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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, November 29, 1967
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Jayhawk jabber
By Chip Rouse
Kansan Sports Editor
KU will open its 1967-68 basketball season Saturday against Utah State on a cautious note, but at the same time with a realistic outlook, coach Ted Owens told a group of sportswriters Tuesday at the annual KU Pre-Season Basketball Banquet.
Owens, who was struggling to keep from losing his voice as a result of a cold, was introduced along with assistant coach Sam Miranda and freshman coach Gale Catlett. Owens referred to his two counterparts as "the best coaching staff in the nation."
"This season we play the toughest non-conference schedule since I've been coaching at Kansas." Owens said. Whenever you play Louisville twice it has to be tough, he added.
Miranda respects Halimon
Miranda, who scouted Utah State, came back with high praise for the Aggies' All-American guard candidate Shaler Halimon. "We will play few finer players this year than Halimon." Miranda said.
"We tried to recruit him (Halimon) a few years ago." Owens said.
Owens, now in his fourth year as KU head basketball coach, announced that Jo Jo White and Rich Bradshaw would man the starting guard positions Saturday with Phil Harmon acting as the back-up man. Harmon will also serve as the swing man behind starting forwards Roger Bohnenstiehl and Bruce Sloan, Owens said.
"Harmen is one of the finest shooters I've ever seen." Owens commented . . . "one of the finest."
Junier College transfer Dave Nash will start at center for the Javahaws against Utah State."Nash is very inexperienced as a basketball player having never played high school ball, but he has shown fine potential," Owens said.
Vanov question mark
Owens reported he had originally hoped Vernon Vanoy would be ready to play effectively by the time the conference race rolled around. However, "he may be ready sooner," Owens said.
"Should Nash continue to be effective for us, it is possible that Vanoy could see some action at forward," the KU cage mentor said.
Owens reported the Jayhawk line-up will not be set. "We will be doing a lot of experimenting in the month of December getting ready to defend our conference title."
The Jayhawks have set several goals for the coming basketball season. One of them is to win the Big Eight Tournament for the fourth consecutive time, Owens said. Another is to repeat as Big Eight Conference champions. And thirdly, we hope to overcome Oregon State and become the winningest team in college basketball.
The Jayhawks open the season with 962 triumphs, just 14 back of Oregon State.
"Our team is not as good right now as it was at the end of last season," Owens said. "But, I think it might be better than it was at this time last fall."
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809 Mass. Special College Terms VI 3-5432
Sophs bolster Missouri
Russell Skeffers
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles analyzing each of the Big Eight basketball teams.
Kansan Staff Reporter
By Mike Jones
Missouri's new head coach Norm Stewart will have to count on help from his sophomores if the Tigers are going to improve on last year's 1-13 Big Eight record.
Stewart lists a lack of team depth and experience along with a need for a good clutch shooter as his biggest problems.
6-7 senior Gene Jones could help in the scoring department. Jones was the Tigers' leading scorer and rebounder last season before being declared scholastically ineligible for the second semester. Stewart believes he could be one of the best in the conference.
The best of the sophomores appears to be 6-5 Don Tomlinson.
Two other starters, 6-2 Dave Bennett and 6-4 Tom Johnson, are back. Bennett is the most experienced player on the squad with a year and a half of varsity competition. Johnson was the team's leading scorer and rebounder last season averaging 12.5 points a game.
"Tomlinson was the leading scorer and rebounder on the freshman team last year," Stewart said. "He is strong, quick and very aggressive."
Pete Helmbock, a 6-5 forward-guard, and 6-3 guard Theo Franks are two more first year men
Another newcomer Stewart is counting on is junior college transfer Tom Thoenen. Thecen was voted the most valuable player in the national junior college tournament last year.
Stewart feels can break into the starting line-up.
"He's a real go-getter," Stewart commented. "He is an excellent shooter, effective outside and he gets the job done."
Another problem Stewart faces is the losing attitude of the Missouri squad.
"The team—with the exception of our sophomores—has a losing attitude. We must step this end instill pride. We have to convince them that they can win," Stewart said.
Stewart believes the Tigers will have to come a long way to compete well in the Big Eight.
"Iinjuries or ineligibilities could make this year a disaster for us." Stewart said. "How we do will depend a great deal on how successful our early practices are. One thing I do know. There are eight all-Big Eight players returning from last year, and we don't have any of them."
The Kansas sports staff prediction for Missouri: eighth.
Rodgers shares top coach award
KU's Pepper Rodgers and Oklahoma's Chuck Fairbanks have been named Co-Big Eight coaches of the year in a poll conducted by the Associated Press.
Rodgers, in his first year as KU head grid coach, led the Jayhawks on the rebound from a dismal 2-8 season last year to a second place. 5-2 league finish this season. The Crimson and Blue was 5-5 overall this fall.
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JAYHAWK FOOD MART'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JOHN ZOOK
(Kansas 17, Missouri 6)
DALE EVANS
(Oklahoma 14, Kansas 10)
Jayhawk Food Mart has two players to honor this week, since there was no paper last week. "In the Oklahoma game, we chose Dale Evans," said Bob Floyd. "He handled the Sooners' highly-regarded middle guard with ease. He was a big factor in the Jayhawks' near-upset of the Big Eight champs."
"John Zeok has played well all year," said Jack Whitehead. "Against Missouri, he played with that same heads-up defense that has been typical of the Joys this year. It was a great season. We're proud of the players, the coaches, and the students."
JAYHAWK FOOD MART IS CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL BIG-8 SEASON WITH A
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