10
Wednesday, August 20, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Basketball squad rebuilding
Photo by DAVE REGIEN
By ALLEN QUAKENBUSH
Associate Sports Editor
Loose ball evades guard Clint Johnson
For the past three years, the University of Kansas basketball team has been big and slow, basing its offense around the post position.
Not to say it wasn't successful. The Jayhawks have won two straight Big Eight championships, advanced to the NCAA playoffs and compiled a glossy 12-15 loss-record.
That era ended with the graduation of five men off last year's team. A new era may be possible in the future.
KU coach Ted Owens is confident that all seven players returning from last year are capable of running. And, according to owens, that's exactly what they are going to do.
"WE'RE GOING TO have good quickness and speed," Owens said, "maybe more than we've had for several years. We plan to press more and run the ball more than we have been running. We have more speed in the backcourt, and we should be able to penetrate a little more."
Gone from last year's Big Eight champions are centers Rick Suttle (14.6 points a game) and Danny Knight (12.7 points forwards Roger McGinn and Terry Smith (4.6) and guard Dale Greenlee (9.3).
"Although we lost a lot of veterans, we're not an inexperienced team," Owens said. "We started two sophomores (Norman Cook and Domine Von Moore) and a freshman (Rafael Guzman), but We're certainly going to be a young team, but I think we will be a fine team."
Leading the returnes is Cook, a 6-foot-9 forward. Cook was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft but he declined to sign with them, much to the relief of KU fans. Cook, a junior, has been a steady performer for the Jayhawks and is averaging 5 points and 2.8 rebounds a game last season.
A lot has been expected of Cook since his first collegiate game when he canned 10 of shots from the field. If he fulfills his KU will be better than many people expect.
JUNIOR DONNIE VON Moore (71 points, 5.8 rebounds a game) will be moved to the post position for forward, where he played last year. The 6-foot-8 Von Moore showed up in the KU player last season, and Owens thinks he can be even better this season.
"Center is probably Donnie's natural talent. He played there all through high school."
Also returning up front is sophomore Ken Koenigs (2.9, 2.4). He saw little action as a freshman, but he will definitely play in the starting lineup and chance of moving into the starting lineup.
2. two recruits, Paul Mokeski and Herb Nobles, will play important roles on the
Jayhawk front line this year. Mokeski, a 7-foot all-Patriarch from Crespi High in Encino, Calif., averaged 20.7 points and 18.4 rebounds a game last year. He completed his high school career holding 12 of 20 records at Crespi High.
"Paul came along very rapidly last year," Owens said of his prize recruit. "I think most people considered him one of the brightest individuals in a very mobile, quick and active player."
Nobles, a 6-foot-7 forward, started at Johnson County Junior College the last two seasons. He averaged 21.3 points as a freshman and 26.5 last season. He was also
Ted Owens
named the most outstanding player in the conference last year.
"HES A FINE ATLITE," Owens said. "He's got good ball handling skills. He certainly will not be limited in terms of ability to play well." The player of type of player who should help our offense."
In the backcourt, Owens returns sophomores Clint Johnson, Milton Gibson and Randy Johnson. He quickly worked his way into the starting lineup, and he finished with an average of 7.1 points a game. A good defensive player, his improvement is a key to the KU kings.
Gibson came to KU last year from nowell, as one of the most highly successful players, at one of the most lucrative positions.
See BASKETBALL page 11
Roger Morningstar was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the eighth round of the NBA draft, and has signed a contract with them. Morningstar will attend two Celtic games in Italy this month on a long trip to Italy, where he will play on his game against Italian teams.
Pros pick three KU cagers
Rick Suttle, a 6-8 center, was drafted in a late round by the Los Angeles Lakers of the
NBA. But he also was selected in the second round by the ABA's San Antonio Spurs. At this time, it is unknown whether he has come to an agreement with either team.
Norman Cook, a 5-foot-8 junior forward on the Jayhawk team, was selected in the second round of the ABA draft by the Utah Stars.
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