Jayhawk freshmen finish 9-1
Bud Stallworth
Aubrey Nash
Neal Mask
--of the past season-ending Saturday with a 79-70 win over K-State which gave him immense satisfaction.
Bob Kivisto
Coach analyzes assets, weaknesses
Catlett pleased with 'unselfish' frosh
By JAY THOMAS
Kansan Sports Writer
Ask most KU basketball players about the most frustrating period in their career. You'll probably hear about their freshman year.
Relegated to playing preliminaries to the varsity contests, and practicing with the regulars without hope for advancement, the frost stand a giant step above a glittering prep career—and an agonizing rung below a tougher collegiate one.
Fortunately for Bud Stallworth, Aubrey Nash, Bob Kiwisto and Neal Mask-Kansas' four scholarship yearlings—this period has almost ended. Their advancement during this testing time has been closely logged by KU's congenial freshman Coach Gale Catlett.
Frosh met season's goals
"They accomplished the goals we started with at the beginning of the season," Catlett said. "First, we wanted to get them oriented to their classwork. Second, we tried to get them acclimated to our basketball system, and in both regards, they've done a good job."
A former West Virginia co-captain before coaching stints at Richmond, Davidson, and now Kansas, Catlett has been pleased with the progress each of the four has made, but unhesitatingly adds that all have "a lot of improvement to make before they can play for us next year."
"Of course," he quickly notes, "there isn't a one who can't play for us if he's willing to do the necessary work this summer. Take Bud Stallworth. His assets are that he's quick, strong, a good jumper and outside shooter, and an adequate ballhandler. These are all pluses.
"But right now, Bud needs to better his work on defense, and from his more free-lance high school ball, learn to adjust to our style of pattern-play. Bud's an intelligent boy, though, and I'm sure that he'll do these things."
What about guard Aubrey Nash? "Like Bud," says Cattlett,
"Aubrey has some defensive areas which need work. He's a sound
defensive player but at his size (6-1) he's going to find some
bigger 6-3 and 6-4 guards taking him inside. He'll have to learn to
keep them out of there.
"Nash also will need work on taking care of the ball a little better, not lose it so much, and become a more consistent outside threat. He's got the talent and strength to play a lot and I'm confident he'll get the job done," adds Catlett. "Already he handles a fast break as well as anyone I've seen."
Improve shooting: Kivisto, Mask
An accomplished defensive player, guard Bob Kivisto must develop an effective outside shot. "He's very good at driving and working the fast break," says Catlett. "Becoming a better shooter will be his major project."
Neal Mask, the 6-6 frosh center, faces a similar task. "Neal is a good shooter facing the basket, but we'll try to get him to improve his range. Like Stallworth and Nash, he can hit now from 15 to 18 feet, but extending that from 22 to 25 will be his job this summer.
"Then too, he could use more strength to make him a better rebounder. Defensive quickness and overall speed would also help Neal, but we know one thing—he can score and he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time."
Catlett acknowledges the roles these four play in the scheme of future Jayhawk basketball, yet he admits to several other aspects
Freshman Statistics
KANSAS FRESHMEN—WON 9 LOST 1
KANSAS FRESHMIN—WON 3 LOST 1
| Player | G | GP | FTA | Pct | RB | PF | Pts | Avg |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Stallworth | 10 | 81-180 | 450 | 31-50 | 620 | 129 | 19 | 19.3 |
| Nash | 10 | 73-150 | 491 | 41-71 | 577 | 44 | 23 | 18.7 |
| Mask | 10 | 66-124 | 532 | 27-39 | 692 | 77 | 26 | 15.9 |
| Klivisto | 10 | 47-105 | 448 | 28-37 | 757 | 41 | 28 | 12.2 |
| Point-xter | 10 | 30-63 | 476 | 20-35 | 751 | 41 | 37 | 8.0 |
| Calbeck | 10 | 30-63 | 316 | 610 | 600 | 8 | 11 | 18 |
| Peterson | 10 | 7-19 | 618 | 6-50 | 600 | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| OTHERS | 4 | 10-25 | 400 | 6-11 | 545 | 8 | 17 | 6.7 |
| Team Totals | 10 | 320-685 | 467 | 162-258 | 628 | 393 | 167 | 80.2 |
| Opponents | 10 | 269-626 | 447 | 139-220 | 632 | 351 | 182 | 67.7 |
Team Rebounds: Kansas 83, Opponents 82.
--of the past season-ending Saturday with a 79-70 win over K-State which gave him immense satisfaction.
"We received tremendous help from boys who made the team from the student body. Fellows like John Poindexter, our fifth starter, and Tim Peterson, who came in and got the big rebound or made the big shot when we needed it.
Players worked together
"Another thing," he adds, "is that I've never coached a team which was so unselfish as this one. We were 9-1 and probably the biggest reason was that when we saw the open man, we got the ball to him. This, and the fact that all these kids played in winning high school programs and just did not know how to lose."
As freshman mentor, Catlett's duties are not limited to coaching the recruits brought into Lawrence each year—he has to haul in his share as well. Presently embarked on a three-day tour of the East, Catlett will be scouting prep prospects and convincing them of the advantages of a Kansas basketball career.
***
"We've got our eye on several prospects all over the country, but contrary to past years, we don't have any specific recruiting goals. Two seasons ago, we went after big men and got (Dave) Robisch and (Roger) Brown.
"Last year we were able to concentrate on smaller, more mobile players," said Catlett. "This year we're just looking for five or six real good all-around ballplayers."
Like a Jo Jo White, for instance.
Discus thrower M Oterter of West Islip, N.Y., is the only athlete to win four Olympic gold medals in one event.
***
Pepper Rodgers is the only former player to return to the Orange Bowl as a coach, the ex-Georgia Tech player guiding the Kansas team last Jan. I against Penn State.
AUTO GLASS
Sudden Service
East End of 9th St...V1 3-4416
Add tennis to women's sports scene
Tennis will be added to the KU women's intercollegiate scene this spring. Miss Dolores Copeland, the team's coach, said today coeds who wish to try out for the team may sign up at the Women's Physical Education office in Robinson.
"We would like to have women who have competed in high school or college intramurals," Miss Copeland said, "but everyone is invited to try out. We won't be too rigid on the screening."
The team will consist of four singles players and two doubles teams.
Mar. 12 KANSAN 11
1969
Miss Janice Mitchell