Photo by Warren Morgan
Last year s 107-103 loss to the Bruins was intense, to say the least; expect nothing
different tonight.
By JOHN HENDERSON
Of the Emerald
Ron Lee clashed into Dick Harter's plush
office, dripping from perspiration in a
sweatshirt, ragged blue jeans and
sneakers.
“What are you doing, turkey?’1 asked
Harter with a broad smile.
“Just playing a game of 21, coach,”
replied Oregon’s All-American guard.
On the day before the legendary national
champion UCLA Bruins come to town to
open Pacific 8 play, most players turn to
meditation to bury the thought of the Bruins’
10 national championships in 12 years, or
sit in a tub of hot water all day to prepare for
their potent running game. They do
anything but play a pick-up basketball
game in street clothes.
The Ducks, however, no longer stand in
awe of the Bruins. After Oregon upset
UCLA two years ago and John Wooden s
resignation ended a 27-year reign, UCLA
has come down to earth.
“I don't think about the UCLA mystique
anymore," said Lee, slumped in a chair. A
win is a win and a loss is a loss.
Receiving the unenviable task of filling
Wooden's shoes is Gene Bartow, who has
gained a little fame himself. Bartow was
82-32 at Memphis State including a second
place finish to UCLA in 1973.
With Bartow at the helm, the Bruins
themselves feel different.
He's easier to get along with in some
ways,” says UCLA junior Marques
Johnson. “He doesn't hold the mystique
that Wooden had. Everybody looked up to
Wooden with such awe that you couldn't
decide whether to go to him with your
problems. Bartow doesn t have as much
fame, which is kind of nice because it
creates better rapport with the players.'
Johnson won t need any Wooden pep
talks to get ready for the 7-6 Ducks. It was in
his freshman year that the Bruins lost to the
Ducks 56-51. Last year. UCLA won
107-103.
I didn't know anything about Oregon
when I was a freshman,” said Johnson,
who carries a 17.5 average into tonight's
game. “After facing that Kamikaze play
they have, I know what to expect. They play
clean but rough and apply lots of pressure,
just like in pro ball.
“It’ll be a rough, physical game but we
can adapt to the situation. Indiana was real
physical but they didn't rough us up under
the boards.”
vy
The Bruins lost their first game to
top-ranked Indiana but have won their last
10 in a row. Despite being new to the
Pacific-8, Bartow feels Oregon is better
than their record indicates.
“Oregon is a fine basketball team and is
capable of winning anytime they go out on
the court, said Bartow in a Missouri
twang. Lee is definitely one of the super
players in the country and Ballard (Greg)
and Jackson (Stu) have both been playing
well.
I know coach Harter and know he's
doing an excellent job here. I have great
respect for him. I never fear, but always
respect.
Harter can t help but return the favor as
he sees plenty to respect in the Bruins.
Besides Johnson, All-American forward
Rich Washington returns and leads the
conference with a 21.5 average. The
other returning starter is 7-2 Ralph
Drollinger, and Andre McCarter and Jim
Spillane fill the back court positions.
They still play with basically the same
people, said Harter. 'They're probably the
best finesse people in the country. They still
rely on finesse and quickness but they're so
big, they'll really pose rebounding
problems.
“We have got to really battle the boards. ''
Wingert concerned about crowd situation
Acting Athletic Director Pete
Wingert isn't boiling with rage, nor
is he shaking with fear, but he is
concerned about the crowd
situation at home basketball
games.
'The fans have been much,
much improved over last year," he
said. "But there are still some
problems we re faced with. And
with these two big games this
weekend, it's important people
realize what those problems are."
Wingert is referring specifically
to three situations: (1) the danger
of frisbee throwing; (2) the danger
cf leaning out over the balconies,
and (3) the problem of
overcrowding in the lower student
sections.
He said some fans in the past
have been injured by flying
frisbees and the saucers are also
dangerous because they make
people lean out over the
balconies.
"Were not going to frisk
people,’’ Wingert said. But we
are concerned that someone
might get hurt, either catching a
frisbee in the eye or leaning out
over a balcony to catch one and
landing on the floor.
‘‘We'd like to see it be a
self-policing type of thing."
Wingert said he wasn't trying to
rob students of spirit. “Let's go out
and have a good time, yell our
lungs out. But let's have some
concern for others and leave the
frisbees home.”
The lower student sections, he
said, will be closed off once
they're full, due to an order from
the Fire Marshal. “It’s impossible
for us to police the lower sections
because people want to go to the
bathroom or go get a coke,” he
said. What we'd like to see is the
students being honest and
policing the section themselves.
“We re not trying to harass
anybody, Winged said. “We just
want Mac Coud to be the best
crowd—and the safest
crowd—around.”
Bill Bowerman
top track coach
Former Oregon track coach Bill
Bowerman has been named
“Coach of the Decade" by
Runner's World magazine.
According to Runner’s World
Publisher Bob Anderson,
Bowerman was chosen for the
honor because he has 'done
more for coaching runners than
anyone else.”
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