Hawks Lift Lid Without Unseld
Coach Ted Owens will open his first season as KU's head basketball coach tonight-minus the services of one of his top proven performers.
All-Big Eight center George Unseld decided the day after Thanksgiving he had had enough basketball, and informed Owens he was quitting the team. Later the 6-7 senior asked to come back, but the KU coach refused.
Stepping into the big shoes of Unseld for tonight's season opener against Arkansas at Fayetteville will be sophomore Ron Franz.
A further depletion occurred when reserve guard Wayne Loving dropped from school. The three losses trimmed KU's roster from 11 to eight lettermen, and only 14 hands overall. This is thus the smallest squad at KU since World War II.
Owens' current squad suffered another personal blow when Steve Renko, one of last year's starting forwards, decided to bypass basketball this winter to concentrate on baseball.
THE 6- $ 6 ^ {1 / 2} $ , 195-pounder from Ward High School in Kansas City paced last year's freshman club with a 20.3 average in six games. But Franz will have his work cut out for him in trying to replace Unseld who averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last year.
RINEY LOCHMANN will open at the other forward position to form the frontline with Wesley and Franz. Lochmann is reportedly completely recovered from the knee operation which sidelined him through all but the first few and last few games last season.
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1964 University Daily Kansan Page 9
The backline will be manned by Del Lewis, who finished strong in the stretch last year, and Al Lopes, All-American junior college graduate from Coffeyville. The 6-5 Providence, R.I., native, earned that accolade at forward, but has been operating impressively in his backline trial since practice opened October 15.
Franz will be manning one of the forward positions, as Unseld was moved to the corner this season to make room for 6-11 junior Walt Wesley at center.
"We're ready to play a game," analyzes Owens, whose aides, Sam Miranda (Indiana) and Bob Mulcahy (Eastern Kentucky) are starting their first seasons here.
"I think we're in pretty good physical condition, and our team has just begun to get the feel of our offense.
"OUR BIGGEST problem still is just learning. We have changed so many things from recent years that our experience doesn't mean a great deal. Our rebounding has improved over the last week.
"The thing I'm optimistic about is that I know we'll continue to be an improving team."
Coached by veteran Glen Rose, who is starting his 22nd season, the Razorbacks are forecast to approximate last year's sixth-place Southwest conference finish and 9-14 overall record.
HOWEVER, they return their number 3 and 5 scorers of a year ago, in 6-1 guard Ricky Sugg (209 in 23 games) and 6-5 forward J. D. McConnell (179) and two promising sophomores in 6-4 forward Tommy Rowland and 6-1, 200-pound guard Ronnie Jackson, who averaged 15.0, and 11.7 on last year's frush club. Chief Porker problem is lack of a big man of proven ability in the pivot.
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