University of Virginia Library

From The Sidelines

16 Down,
9 To Go

By Davis Marshall

IT'S A FAMILIAR SCENE NOW. Bill Gerry leads the blushing
Cavaliers out for warm-ups. They are met by thunderous
applause. A few lay-ups later the straw-hatted Band peps out their
own rendition of "Hooter's Heroes," accompanied by a light but
vehement chorus of "Hoot, Hoot, Hoot..." Then Bill Gibson,
followed by assistants Chip Connor and Dick DiBiaso, walks on
the floor and U Hall erupts with approval into a wild,
unorganized melee of sound. A quick wave, more of an
embarrassed flick of the wrist, by the coach, and the noise
subsides until the players' introductions.

IT'S NOT MARYLAND, where the Terps' peripatetic Lefty
Drisell has the home fans entranced with his magic V sign. Nor is
it even Clemson, where Madison Avenue employs a cage and a
spotlight to enhance a team steadily growing popular in the hearts
and wallets of Tiger fans everywhere. Of course it's Virginia. The
Cavaliers don't need gimmicks and Coach Gibson had nothing to
be embarrassed about, Virginia is good. Naturally, losses to
Clemson and South Carolina hurt, but many onlookers expected
as much.

CURRENTLY THE CAVALIERS ARE THIRD IN THE ACC
with a 4-3 ledger. N.C. State, Saturday's TV opponent, is second
with a 3-2 record. The Wolfpack has wins over Duke and
Maryland (twice) with losses to Clemson and Wake Forest.
Overall their record is 10-5. On paper the Cavaliers appear better
but the difference could be a matter of schedule. Despite losses to
Auburn, Georgia, and Pittsburgh the Wolfpack has picked up
victories over such familiar b'ball powerhouses as West Virginia,
Davidson, and Virginia Tech. In addition the Wolfpack captured
the Big Four title with impressive wins over North Carolina and
Duke.

SATURDAY'S TASK IS NOT EASY. A triumph would assure
the Cavaliers second place until their next game, a home
engagement Wednesday with Maryland. More important, a win
over area TV would aid the changing public image of Virginia
basketball. There's a good chance that there will even be one of
Coach Gibson's ACC atmosphere. For the first time in history the
powers that be at U Hall have not found it necessary to invite all
the area parasites to fill up the structure. This is what has been
accomplished so far this season.

RESPECT HAS GROWN for the University's basketball team,
for Coach Gibson, and even for the University. Perhaps Virginia's
era as basketball doormat of the conference is over. But whatever
happens, congratulations are in order, to U Hall, to the fans, to
the coaches, and to the team. It's been a nice season so far, and
that elusive national ranking is not as far away as one might
think. The only Maryland- Virginia -Carolinas area sportswriter
who could possibly be partial to the Cavaliers refuses to vote for
them unless they go on another victory binge. So somebody out
there likes us evidently. And that isn't really that strange, is it?