Evening star., 1952-12-04
Better Cage Season
Is Due With LaSaIIe
Rated Tops in East
BY the Assoeioted Press

by the ASSoetoted Press
NEW YORK, Dec. 4.-College
basketball. still emerging from
the black shadow cast by the fix"
scandals Of two seasons ago. is
expected to bounce back stronger
than ever, according to the
coaches and veteran observers of
the game.
The caliber of play is expected
to be greatly improved this year
with every section Of the country
abounding in good teams and in
dividual stars.
The strongest section appears
to be the Midwest. followed by the
East. Southeast. Far West and
Southwest in that order. That. of
course, is only preseason eval-
uation and subject to change.
The best Of the teams in the
East appear to be La Sale of
Philadelphia. Seton Hall of South
Orange. N. j.. Pennsylvania, Holy
Cross. Princeton and st. Francis
of Brooklyn.
Among Best in Nation.
La Sale, spanked by Tom Cola
and Norm Grekin-headS the list
in the East. Coach Ken Loeffler's
National Invitation champions. in
fact, shape up as good as any
team in the Nation, ranking with
Illinois, Kansas State and other
powerhouses. Only one regular is
missing from last years squad
that won "a and lost only five.
The 6-foot-6 Cola, as a fresh
man last year. averaged TIA points
a game and rebounded at the rate
Of Ill per contest. The 19-year-
old center is especially fast and
is a great point-maker with run
ming jump shots and long one
handlers. Grekin. a skinny 6-foot-
5 workhorse. also is an excellent
shot and fine ballhawk. He and
Cola shared the most valuable
player award in the National In
vitatlon Tournament last March.
Also back are 6-foot-5 Jackie
Moore, a fine scorer and rebound
er. and Fred Iehle, 6-foot-5, noted
for his accurate jump shots and
fine defense. Ed Altieri is slated
to replace the departed Bud Don
nelly.
La Sales chief rival for Eastern
honors is Seton Halls veteran,
power laden quintet. The Pirates
again are headed by Walter Dukes,
the 6-foot-11 center, who may be
the best big man in college ranks
today.
Averaged Over 20 Points.
Dukes averaged 20.2 points per
game last year and his rebound
average of 1877 was the second
best figure in the big college ranks.
The lanky Rochester IN. "
Negro is extremely fast despite his
height. A 440 and 880-yard track
man. Dukes has shown amazing
speed in clearing the defensive
blackboard and leading the fast
break downcourt.
Tricky Richie Regan, a driver
and playmaker. is Seton Halls
other key man. Roy Belliveau and
John LigoS are gone from last
years squad which won 25 Of %,
but the Pirates have back their
good-looking sophomore of last
season. Harry Brooks. La Sale
shaded the Pirates, 80-76. in the
National Invitation last March.
Holy Cross already is beating
the drums for Earl Markey for
All-America. Markey is good but
may yield team scoring laurels
to Togo Palazzi. The latter. g.
foot-4, 220-pound New Jersey
youth. came on strong after being
hampered by injuries in the early
part of last season. Also back are
6-foot-7l2 Jim Kelley and Ronnie
Perry, set shot ace. The fifth man
will be among Wally Suprunowicz.
Frank Kasprzak, Jim Lewis and
joey Early.
Beck Back at Penn.
Pennsylvania. with its great
star, Ernie Beck, set all kinds of
records last season but lost out
to Princeton in the Ivy League
race. Beck, a sure-f1re All-America
candidate, is back and this time
he should lead the Red and Blue
to the top. Princeton again figures
to be the team to beat.
Boston College, winner of %
out of q and conqueror of Holy
Cross, should be strong again.
Penn State has fine player in
Jesse Arnelle and may do even
better than last years 20-6 record.
Duquesne, a power in the East
last year, has lost three starting
regulars. two by graduation and
one-Jim Tucker-by suspension.
OIlIlSId Id1OCu ~. Ild dIlS1o Va
Brooklyn may be the best among
the New York City teams this
year. The Terriers have their big
three of 6-foot-8 Hank Dauben-
schmidt, 6-foot-4 Jack Walsh and
6-foot-2la Vernon Stokes return
ing as the nucleus of a fine team.
Marty Donhue and Leo Keegan
have the inside track for the other
regular jobs.
st. Johns must make up 1000
points. the total scored last year
by Bob Zawoluk. Jack Mcmahon
and Ronnie Mac cGilvray, who have
been graduated. Only Solly WAL
ker, Dick Duckett and Jim Davis
are back from the regular squad
that won Is of 80 and made the
NCAA finals. New York Univer-
sity. generally a power in the
East, was a disappointment last
year and doesn't figure to improve