Dressler Does Everything But Likes the Backcourt

Gene Dressler might be the archetypal "scrappy little backcourt man," except for one thing: in the Crimson's season openers last week, he showed he can do anything.

At Holy Cross Saturday, Dressler out-shot, out-stored, out-hustled, and just about out-rebounded the rest of the team. Scrappy little backcourt man-like, he was credited with nine assists, but that wasn't all; his shooting average, both from the foul line and the floor, was the team's highest, and his total points were second only to Keith Sedlacek's. In rebounding, he was right behind Barry Williams, who is half a foot taller.

And seeing Gene Dressler was worth the drive to Worcester. Sportswriters have Iyricized over Williams' cat-like rhythms, but Dressler just bombs. He concentrates so intently he probably wouldn't even notice if the stands collapsed. He steals balls and whips down court so fast the rest of the team has to lope to get into position for the famous shuffle offense. As the offense goes to work. Dressler seems to know exactly what the other four are doing; he spots openings, passes off, sets up scores.

Dressler likes what he does and doesn't seem to mind not having an arching 20-foot jump shot. "In our kind of basketball, the backcourt men set the pace," he said yesterday. "The forwards depend on our getting the ball to them fast, before the other team starts working them close. Every team we'll face this season will be taller, so we have to move fast and keep shuffling. George Neville or Bob Beller and I are counted on to keep that up--that's our part."

Dressler admits the rest of the Ivy League has more talent, but he expects Harvard to get along on esprit. "We don't depend on one person to score," he says. "Reporters have predicted we'll fall apart if Williams ever fouls out, but that wouldn't dishearten us. Charley McMonagle could go for Barry, and Scott's been rebounding really well."

Dressler says the Crimson's one-two-two defense has worked well so far, but expects the team will run into trouble when it meets some sure ball-handlers.

Harvard completely stifled Holy Cross shooting from the outside, and though the team was out-rebounded by the Crusaders, Holy Cross wasn't even scoring on easy lay-ups and tip-ins. "That's because the defense works," Dressler says.

As he talked Dressler diagrammed the one-two-two defense, showing the several moves possible when an opponent approaches him. He just talked like a class marshal.