Hoopsters Gear Up For Opener With BYU by John Peterson Sports Information Director Two holiday tournaments, a season opener with Brigham Young, and a home-and-home series with Utah State highlight this year’s Weber State basketball schedule. This season could be the toughest Weber State schedule ever with only 11 games at home and 15 on strange courts. Only one home game will be played during the entire month of January and although there are just three games scheduled in Ogden during the month of December, the two- game tournament at Salt Lake City is a ‘“‘semi-home’”’ affair for the Wildcats. A first for this year is the possibility of competition with all three Utah universities. Brigham Young and Utah State are definitely scheduled, while Utah could be met in the Salt Lake Tournament. Coach Gene Visscher is pleased with the plavers he has returning and encouraged with the strong finish they put on last year’s season. The Wildcats finished up winning four of the last five. During the year they lost a total of six games by five points or less. The team looks to be speedier and more physical than any Wildcat team in the past. Five Seniors Five seniors, three juniors, and four sophomores will compose the squad, with the possibility that any of four freshmen could also see playing time. Four very good big men return, led by junior Jimmie Watts who was named to the Big Sky Conference first team. He was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder last year. Juniors Paul Marigney and Al DeWitt and senior’ Brad Tauscheck also have good experience in the front line. At 6-8, Tracy Nielsen - up from the freshman team last year -- will provide good depth. In Tom the backcourt Bill Lewis, DeVita, Scott Gardner, and Kim Vernon are four fundamentally sound and experienced ball players. All four are seniors. Three sophomore guards are also on hand including redshirt Dick Hunsaker who is perhaps the best pure shooter on the team. John Freed and Kirt Huber are reliable backups from last season’s frosh squad. Blue Chip The four blue-chip freshmen include a pair of big men from California and two small speedsters from Michigan. Bobbie Roots at 6-6, 214 pounds is already a major college rebounder but still has other skills to learn to improve his game. Dave Bekedam was_ alleverything in Northern California. He stands 6-7 and jumps and shoots very well. 6-1 Alvin Charles makes observers think of Justus Thigpen and he could be one of the best ball players ever at Weber. At 5-10, his old high school teammate Darnell Flourney will be both the smallest and quickest Wildcat. “T am really looking forward to this season,’’ said Coach Visscher. I am impressed by the desire which our players have shown in the early practice. They are quick and intelligent and reported in good condition over the summer. This should be known as one of the best basketball seasons in the school’s history.” Some season tickets are available, and interested alumni are urged to act quickly for good seat selection. Tickets for games played on the road can also be obtained through the Wildcat ticket office in the stadium. Wildcats score first Big Sky football win. Gridders Add Up Wins With the football season half way Dick Gwinn, “‘but we lost two others that we should have also won. We are really more of a 5-1 team than a 3-3 squad. The mistakes that cost up the losses against Montana and Northern Arizona are typical youthful mistakes because we have so many young players. We have learned a great deal so far this season and will not have that problem again.” The Wildcats lost the opener to Nevada-Las Vegas, currently the number two team in the country, bounced back to win two against Cal State Northridge and Fullerton, fell to University of Montana, upset Montana State 28-10, and dropped a one-point heart-breaker to Northern Arizona 21-20. Several Wildcats placed high in the conference statistics. Tailback Don Reddic is the leading rusher, and punter Ralph Parish leads in his category. Safety Orin Trussell is the conference leader in interceptions. Two Wildcats, Reddic and linebacker Walt Hays, have been selected to earn Player-of-the-Week honors in the early season. '7 4-'75 Basketball Schedule December 6 December 10 December 13-14 December 16 December 21 December 27-28 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN Air Force Academy at USAF Academy, Colo. University of Utah Tournament at Salt Lake City (Utah, Weber State, West Virginia, Army) COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN WESTERN MONTANA AT OGDEN Long Beach Tournament at Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach St., Weber State, Loyola LA, Cal Poly SLO) University of Montana at Missoula January 3 January 4 Montana State University at Bozeman January 13 Northern Illinois University at DeKalb, Illinois Oral Roberts University at Tulsa, Oklahoma — January 11 Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff Utah State University at Logan NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN January 18 January 22 January 25 January 31 February February Feburary February February February February February March 1 March 5 Scott Gardner will be returning as a guard this year. over, the Wildcats have matched last year’s performance of three wins already. ‘“‘T am happy that we have won these early-season games,” said Coach Boise State University at Boise, Idaho 1 6 8 13 15 21 22 27 Idaho State University at Pocatello BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO AT OGDEN GONZAGA UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN University of Idaho at Moscow Gonzaga University at Spokane, Washington UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA AT OGDEN MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN