1969-70 WINTER SPORTS SPECIAL SUBSCRIBERS ADDRESS THE COWL I PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SPECIAL EDITION PROVIDENCE, COLLEGE, PROVIDENCE, R. I., DECEMBER 2, 1969 KIGHT PAGES Hoopsters Have the Guns Rebounding the Question By STEVE SOLOMON The smallest team in recent Providence College bas ketball history will take on .Mass on the road tonight to open the long-awaited 1969 basketball season, the first under new coach. Dave Gavitt. e Friars met Princeton in well-conditioned. Should start at DON LEWIS, SOPH., 6"', 175 y night scrimmage, Nov. 21 guard in ^O. lbs. Cromwell, Conn. May find Princeton and faired quite GARY WILKENS, SOPH., himself as the smallest forward well. They were confronted 6'3", 165 lbs.. New York, N. Y. in big time basketball. Despite nth a legitimate big man, Gary compiled the second his obvious height disadvantage ohn Hummer at 6'9", but the highest freshman scoring he is very effective up front. earn handled him and the average in PC history (31.7 Opposing forwards will be Aigers quite well. p.p.g.) behind John Thompson. shocked when Don takes a re The Friars will be out to A flashy offensive performer bound over their heads. He : venge a 75-64 loss to the Red- who can become unstoppable will concentrate on ballhandling. i ion of LMass in a game played from 10-20 feet once he gets defense and rebounding this ¡ t Alumni Hall last year. The hot. A great passer though he year. He averaged 17.0 points as gets a little careless at times. 1 "riars have had trouble with a freshman and can shoot very Must work harder on his de• i Ma<s in recent games and this well. A probable starter who fense; not especially hard nosed, i pener should prove no dif- could develop into the best all- but could be effective on a lerent Here are the men who around player on the team. pressing defense. will represent PC in this JUNIOR FERRO, JR., 510", school's most prestigious sport. BILL CONNELL, JR., 6'4", 155 lbs., Bristol, R. I. Could be JIM LARRANAGA, JR., 6'4", 200 lbs., Montclair, N. J. Bill the surprise of the '69 '70 Friars. 1SS lbs., Bronx, N. Y. Averaged provides depth at the forward Will see considerable action this 19 points a game as a sopho- slot whenever Coach Gavitt will year especially against zone de- inore to lead the team in scor• need rebounding help. Saw ing Was voted New England limited action last year but his Frosh Show Great Balance desire could earn him playing Soph of the Year. Jimmy is an time this season. He is a rugged outstanding all-around ballplay• ballplayer around the boards er who can come up with the and he must show this when he clutch shot. Top game last year gets into a game. Ail-Around Depth Featured was his 28 point performance in the near upset of Boston Col• RAY JOHNSON, JR., 67", "Pleasing," is the way fresh• U a unselfish player, he will man basketball coach Bill O'Con lege Will be counted on at both 235 lbs., Narragansetr, R. I. The give up takir.,-' a sV>* ii z team• nor describes the performance forward and guard due to the hopes of the Friars rest on Ray's mate is in better position. De• of his present club. Although fensively, his threat of ste-diug lack of height on the varsity. massive shoulders since he is the team is not physically strong, the bell from his man is re• VIC COLLUCCI, JR., 6'2", 160 their only "big" man. Came on they make up for this weakness miniscent of the days of Lenny lbs., Newark, N. J. Outstanding strong last year after an inau^ picious debut. Uses his weight with good shooting inside, and Wlikens, and he will get the bu. I accuracy from 15-25 feet, Vic well under the boards, and has out, and a lot of hustle. The out tor a fast break whic*-. we placed second behind Larra naga learned to block out effectively. actual potential of the team will see a lot of this season when in scoring with a 15 point per His shooting has improved vast won't be known until the sea• Di Gregorio teams up with tho game average. Encountered oc• ly to the point where he could son begins, but the play of speedy Nehru King. casional wild streaks which hurt Ernie Di Gregorio, Fran Costello. average well into double figures A strong rebounder, King is his shooting percentage. Never• and Nehru King is impressive in The key is whether he will foul quick to get the ball off the theless Vic has one of the best practice thus far. as much as last year. If Johnson boards and start th« fastbrcak. touches this school has seen gets into foul trouble or is dis• Di Gregorio, from nearby Also a good ball-handler his and will be counted on to sup• qualified the Friars' next big• ply much of the team's offen North Providence, played at St. seemingly endless durability gest man stands 6'5." Ray must makes him a valuable asset. A s've arsenal. Not noted as a Thomas More Prep School in be in there most of the time. consistently good shooter from driver though he has made Connecticut last year along with outside, King picks up many great strides to improve in this MIKE HAGEN, SOPH., 6'4", King. King played his high points battling on the boards area A hustler on defense and 195 lbs , Queens, N. Y. Last year GARY WILKENS school ball at St. Anthony's in he averaged 13 points per game Jersey City, New Jersey. Di- and his ability to beat his man on the frosh team. Mike has fenses. Extremely accurate up Gregorio's biggest asset is his to the baskr-i adds to this. a good shot from the side and to 35' and Junte handles the pinpoint passing. In the modern Fran Cosiell" who led hi3 is a strong, accurate driver. He ball as well as anyone. His lack era of basketball with big, Catholic Memorial High School will be counted on to bolster the of height hurts him on defense strong, fast, good shooting team's rebounding, but here he but his hustle will score more players, rarely do we see the must learn to go to the hoards points for the Friars than his player who excells with pass• better and stronger. height will lose. Skillfull passer ing. Such pro stars as Walt on the fast break. Frazier of the Knicks, and Guy WALT VIOLAND, SR., 6'1", Rodgers of the Bucks are mast 190 lbs., Lakewood, Ohio. Walt MIKE McGUINN, JR., 6'4", ers at getting the ball to the can play either guard or for• 195 lbs.. East Providence, R. I. scorers, and Di Gregorio does ward but will probably see most Will find himself playing as a just that. of his action up front. A reserve forward and center. Al• pleasant surpris.? last year and though only 6*4" Mike is a Fran Costello said of Ernie: can figure on a lot of playing tough man off the boards and "As long as we keep moving, time this year. A tougher player he throws his weight around we know Ernie will get the cannot be found and what he quite well. Might be used to ball to us." Ernie with a keen lacks in height is made up for spell Johnson or when strength sense of teammates' moves will in his hustle and scrappiness. is needed off the boards. remarkably always hit the open DENNIS WALSH, SR., 6'5", CRAIG CALLEN, SR., 6'5", man with a crisp pass. In a one- 180 lbs., Bayside, N. Y. Could 200 lbs., Warwick, R. I. This on one situation. Di Gregorio be the best long range shooter year's captain will see a great because of his ball-handling on the club. Will probably see deal of action even if he does ability and also being a good not start. Has a great set shot shooter is a headache for any more playing time this year due GAVITT, KING. COSTELLO to the team's overall lack of and is effective under the opposing player. and DiGREGORIO height His rebounding has im• boards. Good leader who hustles In a two-on-t wo situation. proved tremendously over last from start to finish. Began to Ernie may have to develop his (Boston) team to a 28 0 record year and Coach Gavitt may draw acquire confidence in his shot shooting a bit because of his last season, is a hustling play• on him quite often to bolster last year and if he keeps shoot• small size when being guarded er who gets his job done. He the front line. A real hustler. ing can be very valuable assel. by a taller opponent. Because he JIM LARRANAGA (Continued on Page 6) 2 THE COWL. DECEMBER 2, 1969 New Friar Coach Dave Gavitt; Man With A Definite Purpose By JOE DELANEY and myself want to do, I feel Colucci and Lewis have been in confident that we can do the the backcourt along with Vio- Some people have called it job. land and Ferro. We just don't FROM THE FOOTBALL FRIARS Mission Impossible. Others have Q. It is rather obvious that have any forwards so we're go• said that the ghost of Joe Mul- you have taken command of ing to have to play guards at laney still walks the confines things, especially judging from forward and hope for the best.