University of Virginia Library

Cage Squads Pass In Review

Virginia basketball coach
Bill Gibson announced today
plans to hold a
varsity-freshman full scale
game in order to familiarize
roundball enthusiasts with the
1970-71 edition of the Cavalier
varsity.

The game, the first of its kind
under Gibson, will be played
Friday, Nov.20th at 7:30 p.m. at
University Hall. The Cavalier
football team is scheduled to play
its last game of the 1970 season the
following afternoon at Scott
Stadium against traditional ACC
rival Maryland.

Gibson also said that he would
have members of the varsity and
freshman squads on the floor at
6:45 for photo buffs and to meet
the general public. Admission will
be free and door prizes will be given
away at halftime.

Last year the Cavaliers finished
with a flourish, upsetting North
Carolina in the first round of the
ACC Tournament (95-93) and then
almost tripping North Carolina
State (66-65), the eventual
champion.

With eight lettermen returning
and the addition of three bright
sophomore prospects, the Cavalier
1970-71 fortunes appear to be the
best since Gibson took over at
Virginia eight years ago.

The ACC's most improved
player, 6-7 Bill Gerry, is back and
will team with 6-10 Scott
McCandlish to furnish the board
strength and up the middle scoring.
Junior letterman Frank DeWitt
(6-4) is at present the other starter
up front. Junior veteran Tim Rash
and Barry Parkhill, a 26.4
performer for the frosh a year ago,
have earned the starting nod at the
guards.

Very much in the picture up
front is two-year letterman Mike
Wilkes (6-5), who sat out last year.
Another good soph prospect is 6-3
Jim Hobgood, a hot outside shot.
Battling in the backcourt are vets
Kevin Kennelly (a starter last year),
Chip Miller and John Hill, all of
whom could step into a starting
spot. Two others who only lack
experience but could help in a
hurry are sophs Larry Gerry and
Jim Farmer.

It all adds up to a heavily
experienced team with more depth
than in any of Gibson's previous
seven years.

Gibson sums up the 1970-71
season with, "We feel that the
University of Virginia has turned
the corner in its basketball
program. We will be faster, a little
deeper, and more explosive. We
should be a first division contender
in the ACC."