| OCR Text |
Show THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1987 PACE 9 Tipoff Tourney begins Friday Thunderbird basketball opens its collegiate competition Friday Tournament in the night with the season opening Tip-OCentrum. The two-da- y tournament begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday when Biola plays Cal State Stanislaus. The 'Birds go against West Texas State at 8:30 p.m. Students with validated I.D. cards are admitted free to the Tip-OTournament games. This will also be the case throughout the rest of the season. Additional tickets may be purchased for $5 for reserved seating and $4 for general admission. Middle school students can purchase tickets for $2. The 'Birds will meet West Texas State in the second game of opening night action. The Buffalos won 25 games last season. ''This is going to be a test of our strength," said Coach Neil Roberts. "We are going to find out how good we are fast." First year coach Mark Adams will send returning starters Charles Bird 1 senior guard) and Mark Bemote (6-- 5 senior forward) up against SUSC. California State Stanislaus will tangle with Biola University in the first game. The CSS Warriors are looking to their key returning players to advance them in a win over Biola's Eagles. The Warriors are counting on center Kevin Alexander, who was the NCAC Player of the Year in 1986-8The Eagles are a strong favorite in the tourney as they have all five of their starters ff ff (5-1- 7. BIOLA UNIVERSITY returning. Johnny Griffin (6-- 5 senior forward), Jeff Martineau (6-- 0 senior guard), Paul Jungkeit (6-- 5 senior forward), Dan Elliott (6-- 3 senior forward) and P.J. Wnek (6-- 3 junior guard) are all back in '87-8- 8. The tournament should prove to an exceptional one. There will be some very tough competition, and some very outstanding individual players participating. The Warriors come into the tournament after a strong 20-- 8 record last season wherein they tied for first place with Sonoma State in their conference. The Eagles went 29-- 9 overall for the season last year and finished at 15-- 1 in the District three Independent conference. The Buffalos finished with a 24-- 7 record last season. finished one of their finest seasons in history last The 21-- 6 record a with year The winners of the first and second game will play Saturday evening at 8:30. The consolation game tor the loser's bracket will be plaved at 6:30, immediately before the championship game. while 1C transfer Jerry Naulls awaits the outcome. Friday and Saturday evening. T -- Birds host the Tip-O- ff Tournament Roberts, a proven leader, anticipates big year for 'Birds Thunderbird basketball gets under way with the Tip-OTournament, Friday and Saturday evening in the Centrum. This season looks to be an exciting one for the Thunderbirds. The 'Birds are under the direction of new Head Coach Neil Roberts. Roberts was formerly head coach at Dixie record including College where he compiled a 199-5- 5 a 35-- 1 record in 1985 and the NJCAA Championship. "Team quickness, experience (four starters from last year's 21-- 6 team are returning this year) and offensive ability should be strong points of this season's team," said first-yecoach Roberts. "We will press, on defense, and we will fast break on offense. We have the depth and personnel to make things work." have six returning lettermen, four of The season-openin- g ff whom are returning starters. Returning starters include Michael Alexander (6-- senior guard, Skyline JC), Rhet Parsons (6-- 2 senior guaid, Snow College), Derrick Williams (6-- 3 senior guardforward, College of the Desert), and Ted Thomas (6-- 5 senior centerforward, Riverside CC). Greg Marusich (6-- 3 senior reserve guardforward, Cypress CC) and Vince Rosdanl (6-- 7 senior forwardcenter, Santa Barbara CC) will see playing time this season after one redshirt season. The 'Birds have three junior college transfers, who are expected to step in with an immediate contribution. Jerry Naulls (6-- 2 junior guard from Los Angeles Harbor College), Rob Hall (6-- 7 junior forwardcenter from Chabot Junior College) and Brian Anderson (6-- 4 sophomore guard from Utah Valley 0 Community College) are expected to provide immediate help. A less immediate contribution is expected from the three freshmen on the squad: Kary Garner (6-- 9 inside player from Dugway), Larry Shurtliff (6-- 3 forward from Enterprise) and Darrick Wilcock (6-- 7 forwardcenter from Gilbert, Ariz.) "The available talent fits very well into the style of basketball that like my teams to play," said Roberts. "There will be some adjustments with what we do and what is expected of our players, but the quality of athletes we need is certainly here." "Defense is not a concern because of our players' quickness and desire," said Roberts. "We are going to be running fairly complicated multiple defenses." I |
