Tigers to tackle tougher schedule ByPeteWunsch year, they stayed mostly with Missourian sportswnter "Last the zone," Gottfried said 'We'll inter- Non-conferen- ce change and use multiple defensive In recent years the Missouri " basketball foes sets schedule has read Leading the returnees is first team something like a "Who's Who" among all-confere- nce forward Gary Wilson, the bottom 200 But junior transfer James "Turkey" for players who wanted a chance to who led team scoring Q9-poi- nt Tillman may become Colonels' start and who might be attracted by the the in Powerhouses like MacMurray, the and rebounding (7 5 6-foo- average) average) t-4 Wisconsm-Oshkos- h, leader He is a who attention the Bartow name will bring to Fairleigh Dickinson, swingman while hitting 55 percent of his shots He spot-start-er Poly-Pomo- na was a nationally the Blazers Cal for a 6-foo- 6-fo- and will team with t-9 Al Grant and ot-6 ranked Maryland team a When he pulled in the nets, optimism Valparaiso have been punching bags as freshman front line 6-fo- Barrj Smith on the the Tigers ' I'll use Tillman at No 2 to flowed Prize catch No 1 was ot-8 for as they warmed up for the guard 6-foo- In the backcourt, Mi Wavne conference get a litle more size and to get the ball Larry Spieer, a former Southwest the season Abrams presents the opposition with This year's pre-conferen- ce off the board," said Byhre, "with Conference freshman of the year at schedule defensive problems He averaged 12 may be un- Tillman I Baylor and second team all SWC last the most demanding ever feel we've really points a game last year 10-tea- " with 17 9 7 6 a dertaken by a Missouri team The m strengthened ourselves year points and rebounds non-conferen- ce schedule includes "We feel we have the ability to win game Illinois only the OVC," to up- "Spieer is a bonified big time player three units that had losing records he said "We're trying "We'll be good, this is the best Illinois 1977-7- 8 133-8- tempo a more " He'll help us right away and help the in and accumulated a 3 little than last year team since 1966," said Coach Lou Guards Kenny (14 freshman," Bartow said record for a 615 winning percentage Elliott points a Henson Of course Illinois t had 6-fo- hasn Coach game and Jones, a pre- Prize catch No 2 was ot-9 Daryl Norm Stewart thinks his young average) Bruce too many good teams since 1966 all-conferen- ce Braden from Texas Braden team is up to the challenge season pick, are being Christian But the Fightui Illini are marching pushed by averaged 14 6 points and 8 2 rebounds "I think they can handle it," Stewart Kentucky State transfer up the road to national recognition with No 3 starting center Stan Scales said "There are going be some times Donnie Moore Dave Bootcheck, is the addition of two fronthners to an newcomer-of-the-ye- ar whom he plucked out of when they have to get determined in- in the con- the Tigers' experienced group yard at Mineral stead of discouraged " ference two years ago, will continue to back Area Junior Freshman James Gnffen has been 6-fo- throw his ot-8 frame around under College Eastern Kentucky picked as one of the top 15 recruits in basket get off 6-foo- the and the ball the the country by one magazine The t-10 boards Southern Illinois for All-Amenc- While many schools have climbed the the fast break high school an from to on The Salukis lost their coach in the ladder national prominence the Alabama-Birmingha- m Fort Worth, Texas, will see a lot of slam-dunkin- g middle of the recruiting season last shoulders of the leaping, action at the forward Let the on ' year The end result was a small superstar, the Colonels have taken a curtain rise, the show is The reason Gnffen will be forced Gene Bartow, following a year of freshman class Of course, when 13 of 14 different approach Teamwork outside at forward position is Derek anonymity leaving his coaching players return from a 17-- 10 team, not Last year Kentucky set after 6-foo- Eastern an Holcomb, a t-ll transfer from hotseat at UCLA, is back much is needed Ohio Valley Conference season record Indiana who started as a freshman with 498 Bartow has given fair warning that New Coach Joe Gottfried makes no assists The Colonels had five is But the newcomers are not the whole first Alabama-Birmingha- m team will bones about taking over the pre season players double figures 6-foo- scoring in and show Mark Smith a t-7 guard and return four of them be no pushover Missouri Vallev Conference favorites Eddie Johnson are tabbed to open in the All-conferen- ce "We won't be like a completely new that's the kind of pressure any new forward Lovell Joiner backcourt Starters Levi Cobb and Neil 17 expansion team We're not like Tampa coach would like to face led the team m both scoring, 4 points Bresnahan are battling with Gnffen for Bay when they didn't We'll SIU's forte last year was defense, the a game, and rebounding, 9 6a game, win win the two forw ard spots Coach some games" Salukis allowed only 68 points per and Ed Bjhre said he expects Henson also has the luxurv of former more point production from the 6-foo- t-7 And well they might Bartow spent game Gottfried promises more of the senior the last 365 days combing the country same (See ILLINOIS, Page 6C ) Illinois to start Hoosier transfer ( Continued from Page 5C ) San Diego State Rosenberger all are gone. it's gonna take some time to get them But worry not for Coach Hank together," Slider said The Aztecs have moved to a new con- starter Steve Lanter back after a red-shi- rt Raymonds. The Marquette string of 13 One body he wishes he had for sure is ferences this year and may well sur- 20-w- in 6-foo- year along with Griffen's former straight seasons is likely to t-7 center Joe Jamison, who has some people by contending for the high school teammate Cletus Hubbard prise remain intact He will build an inex- been unable to practice with the team Western Athletic Conference this 6-fo-ot-9 title perienced but talented squad around of an illness the family. year because in senior Bernard Toone, the "We're probably gonna be in high Alabama "We feel we have a good shooting leading returning scorer (9 3 points a water," he said, "but for a (NCAA) team," Coach Tim Vezie said. To hear Coach C M Newton tell it, game). Division II school, we're going to be That's an understatement. Last year, the Tide is in trouble when conference "He's got to have a great year," competitive " play begins this y ear the starting five connected on 54 per- Raymonds said "He's going to the "'LSU is maybe in a class by them- cent of its field-go- al attempts Vezie basket and finally rebounding If he Arizona State returns three of those five selves," he said, "and Kentucky just doesn't have a good year, then I'm just There was an old woman who lived in " Forward Kim Goetz led the team in won a national championship gonna be a great athletic director." a shoe, she had so many children she scoring at 16 9 points a game Forward-guar- d Last year was a lean year for Newton But Raymonds has some outstanding didn't know what to do Mike Dod hit 55 percent of his and the Crimson Tide, the worst record talent to put around Toone, begining from Goose 14 That little duty Mother shots while averaging points a game All-Americ- an in six years was the topic of concern with Sam Worthen, an at probably hangs Nud Wulk's office In and dishing out 106 assists in from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham McLenna (Texas) Junior College, who the Sun head But the the of team his 24th year as Devils' Of course the "lean" year included a pivot is heart the should start at guard than 6-fo- coach, Wulk more talent he ot-ll has 17-1- Steve Malovic, a bull was 0 record, an NIT bid and Southeast Although Raymonds denies having a knows how to use player-of-the-ye- ar by Phoenix Suns year 6-foo- drafted the last t-9 Conference honors set lineup, he suggested that starters return from last year's but chose to play his last year in Four forward Reggie King. 13-1- for junior Odell Ball would start in the middle. 4 team. Among the best are leading 6-foo- t-6, 225-pou- nd college a All-Amen- King, forward, Jim Dudley and Oliver Lee should scorer, Blake Taylor, at guard and ca All-Amen- ca "He has to become a dominant player made three teams last battle for the other starting spots candidate Tony Zeno at for- 21.2 pulled for us to be successful," Vezie said year, scored points a game, "Pnde and tradition will have some ward Add to the returning cast the 13 3 "I'm never satisfied with his play down an average of rebounds and 6-foo- " 6-foo- t-6 bearing on us likes of t-ll Alton Lister and at- because his potential unlimited " 58 percent of his field goal is red-shirt- made ed State-Sacramen- to Johnny Nash, who were both first-roun-d Malovic averaged 13 points, eight Cal tempts He probably will be a Wulk's rebounds 56 percent shooting.