Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-01-14

This situation is explained by two
facts. Coach Dave MacMillan's rec
ord through nine years has placed
him definitely on the spot. Students
and alumni believe the time has come
when he must deliver or retire. Con-
sequently they are watching his w rk
with keen interest. Secondly, the ma
terial and the style of play the Go
pliers have revealed this year indi-
cate Macmillan has at least chance
to confound his critics by delivering
in generous way.
His squad has as much speed as
any he has had at Minnesota and it
has more accurate and dangerous
scorers than any Minnesota squad in
years. Moreover, the playing ability
runs deeper than the first five men.
1t runs down to tie fifth and sixth
substitute, including some sophomore
lads who may develop amazingly as
the season advances.
1t has been the contention of MIC
a good many g. that he knows as
much basketball as any coach in the
country, but that he has not had the
material capable of playing his style.
Strangely enough, MacMillan's detl &C
tors say approximately the same
thing, but they put it this way: We'll
grant he knows basketball. but his
style of play suits only certain pol
ished type of material that is not
usually available at Minnesota. The
point is he can't change his style
to suit the normal type of material
that comes out of our high schools.
So let's get coach with a style that
will work right here"
You see, both sides agree MacMil-
Ian knows basketball. He is one of
the soundest defensive coaches in the
game and his scoring plays are beau
tifully conceived. The criticism is
that they require a dexterity of ball
handling that can be found only in
the professional game or at such uni
versities as Indiana and Purdue where
prep school material is highly pol
ished.
1t is strange but true that Mac
MILAN has changed the style of play
in nearly every University in the con-
ference. Other coaches have adopted
his ideas and have won with them;
but Macmillan, himself, has not been
able to win. In nine years his teams
have twice tied for second place, but
usually have finished in the second
division. The record of his complete
tenure has not been good.
Now, however, at the time when
criticism is sharpest he seems to have
had the good fortune to find players of
the type that fit his style of play.
They are fast and tricky and many of
them are deadly shots.
If he wins with this team his de-
tractors will continue to say, 1T is
still true he doesn't belong at Mime
sofa because. year in and year
out, Minnesota material can't play
that style of basketball. Why do we
have to wait ten years for the lucky
accident which assemblies a squad
that happens to suit the coach? Why
NV SSb ~ SOeANhiiS oty ouito
Minnesota material most of the time,
just as we have done in foOtball?'
Just the same, Macmillan will be
safe in his job if he does send a
strong squad through the conference
race this year. It's hard arguing
against success, while it is in the
process of succeeding.
MacMillan's stronger supporters as
sert, however, that the turning point
has been reached and that this years
team will be followed by other strong
teams, because the improvement in
high school basketball throughout the
state is permanent. 1t is the result
of new gymnasiums and better coach
ing they say, and those are stable fac
tors. They will hencefOrth send reg
ularly to Minnesota the kind of pol
ished material Macmillan needs and,
once he gets that kind of material;
his basketball will not only hold its
own in the conference, but will be
proved to be the best basketball in