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SOUTHERN
Before conceding another title to WEST VIRGINIA, it is fitting to drop a tear and a word of praise for Dom Flora of WASHINGTON &. LEE. Flora was among the last recipients of basketball scholarships at W&L, which now follows a nonsubsidization policy. This year he will be the whole show for the Generals. A superb ball hawk, a leech on defense, a driver who forces rivals into a zone or double-teaming defense, he has all the moves and savvy a college coach could ask for. He will keep the Generals out of the cellar this year, but he can't be expected to do much more. The Mountaineers from Morgantown are shoo-ins again, with four starters returning: 6-foot-10 Lloyd Sharrar, Guards Don Vincent and Joedy Gardner, and Forward Robert Smith. There is also a deep, seasoned bench and two sophomores, especially, who may be regular starters: Jerry West and Willie Akers, both front-court men. Coach Schaus, the old pro, might wish for better size in his forwards, but Sharrar is all the rebounding any team needs, GEORGE WASHINGTON suffered through an unusually bad season last year with a potentially good squad that lacked experience. Practically all of that bunch is back, older and wiser. To start: rugged (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) Gene Guarilia; Bill Telaskey and Howard McDonald in the backcourt; and Howard Bash and Sam Knisley up front. Reserves include three at 6 feet 5: Jerry Cooper, Jim Walters and Wes Wheeler. GW will be battling for the second spot—with RICHMOND and THE CITADEL Richmond lost two of their starters, but depth is no problem here. One of the three old hands is Butch Lambiotte, a 6-foot-5 guard who drives like a little man and has a fine jump shot. The others are Forwards Roy Peschel and Larry Rauppius. Two freshmen, 6-foot-10 Terry Litchfield and 6-foot-9 Jerry Sklar, could make the Spiders really rough if they show anything in their first year. (Conference rules allow freshmen to play with the varsity.) Last season, The Citadel played five freshmen: Dick Wherry, Ray Graves, Jerry Records, Robert Blackledge and Art Musselman—and one sophomore: Teddy Weeks. Coach Sloan goes with the same crew again; they surprised a lot of opponents last season and will give many more some bad nights this year. They run a controlled break and shoot well. The rest of the league will scramble, with VIRGINIA TECH probably the best. The Techmen will be small; all their height is transfer student Duck Rice, at 6 feet 6. Terry Penn will lead in the backcourt, teamed with Lewis Mills; the other probable starters: Larry Hemmings and Dave Kuhn, though Freshman Bob Ayersman may push his way in. FURMAN has Steve Ross, 6 feet 9 but pencil thin; Dick Wright, a 20-point scorer and floorman; and Byron Pinson up front—all veteran starters. Sophomores will be battling for the other positions. New Coach Bill Chambers comes to WILLIAM & MARY with an amazing 67-8 record established at Newport News (Va.) high school. He finds one of the conference's better set shots in Guard Don Engelken and a tall collection of young men who will have to learn his ball-control style. The height consists mainly of Charles Sanders and Jeff Cohen, both 6 feet 10. Cohen is a freshman who never scored less than 20 points per game as a senior in high school. VMI and DAVIDSON are both stuck for at least one good big man. The Keydets always hustle and have some experienced hands for a change: Chuck Cotton, Dave Goode, Ralph Lawson, Lee Southard and Chuck MacLeod, and they should edge the Wildcats, if no one else. Davidson's Semi Mintz is their leader and top scorer. His support consists, in the main, of veterans Dave Hollingsworth, Lou Spear and Joe Milner, though Coach Scott expects help from three promising sophomores.
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BUTCH LAMBIOTTE
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DOM FLORA
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Man to watch: W. VA.'S LLOYD SHARRAR
