University of Virginia Library

From The Water Bucket

The
Amazin'
Cavaliers

By Dempsey And Marshall

— VIRGINIA'S BASKETBALL TEAM finally descended from
cloud 9 Tuesday night following a six-game excursion up there.
We really should have won, but a team cannot lose two of its
finest players during the crucial moments and expect to crunch
an opponent of Carolina's caliber.

WE LOST. SO WHAT? It's no disgrace. In fact we were in the
game until the last 15 seconds. Bill Gerry was kicked out with
8:33 left, Barry Parkhill hit both of Virginia's free throws from
the ensuing technical, while Carolina's Dennis Wuycik managed
one of two. Virginia led 57-55. After baskets by Dewitt and
Parkhill the Tar Heels knotted the score at 61 all. From the
Virginia, looking very much unlike a team missing its captain,
leading scorer and rebounder, the Cavaliers stretched their lead to
70-65. Amazin'. At 70-67 Parkhill drove down the lane, passing
off to Mike Wilkes, who laid it up and in. But Parkhill was called
for charging, nullifying Wilkes' goal and forcing the second yearman
to leave the game with his fifth foul.

THE 8,700 FANS FROM GOD'S COUNTRY went wild,
drowning out the hundred or so Wahoo Faithful who had made
the four hour trip to Chapel Hill. The Heels immediately made
their move, running off ten straight points, the highlight and
tie-breaker of which was a fantastic follow shot by Wuycik while
Tim Rash was busily knocking his feet from under him
one shot foul). But Rash, Chip Miller and Scott McCandlish
brought Virginia back to a three point deficit, at 78-75 with 26
seconds left. However, the dream was destroyed as the Tar Heels
stole the ball and Wuycik scored on a lonely lay-up as time ran
out.

THIS IS THE BEST ANY VIRGINIA team of mine has played
here at Carmichael," said Coach Bill Gibson. Appropriate enough.
A 6-1 start is also the best since the coach came here. In fact it is
the best start since the Cavaliers have been in the ACC. Tonight
the Cavs engage a 2-5 William & Mary team, a 101-72 loser to
UNC. It would be nice to down the Indians by more than UNC
did. A 7-1 December record would be nice.