New-York tribune., 1920-12-13
Princeton Five
Shows Strength
I'm Early Tests
Columbia Also Makes Good
Start i'm Basketball; Game
In for Its Biggest Season
By Ray Mccarthy

Collegiate basketball is in for its
biggest season this winter That's
probably superhuous statement, but
it will stand repetition inasmuch as
only few years ago the game nearly
passed out. If the curve of this sport
were plotted it would show 8 graph re-
sembling that of the stock market en-
joying its widest fluctuations. Harvard,
for instance, is putting a team back on
the floor this year after an absence of
five years, and it is likely that both
the Crimson and Syracuse will be ad-
mitted to the intercollegiate League
next season.
On Saturday night we managed to
take in both the Colum bia-Army con-
test and the Princeton-City of New
York College set-to. And right here
we want to state that the quintet that
beats out the Tigers for the champion
ship will come pretty close to being
about the best team in the East. From
present indications it appears as
though the Nassau students will have
as successful a season on the court as
they enjoyed on the gridiron this fall.
The Princeton outfit is big team,
capable of handling the ball and
coached by one of the best teachers in
the game, Dr. Lew Sugarman Sugar
man can make winning team out of
any kind Of material, but it so happens
that he has some good players to work
with down in the Jungle. Legendre is
as good basketball player as he is
down the floor and back with plenty
of speed, knows how and when to cut
for the net, and can shoot with either
hand. Ople is very nifty floor
performer.
The whole Tiger team worked
smoothly, making their passes short
and snappy, and at the same time kept
cutting toward the basket constantly.
City College also is a we'll coached
crew, but it was simply outclassed. 1t
( showed a lot of speed and handled the
ball in fine manner.
AS we stated last week, Columbia is
going to be heard from, with Joe Deer
ing directing its team. Like Sugarman,
Deer1ng knows the game and can teach
1t. Strange as it may sound, there are
| lew good coaches in this sport New
York University has a good man in Ed
Thorp; in fact, all of the local colleges
seemed to be well provided in this re-
! spect and Penn, with Eddie McNichol
on the yob, doesn't have to do much
worrying.
Columbia's victory over the Army
here with team reputed to be one o1
the best they have had in years. Their
play was extremely ragged, however
The locals displayed a much better
game, although some of the Columbs
players showed too much Of tendency
to dribble. The floor work OF lyman
and Stutz was very good and Watson
showed a keen eye for the basket, al,
of which indicates the Blue and White
may expect good season on the court
this winter.
With the game increasing in popu-
larity, it behooves the various authori-
ties to see that the proper kind of Of
fcials are on the job. They should
keep in mind that the crowd wants tc
see a basketball game and not foul
shooting contest.
Some officials are so anxious to keer
the contest free from all rough play
they make joke of the issue by penal.
izing the slightest infringement of the
rules, an extra step, or an academia
fall. Others are so fearful of missing
foul they carry the whistle in theil
mouth all of the time. We say, give
the teams a chance.
Anybody wishing to see just how &
game should be officiated need only te
watch Tom Thorp referee. Always il
command of the situation, he is nevel
in the way, keeps the game speeded W
and yet never allows the struggle tt
get out of hand. To our mind he is
the class of them all in this respect.
All of the players respect his abilit,
as an official and seldom do you heal
officials like Thorp and the game viii