Is this really the year?
For Penn State basketball. this has to be
the year
Of course. that's what's been said for the
past few seasons around Rec Hall. And
each time, the local cagers have come
down ith something resembling late
season amnesia. In essence. they've
forgotten their poise and confidence.
shooting and defense abilities, and, most
importantly, how to wirl.
And each time, the team's end-of-the
year choke has cost it a berth in the
National Invitation Tourney, the second
most prestigious bit of post-season action
in the country.
But this time, as has been suggested,
things really might be different.
For one thing, there is experience. Five
of the team's six starters (one of the
forward spots was shared) have returned,
which should make crisis situations a little
easier to bear.
And there is also talent. Ron Browrf, who
masqueraded as Willard Building last
year, was ECAC Sophomore of the Year
two seasons ago. And Randy Mesiter
undoubtedly would have been high on the
list had that award still been offered last
year.
Grapplers back;
intact and ready
Penn State wrestling coach Bill Koll
won't say he is optimistic about this
season, but it appears as though he could
afford to be.
Nine returning lettermen could indicate
another good season ft)r the grapplers (11-
I last year and first in the Easterns). who
began tryouts this week in. Rec Hall.
"I've been through too many seasons of
coaching to be optimistic in November,"
Koll said. He also said there are a lot of
boys out for the team and he'll pick his
starters on the result., of the pre-season
eliminations.
In any case. here are the people
returning to practice with letters in their
hands:
118—Tom Teagarden, runnerup in last
year's Easterns, will actually NIT to
start the season at 126. "We hope to get
him down to 118. because we feel he'll 4/
more effective." Roll said. Wayne Packer
did get some experience last year as a
freshman.
While Teagarden tries to get his weight
down. Rob Cori, a soph could fill in.
126—John Fritz, a junior. was tops in the
East and third in the NCAA tournament
last sear
134--Bob Medina, a 5-9 senior, was 9-2-1
last ear and Eastern runnerup.
142—La s t year's co-captain Barry
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Itdditionall. there are the likelihoods
that one of last ear's starters Dill not be
one this year. and that this past spring
could have netted a pair of Penn State's
finest basketball players ever.
But. of the who return. Brown seems
most, likely to key any improvement the
team makes over its t 7-8 and 15-8 records
of the past two years. The 6:4 senior guard
forward returned at 211 pounds this year
after checking in at 250 last time around.
"Ron represents the totally unselfish
player Who can make the team move,"
coach Jahn Bach says. Bach, who stepped
down from his post on the U.S. Olympic
Committee because of "frustration" there
a week ago, goes on: "He can run,
penetrate, keep the whole team alert with
his passing and play gbod defense. He is a
basketball player at any weight and when
he's in condition he can play at any level."
So it would seem to be for Meister, the 6-
9 center who was the team's MVP last
year with averages of 14.7 for poinst.,and
11.0 for rebounds. He also keyed the
defense, which ranked eighth natiohally
by allowing only 61.2 points a game.
The other returning starters are 6-5
forward Jon Marshall, a defensive terror
Snyder is gone. No lettermen at this
position. Returning junior Bob Welch
along with Denny Sciabica and Joel
McQuier will fight for this spot.
150—Mike Mousetis, another •senior,
racked up an 8-2-1 mark and a fourth place
Eastern finish.
158—Add Chris Koll to the list of seniors.
Koll was 4-1 and fourth in the East.
167—Jerry Villecco had an outstanding
season (7-1-1, first in the Easterns) last
year as a freshman.
177—Junior Dan Brenneman rolled to a
10-1-1 log and first.in the Easterns.
190—Ted Kinden, a senior, was the only
Lion unable to place in the Easterns last
season. His season record was 2-1.
fiwt.--When 'he finishes making holes
for John Cappelletti, Charlie Getty (5-0,
third in east, fifth nationally) will return
for his final season. '
However, it will take Getty some time to
get in shape after having played football
all fall term. Add Scott Lefke as a possible
starter. He's a 6-4 280 lb. senior who
sparred with Getty last year.
"I really don't know if we have as much
depth as we'd like," Koll managed in
regards to the coming season, He'll begin
to get some kind of idea on Dec. I when the
grapplers visit Kent State for the opening
match. of the season. —Jeff Young
G. C. Murphy Co.
uho belied people around underneath the
basket. 6-3 guard Kevin Burke, whose 10:7
scoring average was surpassed only by
Meister and Brown 113 01. and 6-4 guard
Keenan Preston.
Last year. Brown handled one forward
spot while Marshall and graduated
captain Ed Chubb shared the other. This
season. Brown likely will move to one
backcourt position while either Burke or
Preston will take the other.
Sophomoree)ave Angstadt, a 6-7
forward who also runs track, probably will
man the position opposite Marshall's.
As for reserves, the Lions have a
number of them, particularly in the
backcourt. t)ne of the best, sophomore
Tifm Doaty, is expected to miss at least
another week with mononucleosis. Other
candidates include senior John
McDermott, junior Jim Ouderkirk and
Kevin Cadle, a freshman Bach as said is
"equal to Brown as a passer."
Brown, incidentally, holds both the
season (120) and career (230) records for
assists at Perin State.
Cadle and Chris Erichsen, a 6-5
freshman forward Bach labels "the best
ballplayer to come here since Brown,"
give the Penn State coach much of his
enthusiasm for the future. Bach, who has
had some lean years before the past two,
is 68-48 in five years here.
"We've had two good seasons back to
back," Bach says, "but the door is only
half open. "We must keep the momentum
going and reach some of our goals this
year."
For the Penn State basketball team,
which opens at Bucknell Dec. 1, that
finally would be the fulfilling of an oft
repeated vow.
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