Tall, Tough Springfield To Test Quintet Today

After opening its season with an effortless 100-64 waltz over Amherst, the Crimson quintet may be forced to play a little basketball at Springfield tonight.

The Maroons compiled a 17-8 record last season. Although the squad lost its two top scorers from the 1963-64, they're tough again. Wednesday night Spring-field opened its season with a 95-67 romp over Bridgeport.

Springfield's big gun tonight will probably be 6-5 sophomore forward Paul Wagner, who averaged 22.7 for the freshmen last year and led the team in rebounding. The rest of the starting lineup consists of 6-6 center Larry Buell, who averaged 7.8 last year; 6-5 forward Bob Sission; guard Al Wilson; and guard Tom Argir, last season's third leading scorer with a 9.4 average.

Although Springfield has a height advantage, that probably will not be Harvard's major problem. Amherst's front line averaged about the same as Spring-field's, and the Crimson outrebounded the Lord Jeffs, 43 to 34.

The Maroons employ a racehorse style of baseketball, and press a great deal. Since the Crimson quintet has virtually no depth, the starters may be pretty pooped by the second half. Furthermore, Springfield has the home-court advantage.

Coach Floyd Wilson will start Merle McClung, Barry Williams, Keith Sedlacek, Leo Scully and sophomore sensation Gene Dressler. The only reserves likely to see any action are forward John Scott, who looked reasonably good against Amherst, and guards Bill Fegley and Al Bornheimer.

Scoring Space

Against Amherst Wednesday the Crimson offense was phenomenal: McClung, Sedlacek, and Dressler all scored 20 points or more and the team connected on 52.5 per cent of its field goal attempts. But the defense occasionally looked shoddy; Amherst did much of its scoring by working the ball under the basket. In the first 17 minutes of play the Jeffs scored 24 points--and not one of their field goals was made from more than four feet out. This may bode ill for tonight's game.

If the Crimson can overcome disadvantages in height and manpower against a good team, it will be a good sign. Look for Harvard to win a close one, by about 90 to 84.