (o?im mac was indicative of the way we ails on this year's youthful _ r r ri ,i_. _ ?_ u iuii again lor r reuriCK. ur team is togetherness. We t for each other's abilities," ned Fredrick the squad's cod Kevin Dunleavy. Fredrick he role of the leader. juys ready because we're not I uii ? i i le saiu. now we piay wnen i how we do this year." :?ny new faces, Fredrick lias s the team's 'old man' he will ip and his scoring. Fredrick i setting personal goals, but h with a winning record. m work, 'They (the coachesJ and work you, but h> when you come in i feel like you Ve something.' Four players who will be trying to help the Gamecocks win this year with their contributions are the quartet of walk-ons selected by Foster and his staff from over fifty can dictates. Guard Henry Atkins is a second-year walk-on (or runon as Foster refers to them), who also made Frank McGuire's final collegiate team last season. Atkins is proud of his achievement. "I'm proud of it, especially since we had to change coaches," the 5'11" sophomore said. "I made it twice, which proved it (his ammy) to two seperate coaches, which I feel is an accomplishment." IT WAS questionable whether Atkins would get an opportunity to try out this year. 4,I had a knee operation this summer and it never came around," the Charlotte, N.C. native said. "Thp trv-nnt?i was nhnnt tho first time I ever played really hard on my knee," he said. Two players who will have to work hard this year are walk-on forwards Jim Reedy and Chris Nastopoulos, who will have to provide depth in the front-court for the small USC squad. Reedv is notable not onlv because he is a walk-on, but also because he never played high school basketball. "It's not as if I didn't play i basketball at all," the 6'6" Columbia resident said. "I was a baseball player at the Co-Captain Zam Fredrick t hustle run you real hard ave a good feeling from practice you < accomplished . -Jimmy Foster I I beginning. I guess they (the cnachos) took thnf info account," said Keedy, who made the Carolina baseball team as a walk-on before an arm injury finished his pitching career. Chris Nastopoulos said he was simply happy the tryouts were held. "I think it's a great idea and a super opportunity," the Atlanta, Ga. native said. "He (Foster) gave everybody a fair ehance, and it's a great thing." (iUAKU Terry Small also realizes that being a walk-on involves sell-sacntice. "It's an honor, but it's a lot of work too," the native of Fort I^e, Va., said. Small is a transfer from South Carolina State and will not be able to participate in games until January id. tie saia tne early morning tryouts attracted only those serious about playing basketball. "By having (it) early in the morning, he (Foster) really found out who.really U'.'Mih'd f*? nln\/ hnctotKfill Tf MI*VV\4 V V/ ^*>i4 J MUOI?V l> You really have to want to play to come out at 6.30 in the morning. They gave everybody a fair chance." The young Gamecocks will be followine the lead of their young, energetic coaches; Foster, Bob Wenzel, Kay Jones and Steve Steinwedel, as they seek a successful season. i 4 11 F ~ ? I A? 1 ? ? wt* rt* nere 10 learn. Jtie (Foster) has us enthused and we're here to learn," Peacock said. "We want to be the best we can be." 1 * m :::..\ |BM|A ^Vjni ';" ''}:'2 BS& jMI Photo by Kyle Holland) I