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PACIFIC GROUP
Only five teams from the old Pacific Coast Conference play anything resembling a league schedule, but all nine are included here because they are still measured against each other in deciding Pacific Coast ratings. At CALIFORNIA, new Coach Rene Herrerias is continuing Pete Newell's full-court defensive tactics. Newell, after building a 119 won, 44 lost record at Cal in six seasons, has become athletic director. Since there is a good nucleus of lettermen, Cal again will be among the best in the nation on defense. Bill McClintock, a fine rebounder, is up front with Dave Stafford, Stan Morrison is at the post and the backcourt is manned by veterans Bob Wendell and Earl Shultz. UCLA Coach John Wooden has fair balance and depth but still needs a floor leader and some scoring punch at center. Veteran John Green and soph Ron Lawson will form the backcourt, with either John Berberich, 6 feet 8, or newcomer Mel Profit, 6 feet 5, at the post. Gary Cunningham and Bill Ellis were alternate starters last year, are permanent now. WASHINGTON, which lost its first five league games in 1959-60 by a total of eight points, has four starters returning, plus a flock of promising transfer students and some tall sophs moving up. Bill Hanson and Roger Niva give the Huskies a powerful front line, and Earl Irvine, out last year because of academic deficiencies, adds rebounding strength. Veterans Clint Names and Lyle Bakken, sophs Ed Correll and Porter LaMoyne and transfers Keith Brown, John Mack and Bill Hansen round out an excellent, balanced squad. If there is one shortcoming at Washington, it is a lack of experienced seniors. STANFORD has its tallest team ever and should get a lot of mileage out of Dick Hosley and John Fontius, both of whom sat out last season with injuries. Co-captains John Hendry and Bub Bowling return, along with 6-foot-8 John Windsor and Phil Kelly. Stanford has depth, size and good defense but is inexperienced at guard and center and needs stronger shooting. At OREGON STATE Coach Slats Gill welcomes 11 experienced players. Karl Anderson, Jay Carty and Steve Flynn are up front, Bill Wold and Jim Woodland are the guards. Steve Pauly, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, helps with the rebounding, as do veterans Bob Jacobson and Ernie Johnson. The squad has size, speed and depth, lacks a consistent outside shooter. WASHINGTON STATE has lost six players for scholastic reasons, but Charlie Sells, Dwight Damon and Terry Ball are back. Neil Dirom, Bill McKenzie, Ernie Wood and Nick August are experienced reserves, but State needs rebounders. Gill also lacks a consistent scorer and a dependable second forward. OREGON plays a stronger schedule than last year but Dennis Strickland, Glen Moore and Charlie Warren, all skilled lettermen, are ready for it. Bill Simmons, a 6-foot-4 forward, also started some games last year, and Verlund Kimpton, Wally Knecht and Leon Hayes will help as alternates. Oregon will have improved outside shooting, fair speed and height but needs a replacement for graduated floor leader Chuck Rask. The IDAHO Vandals have a new coach, Joe Cipriano, and three seasoned starters, but are still a year away from contention. Ken Maren, 6-foot-7 center, and Rollie Williams and Dale James are sure first-stringers. Rich Porter is one of three sophs moving up to the varsity and has the best chance to play regularly. John Fleming, Tom Gwilliam, Chuck Lange and Gary Floan round out a tall, speedy but shallow squad, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S Coach Forrest Twogood has a lot of young material that will take time to develop. One returning starter, 6-foot-6 John Rudometkin, and regulars Chris Appel and Ken Stanley form a strong nucleus, to which a pair of 6-foot-7 sophomores, Gordon Martin and Bob Benedetti, can be added. Dan Weir, Pete Hillman and Wells Sloniger also move up. Neil Edwards and Vern Ashby are reserve alternates. Inexperience will hinder USC early in the season, but there is better size than last year and some good shooting. Since there is not one senior on the squad, this bunch may be the Coast's best next winter.
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POPPING FROM OUTSIDE, UCLA's Gary Cunningham tries corner jumper. One of very few Coast teams to use fast break, Bruins need take-charge man to make it go.
