Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31

~ I'VE me team that KNOWS
80 how to catch, pass and
T shoot, and / think / can
beat the team that knows
every trick play and
every bit of court strategy in the
books, but is faulty in fundamentals
It's Dan Meenan speaking, Coach
Dan Meenan Of Columbia University
1926 Eastern intercollegiate basket pan
champions. He's summing up the
basket bali philosophy that made nm
au.Eastern forward in 1912 and 1914
The captained the Columbia team the
latter year. and won last Winters Co
lumbia squad the Eastern title.
The keynote of Columbia's cham
pionship system, explains Coach
Meenan in the January issue oT the
American Boy Magazine, is simplicity
He uses no trick" plays--rlo charts
or "set" formations. He depends first
upon having his men in topnotch
shape, so that they can play the nun
game at a driving speed. Second, he
sees to it that they know a little more
than their opponents do about the me-
chanics OF the game.
Starts in November.
Coach Meenan starts his season in
November on the running track. IN
December comes drill in running the
floor and passing. Columbia uses just
one pass-a shCulder-high throw pro-
pelled by the right hand. Ii uses only
Two shots for the basket-the chest
shot, easily and gracefully executed,
and q variation Of ii, delivered with
one hand, when near the basket.
English" snap passes and other
fancy tactics are unknown 10 the Co
lumbia champions.
Coach Mecnan's system Of play de-
ponds upon three primary rules OF
offense and defense:
"On defense, always keep between
your man and the basket, forcing him
toward the side lines.
ION oflense, never catch ball
standing Stlll: keep your opponent
from interceptng il by going to meet
it.
after YOU have completed a pass,
get ready to receive the bal again.
Coach Meenan doesn't lik" the drIb-
BILE because. il momentarily ties up the
other four men on the team. Never
dribble,' he advises, unless you are
coming UP TO the basket for a shot
and there's 10 one in front of you.
IN a fast passing game, the opponent
has a hard time keeping track OF the
ball. In dribbling game, on the
other hand. every opponent knows
exactly where the BAH IL.
nRSf' lUlPS VI pay EdfS A'AHt So
sons Columbia squad the reputation
IF being speed machine that tooR
the ball under the basket in as few
passes as possible for short, sure
shots. TO combat this style of play
Princeton-then the Eastern cham
pion--plaCed guards right under tht
hoop. Columbia met this maneuvel
by loosins a barrage Of medium-lengtf
shots from a point squarely in from
Of the basket Whenfa few of these
Cropped through the net, the Prince
ton guards came out aad permitted
Columbia TO make short shots again.
Always keep the area under youl
basket clear" Neenan advises. sta!
away from il until somebody IS ready
TO cut in for a short shot"
Last season, with her swift, un
orthodox style of play, Columbia won
10 out Of 20 games. one of the mos
spectacular contests was won by TIL
! Navy, 80 10 20. In this game, th
Navy was leading at the half time l.
TO II. In the second half, Columbi;
hit her stride and took the lead, 2
10 IS. scoring IS points while III
ATidshipmen made l. With 4 mlnut
and u quarter left 10 play. Colmahl'