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Cagers Face Rigorous Schedule:
Inexperience, Youth Big Factor

By Paul Larsen
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Basketball is a funny game. You
can play your best for 39 minutes
only to have your opponent stuff
in a last minute basket to grab
victory from your midst. You
can start the season with five of
the strongest, most-talented
players to be found only to lose
one of them and thereby upset
your balance mid-way through the
long season. It's a pressure game—
a game in which the winners prove
themselves.

What could be one of Virginia's
most disappointing and what very
well might be one of the Cavaliers'
most surprising seasons opens
tomorrow night at Saint John's
in New York.

Suffering from several pre-season
blows, Virginia will attempt to
combine ability with inexperience
to produce a winning season.

Reams Gone

The loss of all-around star Buddy
Reams due to illness and a broken
hand now healing on the person
of Tom Joyce are two breaks the
Cavaliers will have to compensate
for.

Coach Bill Gibson feels ambivalent
toward the season in that
he has only four lettermen returning,
yet somehow enjoys some fine
talent among last year's reserves
and this year's second-year men.

The Cavalier mentor, beginning
his fifth season, feels that if the
inexperienced players can withstand,
the pressure and become
"battle-tested" during the especially
demanding December
schedule, his team will mold into
a cohesive, strong unit.

Hopeful

Looking at this year's squad,
Coach Gibson states: "This is the
best conditioned team I've had in
the past four years. They realize
that they are not a great ball
club, but they also realize they
can be a good ball club.

"If we can keep together and
play as a team during December
and learn from the experience,
it will pay off during the stretch,
when we play eight of eleven games
at home.

Optimistic

"The boys have a tremendous
attitude and outlook which I am
very happy to see. The question is
how soon we can find ourselves
as we meet our tough opponents."

Giving a rundown of the personnel,
Coach Gibson had the
following to say about the team:

Mike Katos—"Mike is a Captain.
Most responsibility will lie
on his shoulders. I feel that he will
have his best year ever. He will be
a fine Captain."

Norm Carmichael—"A lot of
responsibility will rest with Norm
particularly because of the size
of our opponents. I feel he's come
of age this season, showing tremendous
improvement over last
year."

Barry Koval—"He and Gary
Laws will be competing for the
starting guard position most of
the season. Barry is a real good
competitor; he only needs playing
time."

Gary Laws—"Gary is one of our
play makers. When he is in there
he will direct our team. He will
probably start as many or more
of the games than Koval, but
we're looking to both for some
fine action."

Tony Kinn—"One of the finest
shooters you can find. We are
looking for improvement in defense
and ball-handling. If he can
stand the pressure and become
battle-tested, he will be a good
asset to the team."

Chip Case—"Chip will have to
carry a lot of the load with Katos.
He is our best all around player
and holds much responsibility on
the team."

John Gidding—"John shows tremendous
improvement over last
year. He will be used primarily
as a back-up man to Norm."

Tom Joyce—"Joyce is probably
second best to Case ability-wise.
's had some trouble making
adjustments but has shown great
improvement."

John English—"He is an asset
any team. He has tremendous
attitude and any coach would love
to have him on the team."

Mike Wilkes—"Probably will
get starting nod at forward. He
knows nothing but second, third,
fourth, and fifth efforts. He's a real
hustler and a real pleasure to have
on the squad."

Mike Eikenberry—"Is in the best
shape of his life. He has shown
improved play and is ready to be
called on for reserve play."

"This season's Cavaliers have
a long schedule and many breaks
ahead of them. It's a long season
and a funny game, one in which
anything can happen."