The Washington times., 1938-02-28

one star senior of the George
floor corps, and the ace of the
Buff and Blue on the hardwoods
for three seasons, bids adieu.
Take it from Coach Bill Rein.
hart, Tommy O'Brien Is the great
est captain he has ever had dur
ing his IL years of coaching foot
ball, basketball and baseball. And
that is taking in lot of sports,
and lots of players over a long
time. Reinhart coached football,
basketball and baseball at the
University of Oregon, his alma
mater, before transferring his
allegiance to the Colonial athletic
staff here.
According to Reinhart, Tommy
has blossomed into one of the
greatest basketball players I have
ever seen. I'm not saying this be-
cause he was a member of q baS-
ketbau team that I coached. Il
have seen many good boys and
have had the pleasure Of coaching
many of them, but this OBrien
beats 'em ALL"
UNCANNY SHOT
In his freshman year at George
Washington, O'Brien was headed
for stardom. Playing against
local scholastic quints and inde-
pendent teams in this territory,
the Union City, n. j., lad really
vowed" them, with his uncanny
set shots from every conceivable
corner of the court.
During his sophomore year, the
development process that made |
O'Brien a truly great player was
well underway. His method OF
handling the ball was the initial
transition observed and with it
came cool and deliberate team
work that stood out like q sore
thumb in the games he played.
Early in his Junior season,
Tommy was a finished product.
Possessing a hard-thinking noggin,
coupled with q powerful amount
of natural ability, OBrien was
really the field general OF the
great George Washington team OF |
last season.
When the Colonial captain is
out of the game it is a floundering
team that represents G.. w. Sure,
the players score points, and man
age to win games, but the team
lust doesn't look "up to snuff"
Call it ''umph," if you like.
George Washington has lost
three ball games this season and
two of the three setbacks have
occurred with OBrien riding the
mahogany because Of injury.
COSTLY INJURY
That ankle injury of oBrien's
this season was a costly one for
the Buff and Blue, otherwise,
dollars to doughnutS, George
Washington would be preparing
to capture the national intercol
legiate tourney in New York next
week. However, g.. w. hasn't
given up hope yet. There is a
possibility that should 1t defeat
Loyola tomorrow and Wednesday
it may ge" the bid.
In the Wayne University game |
at Detroit, the first battle on the
Western basketball trip, Tommy
sustained q badly twisted ankle.
He was not available for play the
following two games, and as a re-
suit George Washington loSt-to
Chicago Loyola and Toledo. It is
feared that these setbackS were
the cause Of the teams failure toI
land an invitation to the New
York tourney.
O'Brien is strictly a money
player" and can be counted upon
to deliver in a pinch. Money play
ers are needed if team must play
such strong opponents as Long
Island q. and st. Johns, Of Brook
lyn. OBrien snagged IL and 13
points, respectively, against these
crack floor brigadeS.
ALLCITY CHOICE
O'Brien is majoring in physical
education and will graduate in
June. He plans to continue with
his basketball playing, being ex-
pected to join up with the Brook
lyn Visitations, the powerful pro
feSSional court team, next winter.
His three year scoring record as
a member Of the Colonial basket
ball team, where he has been a
unanimous choice for an All-City
selection follows:
Season g. FIG. FIT. TT.
1856 ...ss.. 10 So u 193
1861. ........I. 20 81 2S lS4