COLLEGE BASKETBALL continued bound with a single hand surrounding the ball—just as if it were a coconut being picked off, or put back on, the tree. He averaged 20 points a game during the season and 13 rebounds. Owing to inexperience, he makes noticeable mistakes, but observers are impressed with his ability to learn and correct deficiencies. In his first game Sojourner was badly undressed by Simmie Hill of West Texas State as Weber looked bad and lost. During the return match at Ogden, Sojourner outplayed Hill and the Wildcats won 92-76. Despite a midseason bombing at Seattle, in which Sojourner played only 18 minutes because of fouls and 6’ 7” Larry Bergh not at all because of injury, Weber State has earned respect. Gus Chatmon, a reckless customer on the boards, gives Sojourner and Bergh ample help underneath. But Thigpen, as shooter, and Harlan, as passer and defender, are mainly responsible for Weber’s fine record. Both Michigan na- tives lege last lan’s were recruited out of junior coland, while it took Thigpen all of year to adjust to team play, Hararrival this season has occasioned a genuine unselfishness throughout the team. Smoothly and with little effort, the mustachioed guards work together with a speed and quickness that is matched by few combinations anywhere. Lack of notoriety even in its homeland took much of the glimmer from Weber State’s season, despite the fact it probably was better than any of its three neighbors from up and down the Wasatch Mountain Range—Utah, Brigham Young or Utah State, the latter boasting a nationally acclaimed hero in Marv Roberts. As usual, the young upstart cannot buy a game with the other schools. Moreover, the Salt Lake Tribune’s recent proposal for an eight-team tournament in the new 15,000-seat Salt Palace, involving the four Utah schools and four visitors, was discouraged by the other three —because of Weber. Weber officials claim area coaches purposely neglect them on votes for All-America teams and discriminate against them when con- sidering candidates for the weekly ratings. ‘“They will never give us a ballot on those polls,” says Johnson. ‘‘They know what it would mean for us to be ranked.”’ So Weber State can only go on winning, appearing in the ‘‘other receiving votes’? column of the wire service polls and enduring as the one school in the history of the Big Sky to reach the NCAA playoffs. ‘It’s tough when the big boys won’t play you,’ New Mexico State Coach Lou Henson says often, alluding to his own difficulty in obtaining a representative schedule. But bigness is a matter of degree, and the crafty Henson has put himself in a compromising position. Not even his team wants to schedule the dangerous Wildcats of Weaver, uh Weber, State. END nan A winner for your stable of casuals. This spring here’s the handsewn that comes in first: horsebit ’n’ brace, square toe, rich Village Brown. One of many casual/correct styles, $12 to $16. INTERNATIONAL St. LovuIs SHOE COMPANY Handsewn refers to vamps.