Can Harvard Five Surprise B.C. Tonight?

Even behind a desk, Bob Cousy is still a pro. When he sees a reporter from the enemy camp, the coach of the Boston College basketball team bemoans the mental condition of his squad and says he expects a "real battle" from Harvard tonight.

The former Celtic great may be right about his team's morale. At practice yesterday in Roberts Center, they seemed to be considering this as "just another game," as forward Steve Adelman stated it.

Cousy said that the heat at Roberts Center Saturday night and the close halftime score (B.C. 42, Connecticut 40) got his team fired up for the second half, and he's afraid they may have spent themselves. "It takes more than one day to get a team back up," he said.

Not Like Golf

Cousy, looking as trim as in his playing days, admitted he occasionally gets the urge to play, but "basketball is not like golf, so I keep the urge in its proper perspective," he chuckled.

With the material he has, he can afford not to play. After missing two games and playing only sparingly in the next two, B.C.'s big center Willie Wolters is ready to play a full game. Wolters, 6 ft. 8 in., will be joined up front by Steve Adelman (6 ft. 6 in.), Jim Kissane (6 ft. 8 in.), and Terry Driscoll (6 ft. 7 in.).

Boston College, like Harvard, has four guards who see plenty of action. Jack Kvancz (5 ft. 11 in.) and Doug Hice (6 ft. 2 in.) will probably start. They are backed up by Bill Evans (5 ft. 11 in.) and Steve Kelleher (6 ft. 1 in.).

Any Cousy team figures to be a fast-breaking squad, and that is indeed the theme of the B.C. offense. They control the boards and impose a rapid tempo on the game, wearing down the opposition.

No-Switch Defense

On defense, they use both man-to-man and zone, but they won't switch as often during the course of a game as some teams. Harvard of course, switches offenses according to which type of defense they see.

Mr. Basketball is cautious about his team's stature. "Providence has to be considered the best in the East right now," he said. He won't predict a win tonight against "the best Harvard team in recent years." And the home court advantage, he pointed out, although sometimes worth little, can mean six or eight points or more.

Maybe so, but it still looks like Boston College by ten.