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Erratic Cagers Win Three Games Over Holidays

Reams Quits,
Gidding Hurt

By Ted McKean
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

It's happened to Bill Gibson
again. Although the Virginia basketball
coach did not come right out
and say it, this, like the fall football
season, was to be the year of years,
the year which produced the sought
after winner.

Last season, it was Buddy
Reams and Chip Case whom Gibson
lost to injuries. And without them,
the hopes of having a winner disintegrated.
The Cavaliers closed the
season with a dismal 9-16 mark.
Without Case, the backcourt was
severely weakened defensively and
offensively. Without Reams, rebounding
and scoring power w suffered.

So, hopes were high for Mr.
Gibson as he entered the 1968-69
campaign. Case and Reams were
back, healthy. John Gidding had
come around beyond expectations.
Mike Wilkes would once again be a
terror underneath, as the ACC's
best layup shooter. Norm Carmichael
would haul down the shots
Tony Kinn missed.

But alas, midnight rolled around
for Virginia's latest Cinderella, Bill
Gibson. When his Cavaliers face
Navy Wednesday night, the roster
will not include the names Case,
Reams, and Gidding.

First went Case, with the knee
injury that every Cavalier basketball
fan felt. Case will be a good pro
prospect; he would have undoubtedly
been a scoring leader in
the Conference.

Not only is he a top player, but
as his loss as the undisputed leader
of the team may have been what
hurt most. Joe Gieck hopes to have
him ready to take the floor against
Maryland on January 30, but who
knows how the fragile knees will
hold up? Case worked out with the
team for the first time since his
injury yesterday

Reams has withdrawn from the
team for health reasons. The 6′5″
forward suffered from hepatitis last
season, and was forced to drop out
of school for last year's second
semester. This season, Reams has
been unable to regain his old form
and stamina, due to the previous
illness. He left the team following
the Big Five Tournament.

The latest, and most crushing
blow, to the Cavalier basketball
fortunes came as the result of a
severe knee sprain sustained by
Gidding. Against North Carolina
State, the big forward bruised his
knee in a tussle for a rebound.
Although the injury will not require
surgery, only the most optimistic
can see Gidding back in the lineup
for the Clemson game Saturday

Photo By Bob Gill

Virginia's John Gidding Wards Off An Attacking Basketball Under Backboard

High Scoring Fourth-Year Forward Out Of Action Presently Due To Knee Injury Suffered At NCS