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University Daily Kansan
Monday, Sept. 16, 1963
Youth, Size Create Optimistic Prospects for Basketball Team
Basketballs aren't supposed to be bouncing in Allen Field House until Oct. 15, but already folks are saying the Jayhawkers will return to the first division of the Big Eight Conference in the 1963-64 basketball season.
The more optimistic basketball fans are mentioning KU as a title contender, a strange suggestion for a team that tied for last place in 1961 and was sixth last year with a 5-9 league record and a 12-13 season's record.
Reason for the optimism is both size and youth. And, besides, the Jayhawks, the bunch that tied for the league championship in 1960 and placed second in 1961, are long overdue for a winning season.
IF THE KU SOPHOMORE prospects come through this season, KU could have the best team it has had since 1961 when the team included Bill Bridges, Wayne Hightower and Allen Correll. Correll is still a member of the team, but he only has a semester of eligibility remaining.
The Jayhawks are expected to have eight returning lettermen this year. The one that didn't return (because he was graduated) will be missed. He is Nolen Ellison, the highest scoring guard in KU history and a two-time all-Big Eight selection.
The returnees will be pushed hard by newcomers at almost every position.
Three sophomore forward prospects have tremendous physique. They are Riney Lochman, 6-5 by 210; Fred Chana, 6-6 by 200, and Steve Renko, 6-4 by 210. The three will provide tough competition for veterans Harry Gibson and David Brill.
AT CENTER, KU could have a one-two punch with 6-7 junior George Unse坠, team scoring and rebounding leader last year, and 6-11 rookie Walt Wesley, who was the leading scorer among freshmen last year with a 16.7-point overage.
While Ellison will be hard to replace at guard, Correll, who played some as a forward last season, could move back to the guard spot for which he has shown great potential. Dave Schichtle and Kerry Bolton were substitutes at the spot last year and could land a starting job with some improvement.
Rookie guards Del Lewis and Wayne Loving are highly regarded. Ted Owens, freshman coach, called Lewis one of his best players last year. Loving, who was a hold out last year, has good ball-handling ability.
A look beyond the basketball prospects for 1963-64 also brings optimistic results.
Seven highly rated freshmen have signed letters of intent to play basketball as a Jayhawker. They would be eligible to play next year on what would be virtually the same team as this year's with only two exceptions: Gibson and Correll, who are seniors.
Ron Franz, 6-7, who was graduated from Ward High School, was regarded as the outstanding college basketball prospect in Kansas last winter. Coach Dick Harp believes Franz, an all-state selection, has good speed, quickness and unusual ability to handle the ball for a man his size.
Ernie Laurent, 6-6, New Orleans, was voted the outstanding player in Bob Cousy's summer camp a year ago. Laurent, another all-stater, was highly sought by the country's major colleges.
Bill Wasinger, 6-5, Council Bluff, Iowa, has good speed and outstanding jumping ability, Harp said. An
all-state pick, Wasinger ranked high academically.
Mike Finnigan, 6-5, Troy, Ohio, is a good ball handler, the KU coach said. And, incidentally, Finnigan is a talented musician.
Mike Cann, 6-2, Russell, led his high school team to the Class AA state championship last March. The valedictorian of his graduating class, Cann is considered a rugged competitor.
George Harvey, 6-4, Parsons, is coming to KU on a football scholarship, but is expected to help the frosh in rebounding.
Jim Dreiling, 6-1, Victoria, was an all-state selection in basketball and baseball. He is regarded as an outstanding shortstop in baseball.
Wildcat Freshman Tallest in Big Eight
While things look brighter for KU's basketball team this season and for the near future, the picture also appears to be rosy a few miles away at Manhattan.
There, Kansas State University announced in early July that Nick Pino, a 7-1 high school player from Santa Fe, N.M., signed a letter of intent to attend KSU.
Pino, who was contacted by .83 other colleges, will become the tallest player ever to play in the Big Eight Conference. Wilt Chamberlain was listed as a 7-footer while playing for KU and Roger Suttner, currently a member of the Wildcat team, also is listed at 7 feet.
Pino, who was named to the Scholastic Coach magazine all-America team, scored 1,035 points as a senior for an average of 32.3. His field goal percentage was 69.1 and 70.1 for free throws.
KU - WILL ENTER ITS 1963 football opener against Texas Christian with a record string of 46 consecutive games in which it has scored. No team has held KU scoreless since Oklahoma won, 43-0, in 1958.
CASEY STENGEL, 72-YEAR-old manager of the New York Mets, says his hobbies are swimming and attending football games.
KU IS STARTING ITS 64TH intercollegiate football season. The Jayhawkers have won 332 games, lost 249 and tied 47 games in that time.
KU FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND their opponents will sit on new stadium sideline benches in Memorial Stadium this season. Fourteen back-rest type now are under construction.
Just Arrived
Decorator Burlap
Vivid Dyed
only
Drapery-Finish
100% Jute
88c yard
52" wide
803 Mass.
VI 3-2241
SUA QUARTERBACK CLUB
- Tuesday Night
- September 17
- 7:00 p.m. in the Forum Room
PIGSKIN PREVIEW
see - - - highlight films of '62 Jayhawk season
hear --- evaluation of Jayhawk personnel and evaluation of '63's opposition
BY GUEST SPEAKERS JAY ROBERTS and RON OELSCHLAGER
Enjoy the SUA Quarterback Club meetings every Tues. night