The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-19
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By JACK CUDDY United Press Stan CorrespOndent)

By JACK CUDDY
 United Press Stan Correspondent
 New York, March 1o - CU.P) - Terrific speed is the big feature oi wartime college basketball, accord ing to Coach Ray Meyer of Depaul'' fine team.
 Since Pearl Harbor the games pace has been stepped up nationally until now even the most conserva- tive coaches have their squads play ing at race-horse clip, Meyer said today during an interview at the Paramount Hotel.
 His Depaul Demons from Chicago rated by many experts as the country's top college quintet-meet West Virginia's Mountaineers to- night at Madison Square Garden in the quarter-finalS of the national invitation tourney. DePaul is favor ed to win the tourney.
 Why this wartime speedy?-A re- porter asked Meyer.
 Meyer, a brown-haired chap of medium build who looks young and athletic enough to be 8 member of his own team, replied: "Waiving of the freshmfan rule turned pn the speed. When first-year men - boys just out of high school - are per- mitted to play on college varsities, they try to make up in speed what they lack in experience. Young players love to run, anyway. The youngsters turned on the speed; and they did good job of it."
 Have they kept the game up to pre-War standards?
 T believe they have improved the game generally by making it more interesting for the spectators for the players by the injection of more speed and higher scoring. The teams that are good are exception ally good; however, there are not as many good teams throughout the country as there were before Pearl Harbor. This is only natural. Many colleges are short of at lent, despite the availability of freshman play CTS; and other colleges suffer im- portant player losses each season through the draft"
 Has this stepping up of speed in the college game reached its peak?
 Meyer said the peak had not been reached; and it would not be reach ed; and it would not be reached until the war ends and the fresh men rule is put into operation again by the big schools. He explained, nigh school coaches everywhere are stressing speed now = empha- sizing the forcing style of defense -patterning their play somewhat after Rhode Island States fire house game. High school scores are to the eos and 7O's. Each squad of freshment that come up seems faster than that of the year previous.
 When peace comes, most of the big schools will invoke the fresh man rule. Athletics directors of the Big Ten, for example, believe that when conditions return to normal men should confine their athletic activities to freshman teams. This gives the boys just out Of high school a chance to accustom themselves to college life without the pressure of varsity competition. It also gives more upper classmen a chance to play on the varsity.
 Tn the postwar period, coaches will be able to work with older players. They will be able to con- centrate on defenses that will put the brakes on speed until 8 happy medium is found"
 IS this increased speed bad for the cally?
 Meyer smiled and said. "no-a last pace never hurt a player who IS in good condition. And men who do not keep in good condition sell 1om last long on college teams to- lay"