New-York tribune., 1911-12-03
WEAKENS COLUMBIA FINE
Loss of Captain Alexander Is
Blow TO Basketball Team.
BENSON THE ONLY VETERAN
Leader Probably Out Of Game
for Season, and Coach Has
Hard Job Ahead of Him.

Although no definite announcement mas
been made on the matter. II Is almost cer-
tain that A. D. Alexander, the captain OF
the Columbia basketball team for this sea-
son. will be unable TO play because OF
parental objection. His loss VIII mean
that the team that won last years cham-
pionshp will be seriously handicapped, for
| Alexander, in addition TO being one OF the
/ best centres on the floor. has proved MS
| ability a. a leader He did not play IN the
opening game Of the season against tne
University Of Maryland Friday night ana
! although he has been on the floor Tor prac-
| tically every practice that the team mas
held he has not taken part In any OF the
scrub or practice games that have Deen
| played.
| Last year Alexander was unable 10 play
' until we'll along after the Christmas recess
| because his father did not want him to
sacrifice his studies. lie has been unaoie
! TO gain his fathers consent TO play TINS
| year. With Alexander out. the hVe mas
only one veteran. G. u. Benson, VINO played
Ia at year. and around him Harry F1sher,
the coach, has had to build the team IL
| Alexander is unab bic 10 play at all the Blue
| and White Ave will he in difficulties. He
| Is a cool and heady player. and although
not one of the fastest men ap the court
| he Is one Of the most aggressive ana
plavs equally we'll defensively or ofens-
lively.
Until definite announcement is made as
regards Alexander the five. viii be unable
n get together as a fixed combination. In
it's first game the team showed that II had
been drilled thoroughly in the funda-
mentals of basketball. although II lacked
finish and lost many points because OF tnat
fact. There was evidence of some insight
into systematic team play. but the men
did not work we'll together and at no time
were they absolutely certain OF having
made the proper play at the right time
Fisher is trying TO work up some OF the
finer points of the game I'm preparation lor
the first contest in the championship series
which will he played at Hanover on Decem-
her l6 Benson, the only veteran Oh t"e
oIiphtning five" which won two champion
ships. will have to bear the brunt OF the
defence. in the early games at least. Nee
nan who has the other guard position, has
had no experience in college basketball, as
no cap,e IN Columbia this fall from De La
saue whore he got his early basketball
training Meenan is stockily built Dut lie
IS not very fast and does not cover his man
carefully However. he has lots OF time 10
improve. and by the end OF the season
should be one of the most reliable SudruS
in the league.
There is no forward Of more than ordi-
nary ability on the squad. Salisbury gave
promise of developing into first class man
a couple of seasons back but he has not
played regularly and, therefore, lacks eN-
perience lie is a quick thinker and an eN-
pert dodger. so that, with a little more
practice. he should be the most valuable
man next TO Benson Sanders, the Other
forward. has been on the squad for three
seasons. and has been tried out in several
of the big games, but he is not as accurate
4 shot as Salisbury, and does not have the
speed TO get around the floor Jaques WHO
was substitute centre last season, IS in thaI
position for the time being, his retention
depending upon whether Alexander comes
out or not The team has potential strength
but lust how far il can be developed II the
question that is bothering Fisher.
Columbia's other indoor teams are not
getting along any too we'll and the swim
ming team, In particular, Is handicapped
by the fact that the pool is closed tempo
rarly for repairs In the meantime the
team has to practise away from the uni
versity The hockey team has one of the
largest squads from which to draw that
has ever reported at Columbia and Tom
Howard, the coach, believes that he VIII
have a fast and aggressive seven. The
schedule has not been announced. but it is
understood that the trip TO Cleveland,
which was a success last year Will be re-
peated and that games may also be played
I'm Pittsburgh i'm the Christmas holidays.