Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1976)
I Can the Ducks regroup? St. John is gone but UCLA is still UCLA By JOHN HENDERSON Of the Emerald The basketball roller coaster at Oregon is heading into Pacific-8 play with plenty of repairs as a rocky pre-season has un tracked the Ducks. After a disappointing trip to the east and a disasterous Far West Classic, the Ducks have been plagued by fatigue, disunity and inconsistency. Problems like those don't result in conference championships, espe cially when the league's top three teams are the first opponents. Looking back to last year, Oregon went in with the momentum of a locomotive with a 9-0 record and ranked seventh in the na tion. The Ducks stumbled at home against California, however, and lost six straight to fall out of the Pac-8 race. For the record, Oregon hasn't won a con ference title since 1945. With another con ference race already here, Oregon coach Dick Harter feels many of the problems are behind them. "I've seen definite signs of improvement in practice which we didn't get much of De cember.” he said. Overall, we re rested, stronger and getting in better shape. Despite the physical problems, accord ing to Harter, the conflicts within the team which surfaced after the Classic have been buried. "When you go through what we went through, you re going to have some prob lems," he said. These kinds of problems can arise anytime, but they've been solved within the team and are not a factor. This year's Pac-8 will be no small test for the Ducks as the traditionally tough confer ence is more balanced this season. At the first of the year I felt that it may not be quite as tough," said Harter. But now I know it will be a super league. The great development of Washington and Southern Cal has really improved it. They ve always had the potential but now they ve reached it." Harter doesn't want a repeat of last year. We've obviously been struggling but there s a big confidence factor no matter who you play going into the conference." he said. You can t imagine how different men tally we II be if we win these two games. We II develop a lot quicker than last year if we do well against these two teams. All-American guard Ron Lee doesn t let Oregon's slow start bother him. He can re late it to his sophomore year when the Ducks beat UCLA. r "Last year we had a lot of pressure on us when we were 10-0 in pre-season," said Lee, who s still a step slow from a sore left knee. There's always pressure when you enter the conference in the Top 20.1 kind of like going in as the Cinderella team. In my sophomore year we didn't do very well in pre-season but we were 5-0 in Pac-8. One key to Oregon s success in confer ence play will be the continued develop ment of the freshmen centers. With 6-8 senior Bruce Coldren, still recovering from knee surgery, Harter must rely on Dan Hartshorne. Gary Nelson and Kelvin Small. Harter can t fault them for slow develop ment; only time stands in their way. It's hard for five freshmen to adjust at the same time,'' said Harter, I can't discredit them because they ve gone through an awful lot. It’ll be a lot easier for them to adjust if we win and play at home Here are thumbnail sketches of the rest of the Pac-8: UCLA — For the first time in 28 years, John Wooden will not be guiding the Bruins. The defending champions haven t changed much under new Gene Bartow, however, as they've won 10 straight (at press time) after dropping their first game to top-ranked Indiana. All-American Richard Washington is leading the conference in scoring with a 21.5 average and Marques Johnson is Emerald photo The challenge Oregon faces is a tough one close behind with 17.5 points and 10 re bounds a game. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA4— The Tro jans lost four of last year s starters but have surprised the league by winning 11 of their first 12 games Marv Safford is third in the league in scoring with a 19 0 average. CALIFORNIA — Coach Dick Edwards welcomes four returning starters from last year s 17-9 team, including guard Rickie Hawthorne (16.2 points in 1974-75) who returns for his fourth year as a starter. The Bears won the Lobo Classic when they knocked off West Virginia by shooting 72 4 from the field STANFORD — New coach Dick DiBiaso wasn t blessed with the kind of talent Gene Bartow inherited when he took over the Cardinal reigns from long-time mentor Howie Dallmar Losing four of last years starters, DiBiasso will be centering his hopes around 6-8 Ed Schweitzer and a new style of play. We II try to play an exciting brand of basketball, says DiBiaso Our goal is to have a team that will press, fast break and play good, solid defense OREGON STATE — Last year s confer ence runners-up may have to thank the jud icial courts for this year s success as All American Lonnie Shelton was ruled eligible after backing out of a professional basket ball contract The 6-8 junior is nearly back to form, averaging 17 8 points. 8 1 rebounds and shooting 59 percent from the field Junior college transfer Rocky Smith (6-2) has been hitting at a 57 percent clip WASHINGTON — The Pac-8 s only un defeated team enters conference play fresh off a sweep of the Far West Classic The Huskies boast four returning starters— 7-0 James Edwards. 6-10 Lars Hansen, 6-10 Larry Jackson and 6-4 Clarence Ramsey Edwards and Ramsey are averaging 17 5 and 17 6 points respectively WASHINGTON STATE — Junior Steve Puidokas still leads the Cougars with aver ages of 19.4 and 12 4 rebounds but there s better depth as four players are averaging in double figures Puidokas will get his share of points says coach George Raveling, but we need to get more people in the act Page 2 Section B LUCKY MALT LIQUOR
