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articles : Squires Unhealthy But Talented
Squires Unhealthy But Talented
by Dan Pattison, Basketball Weekly
Back in the summer, before the ABA draft, Virginia Coach Al Bianchi was kibitzing with Kentucky Coach Hubie Brown and Indiana's Bobby Leonard about the upcoming ABA season and the Pan American tryouts at the University of Utah.
Bianchi interrupted the conversation with this question:
"What if Denver decides to take Marvin Webster over David Thompson in the draft? That's something to think about, because we're next.
"If they don't take Thompson, we're going to have to. We owe it to our fans. Maybe we can't afford him, but we've got to try. And who knows we might be able to work out a deal."
That was early June. As it turned out Denver did draft Webster instead of Thompson and the Squires jumped at Thompson.
"It was hairy for a while," Bianchi offered recently. "It was more than a calculated risk."
A "risk"? Not really, What did the Squires have to lose coming off a porous year as 15-69?
As it ended up, the Squires pulled off the top pro basketball deal of the season, Denver sending all-ABA guard Mack Calvin, starting center Mike Green and sixth-man Jan van Breda Kolff to the Squires for veteran George Irvine and the rights to Thompson.
"What if Thompson had gone to Atlanta (the Hawks had the draft rights to Webster and Thompson in the NBA) and we lose a draft choice," Bianchi wondered. "We were holding our breath when it took so long for Denver to sign David."
"It's worked out for us," Bianchi says. "I like the situation we're in right now.
"It's going to take a while for us to get to know each other. But we've got a good mixture of young and the not-so-old that gives you savvy and versatility.
"Willie Wise and Mack Calvin are veterans at 27 years old," Al continued. "Dave Twardzik and Mike Green only have a couple of years of experience and Jan van Breda Kolff has only a year behind him. These are the kids who are going to be around for a while."
Not only did the Squires consummate the deal with Denver, but they also signed Utah All-American Ticky Burden, the nation's fourth leading scorer last season, and Pittsburgh freshman Mel Bennett, a 6-7 forward with tremendous potential.
"Ticky can play," asserts Bianchi. "People say he couldn't handle the ball and get his own shot. He never had to at Utah, so he didn't. But let me assure you he can. We're happy to get him."
"We're going to be deep - much more than any time since I've been here. I like that. I like the idea of having the so-called problem of having Calvin and Twardzik in the same backcourt. Some say they can't play as a tandem. I'll tell you, it's going to be a lot more of a problem for the people we play against than it is for us."
Well, it all looked good on paper, but early on in the exhibition season it became apparent it was going to take a bit longer for everyone to get to know each other than Bianchi had anticipated.
Green went out of action in the first game with cartilage problems in his knee, and Calvin went down with a partially torn tendon in his knee. They are out until December.
"It's last season all over again," moaned Bianchi, remembering that injuries caused last year's players to miss an incredible 179 games. "Somebody around here must not be living right."
Still, there have been pleasant surprises. Johnny Neumann returned in shape and has been playing like the Johnny of old - extremely well. Burden looks as if he might give Thompson a run for Rookie of the Year honors. Gerald Govan and Rick Darnell give stability at center. Mike Jackson is trimmer but just as strong.
And then there is Wise.
"The real Willie Wise will stand up this year from day one," says Bianchi. "He couldn't turn us around late last year without help. This year he has it."
Wise agrees. "I'm extremely optimistic," he says. "We've got the ingredients to put together a real good team. I'm just looking forward to the season."
(This article appeared in a Spirits of St. Louis Official Program, November 2, 1975.)
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