Revamped Hoopsters to Start Campaign

Tom "Satch" Sanders unveils the 1976-77 version of the Crimson cagers in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament next weekend at Springfield with only four lettermen returning from last year's 8-18 team.

After losing front lines Muliufi Hanneman, and captain Bill Carey to graduation and with playmaker Glen Fine and last campaign's leading scorer Brian Banks taking a year off from school Sanders says "we certainly don't have the strong individual to depend on this year."

The hoopsters are gearing their style of play around a cohesive offense featuring a savvy, ball-control backcourt of captain Jeff Hill, senior Dave Rogers, and swingman Jonas Honick, 6-ft, 8-in, center Steve Irion and last year's leading freshman scorer Bob Hooft round out the well-balenced offensive arsenal.

Honick says "obviously, we don't have the depth and talent of last year's team" but he adds, "the team has been working harder as a result."

The big turnabout from last season's patchwork offense should come from a clearer understanding of the part each player is expected to play. "I think we know what our roles are going to be this year," says Irion. "We're more together. I don't know if that wins games, but it certainly helps."

Sanders looks for team rebounding to be the linchpin of the hoopsters' brand of ball if the season is to be a success. "We don't be in the game against strong teams if we let them get a second chance to score," he says. "We're talking a ball-control type offense so we can control the pace of the game," he says.

"All five guys are really going to have to pitch in," says Irion, who will have to do yeoman's duty hitting the boards even though he calls himself "not exactly a jumping six-seven."

"You won't see too many breakaway layups," Honick adds, "Most people are going to be hanging close to the glass." Honick feels the cagers' lack of height could mean that "teams may be able to shoot 30 per cent against us and win."

Sanders felt his squad "was very weak on team defense" during their 88-85 loss to a barnstorming English quintet in a scrimmage last week, as the opposition guards combined for 35 points. He plans to implement an aggressive, pressing defense spearheaded by his scrappy guards.

On offenses, the backcourt is expected to take up the scoring slack. "Jonas is going to have a shoot more," says Irion with additional scoring punch supplied by the injury-prone Rodgers, who sat out last year. Irion also should have a free rein to gun from downtown. "I have a lot of confidence in my shot. At first Satch was pretty reluctant to let me fire from outside but he's come around now."

Hooft, who hails from Winemucca, Nevada, anchors down the lone forward spot with his all-purpose game but will be spelled by Gary Ackerman, whom Sanders terms "a tough forward who's been there before."

Junior Roosevelt Cox, whom Irion calls "the best rebounder and shot blocker on the team" walked out of practice on Friday and may not rejoin the squad. "He just decided to bag it," said Irion.

With their newfound mental attitude and a still untested lineup the cagers remain something of a question mark. "You have to let a team unfold and see who you can depend on," says Sanders, who leads his charges against Syracuse in the first round of the Springfield tourney next Friday.