Basketball Forecast
We now come to a consideration of the winter sports, most of which, with the exception of basketball, have not begun their schedules as we go to press. Coach Lampe's boys have, to date, played four games and won them all, but the group is still not completely seasoned in the indispensable fire of court experience. Hence we can merely give you a brief forecast of the personnel of this year's team, as it looks from here. With only Eddie Leede gone from last year's aggregation, things should (in theory) be looking up, except for the fact that Leede was a host in himself and was a large part of the scoring threat. So his departure left a very big gap indeed.
The Guards—Captain Emil Hudak is back for his third season of play on the back courts, from which vantage point he should continue to combine his histrionic and set-shot abilities to the delight of the crowd and Coach Lampe alike. Emil was second high scorer for Dartmouth last year, with 271 points to his credit, and he should better that total this year. The other starting guard is Junior Bob Hustek, a driving capable floor man and ball handler but hitherto not a dangerous man through the nets. If he can develop into a real scoring threat, both on set-shots from outside and lay-ups from inside, it will help a lot. Among the other guards is Dick Buckley, who has won a letter for two years and can be very good at times; Bill Abernathy, who is also a senior letter-winner; and Kent Calhoun, a promising sophomore from Minneapolis.
The Forwards—The outstanding performer on a very good freshman team last year is Bill Biggs, who has won a starting berth at forward. This boy was also captain of his freshman football team, but gave up the gridiron sport to concentrate on his first love, basketball. Possessed of terrific speed, drive, and a push shot with either hand that is a thing of beauty, Biggs may very well be in the great tradition of Broberg, Monroe, and Leede at the forward position. It is still too soon to judge completely on this matter, but he is an outstanding prospect. The other forward is Wes Field, a 6' 4" senior, who has been a hot-and-cold player throughout his college career. When he is right, he is as good as they come, but he is not always right. If the big forward lives up to his potentialities and has a good season, he will take a great burden off the broad shoulders of Coach Lampe. Footballer Red Rowe is the other leading candidate for forward and will unquestionably play a lot of basketball this year, after he has completed his commitment with the East-West football team. Other forward candidates are Jim Ballard, a 6' 5" junior whose height gives him a great advantage and Roger Pierce, the captain of last year's freshman team, who is a strong scoring threat.
The Centers—This position has been the big weakness of Dartmouth basketball teams in recent years. As the game is now played, a very tall and aggressive center is practically mandatory, both on scoring plays and on retrieving the ball under the backboard. Coach Lampe is counting heavily this year on another sophomore for this vital pivot post. This boy is Len Hedberg, a lanky 6' 5" youngster who has the height and the latent ability to become a great center. He is a skilled ballhandler and passer and has a pivot shot under the basket that will stand the Green in good stead. If Hedberg can develop the necessary aggressiveness, he may be the answer to the perennial Dartmouth prayer. The other leading center candidate is Warren (Stretch) Mulloy, whose 6' 7" rear above all other men on the floor. A letter-winner last year, Stretch is favored by his skyscrapper physical qualities but is still somewhat lacking in finesse with the ball, both on the floor and under the basket. A third candidate who should see considerable action before he graduates is John McDonald, a burly 6' 4" 200-pounder, who played end on the football team this fall.
FIRST WINNER of the "Manners Makyth Man" award, for the football squad member best conducting himself to the advantage of the College and the team, went to Stew Young '50, senior guard.
