University of Virginia Library

Allen Bristow & His Gang

NIT Hungry Turkeys Threaten Win–Thirsty Cavs

By CLARK EMERSON

Many Charlottesville
residents question Virginia
Tech's being nationally ranked
in anything more complicated
than most cows or highest per
acre yield.

But the Gobbler basketball
five were rated nineteenth in
the country, before being upset
last week by Toledo and
Southern Conference softy
Richmond, The Cavaliers meet
the favored Turkeys tonite in
very unfriendly Tech Coliseum,
where VPI owns a 45 game
winning streak against in-state
competition.

"This is Tech Territory"
proclaim thousands of
Blacksburg bumpers. The
Roanoke Valley town has
witnessed Coach Don DeVoe
shape seven above average
individuals into an Eastern
power, whipping the likes of
Florida State, South Carolina,
Ohio State, and Wake Forest
along the way.

Some experts consider
DeVoe - not UCLA's John
Wooden - the season's
outstanding coach.

Boastful Turkey

"We are still the best team
in the state," boasted Allen
Bristow, Tech's MVP, after the
Richmond loss although their
night's performance rated only
a notch above VMI. With just a
semblance of defense, Tech's
front court allowed Richmond
a 40-30 rebound advantage and
Aren Stewart a 41 point field
night, many on layups.

Bristow especially was
disappointing. An NBA scout
described him as "poor on
defense with very slow
reactions. His positioning is
rarely good and I question his
leaping ability." Bristow fouled
out with a paltry 16 points and
appeared a very edible dish for
Gus Gerard.

The explosive DeVoe
reportedly held "brutal board
drills" after the overtime loss
and his charges reacted well,
beating and outrebounding
taller George Washington.
Bristow, shooting like "one of
the five best players in the
nation," hit 22 of 29 tries and
grabbed a game high 15
rebounds. His 52 points broke
the Tech single game record.

Like the Cavalier's Gerard,
Bristow is a natural forward

forced to the center position
by his team's lack of height. At
6-7, he is the tallest starter.
Bristow's 24.8 scoring average
depends on his exceptionally
quick hands and muscling
inside play. His limited range
handicaps him far from the
bucket.

Star JC Guards

Va. Tech's 16-5 record is in
no small measure due to two
guards, both stars last year at
nearby Ferrum Junior College,
which placed second in the JC
nationals.

Bobby Stevens is the Monte
Towe type of short playmaker
At 5-9 he controls his teams
offensive tempo from the top
of the key, scoring mostly on
25 foot bombs.

Steven's backcourt mate
Charlie Thomas, rarely handles
the ball, preferring instead to
roam the baseline in search of
an open jumper. His
movements jerky and quick,
Thomas will cover Barry
Parkhill in a man-to-man
coverage – Tech's usual
defensive strategy.

Tech's remaining starters
boast one-dimensional talents.
Craig Leider is a 6-5 streak
shooting forward who adds
little to the Hokies weak board
strength. Ed Frazier (6-4) is a
defensive specialist who scored
infrequently.

With the mythical state
championship at stake, the
intrastate showdown has long
been a sellout. Although the
contest will be televised in the
Roanoke Valley area, there will
be no television coverage in
Charlottesville.

The teams have split their
last two encounters. The 1971
Gobblers upset the Wahoos in
Blacksburg, 97-74. Last year,
the then seventh-ranked
Cavaliers triumphed easily in U
Hall, 107-85.

Its chances for an NCAA
tournament bid nil after the
Toledo loss, Tech remains a
top choice for the NIT.
Although Bristow downplayed
the contest as "just another
game", an excellent showing is
necessary for Tech's post-season
future.

As a more realistic VPI
source explained, "No
question, it's a big game as any
contest between Virginia and
Virginia Tech will be,
regardless of the sport. The
NIT invitation could definitely
balance on the outcome of the
game."

CD/Saxon Holt

Indian Center Matt Courage Against His Wahoo Counterpart Gus Gerard