University of Virginia Library

Cavalier Basketball Team Starts Practice;
Many Prospects Compete For Starting Jobs

By BILL BERNO

A sound not heard in U-Hall
for seven months, the
bouncing of a basketball, will
return to echo off the walls
Monday night when the
Cavaliers take the floor for
their first practice of the
season.

Assistant basketball coach
Chip Connor is looking
forward to a phenomenal
turnout of prospects, saying,
"We have a list of about 45,
and we've been getting a lot of
phone calls, so it's hard to say
just how high the number will
soar."

Fourteen scholarship
players have the inside track,
but the coaching staff will take
a good look at everyone before
determining which players will
make up the varsity and junior
varsity teams.

Mr. Connor said, "The
players should be in pretty
good condition already, so
we'll start right in. Each player
will run three 300's for time to
prove that he is in good
shape."

Asked about probable
starting lineups, Mr. Connor
replied, "We've got to see the
players in practice to
determine who will start."

Head coach Bill "Hoot"
Gibson and his staff will be
trying to improve on last year's
21-7 record and second-place
tie in the ACC. Leaders for the
Cavaliers are expected to be
fourth-year co-captains Barry
Parkhill and Jim Hobgood
along with third-year center
Lanny Stahurski.

Mr. Connor did not rule out
the possibility that one or both
of the first-year scholarship
players might get a starting job.
"Both Wally Walker and Bob
Sefcik have a chance to start if
they play well over the next six
weeks."

With the large number of
players trying out for the
squads, it hasn't been decided
how many will be retained for
the JV and varsity rosters.

Adding to the uncertainty is
the fact that players can be
switched back and forth
between teams. Each player is
allowed to play a total of 26
games throughout the season,
but he can play them on either
JV or varsity teams, and could
conceivably play both games
on a given night.

A pair of scrimmages are
being considered by the
coaching staff. The varsity
schedule includes 23 games,
which is two short of the ACC
limit. The coaches would like
to have some scrimmages to
give the players a chance to
show their talents under
normal game conditions.

The 1972-72 Cavalier Basketball Team Opens Practice Monday