Whatever
happened
to
Kamikaze
Kids?
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — It was sup
posed to be a laugher.
The Oregon basketball squad traveled to
Colorado Springs last Friday night to play the Air
Force Academy during a two-week respite from the
Pac-« wars. Instead of breezing through Air-Force
as the seers predicted, the Falcons enjoyed the last
laugh in the form of a 76-66 upset victory over the
Ducks.
Not only were the Ducks soundly beaten, they
were outhustled, out rebounded and outmuscled
throughout the game. The aforementioned were
former traits of the Oregon basketball program
which had carried them to a perfect 4-0 record in
Pac-8 play and a share of first place with UCLA,
who joined the ranks of mortals in their upset loss to
Notre Dame Saturday.
Coach Dick Harter didn’t take his squad’s sorry
performance lightly. ‘"Diere was no excuse for it,”
said a disappointed Harter. ‘‘We didn’t hustle.
There was no defense out there except for four to
five minutes in the first half. We didn’t execute,
there was no leadership, and we got no play out of
anybody tonight.”
Although it was a flat performance for the
Ducks, now sporting 10-5 won-loss record overall,
they still had their chances to escape Cadet Field
House with a victory.
Two shooting slumps, on in each half, sealed the
Ducks’ doom. The first one occurred with the
Falcons behind 37-30 late in the first half. The Ducks
went on a three-minute scoring drought while Air
Force retaliated with a 11-point scoring binge
towards making 43-39 halftime score.
The second non-scoring spree was more
disastrous. With Oregon making their bid late in the
game with 10 minutes remaining, the Falcons
ripped off another 11 points and the Dudes broke
down offensively for nearly six minutes. Air Force’s
14-point lead at 66-52 was too much to make up in the
limited time left.
It was a game the Ducks would soon like to
forget. The Falcons garnered 18 more rebounds, 42
24, without a player on the floor over 6-5. Rick
Nichelson, who happens to be that 6-5 center, pulled
in nine rebounds and sewed 15 points. Air Force’s
Dan Kraft was the main gun, sewing 22 points.
The key to the game lay in the free throw
situation, however. Although the Ducks sewed four
more field goals than Air Force, the Falcons con
nected on 22-29 free throw attempts, while Oregon
only received eight chances from the free throw
line, making four of them. “Air Force outhustled us
to the ball and we fouled them,” said Harter. “It
was a lack of effort; we didn’t block out and we
didn’t do it.”
Gerald Willett, who was a question mark betore
the game after missing a week of practice due to
injury, kept the Ducks looking respectable through
a major portion of the game. The 6-8 center, who
usually has to look up to his opposite match-up at
center, obviously enjoyed bong the tallest man out
on the floor in scoring 18 points on nine of 12 shots.
Greg Ballard, who is leading the Pac-8 in reboun
ding, was held to a scant four rebounds. It was that
kind of night. Ron Lee made only one third of his
shots in scoring 12 paints, mishandled the ball with
six turnovers, and allowed his man Dan Kraft to
lead all scorers with his 22 points.
After the weekend sweep against the
Washington schools last weekend, Harter gave his
players an uncharacteristic two off days from
practice, but that will soon be a forgotten luxury in
the wake of the Air Force loss. Harter has indicated
that he will “increase the work load considerably”
for the Ducks return to Pac-8 ball against Oregon
State, Saturday. And that will mean tougher and
more demanding practices in preparation for the
OSU encounter.
It was just after a series of practices following
the Far West debacle last month that Oregon
started clicking in Pac-8 play. With considerable
work during the practice sessions with the coming
week, the Ducks should ably defend their share of
first place. No one can take that away from them —
yet.
recycle this paper!
conserve energy
read the ODE
during daylight
SCHUSS SKI CLUB
ATTENTION MEMBERS
AND INTERESTED
PERSbNS
MEETING AT
THUNDERBIRD MOTEL
JAN. 29th AT 7:30 PM
WILL DISCUSS TRIPS TO
f
BACHELOR,
CRYSTAL MTf
LAKE TAHOE
AND
{ OTHER TRIPS AND
BUSINESS OF THE
CLUB
344 3035
For Information
Call
344-3030
277 Coburg Wood
SGNUSS SKI CLUB
OPEN TO MEMBERSHIP
Phone 344-3030 or 344-3035
Mt.
BACHELOR
Starts Jan. 12th
+2 days, 1 night, Saturday and Sunday
+ Includes: Bus, Motel (Shared), two Lift
Tickets, Shuttle, Saturday Night Fondue
Party, Free Breakfast Sunday
Timberline
Mt. Hood Meadows
Feb. 1, 2, 3
See U of O vs. OSU Basketball at Portland
Then Ski Timberline and Mt. Hood Meadows
Includes: Basketball Tickets, Bus, Motel
(Shared), 2 Lift Tickets
Feb. 16, 17, 18
Includes: Bus, Motel (Shared), 3 Lift Tickets,
SKI TAHOE TOUR
5 days and 4 nights. Mar. 15th to 20th
Includes: Bus. Shuttle. Motel (shared). 5 Lift Tickets for Heavenly Valley. Kirkwood.
Incline. North Star & Alpine
We also have a bus to BACHELOR every Saturday which includes an After-Ski
Fondue Party and Live Entertainment at the Castle Keep and Red Toe Lounges,
and a bus every Sunday to HOODOO SKI BOWL. CALL 344-3030 or 344-3035 FOR