19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

UCLA OF THE EAST
Sirs:
It's hard to figure out if SI has a grudge against Lefty Driesell, the University of Maryland, or both (A Lesson for the Preacher Man, Jan. 22). In the last year you have had several articles about the Terps, none of them exactly full of praise. In the issue of Jan. 3, 1972 you presented a piece ridiculing Driesell's speech patterns and Maryland's court misfortunes. Yet when the Terps won the NIT there was only a small article. And now that Maryland has lost by two points to a superb North Carolina State team in the most exciting game of the entire season, Barry McDermott has chosen to belittle Driesell before casually mentioning what transpired. I suppose I should be thankful, though. Had Maryland won I probably would have had to search for hours before realizing the report was nowhere to be found.
STEVE GAINEY
New Carrollton, Md.

Sirs:
As much as I admire Lefty Driesell and his fabulous team, I enjoyed Barry McDermott's critical and often cynical article. Lefty has a group of freewheeling players with more talent than any squad he has ever coached. He is learning to mix control with a free-lance offense without cutting into its spirit or aggressiveness.

Barry is right, the Preacher Man has uncounted nasties rooting against him. But St. Louis (site of the NCAA finals) had better be prepared for him and his boys.
JOHN L. RYMER
Bethesda, Md.

Sirs:
Thanks. It's about time North Carolina State received recognition. You might inform Lefty Driesell that there is a new " UCLA of the East"—in Raleigh, N.C.
RON MORRIS
Greeley, Colo.

TAMED HAWK
Sirs:
Concerning your article on the Chicago Black Hawks (Big Little Guy in Chi, Jan. 15), I never thought much of Keith Magnuson as a fighter, but lately he has exhibited some tendencies toward developing into a very good defenseman, without the use of his fists. I don't know what his efficiency rating is this year, but he seems to be spending fewer hours in the penalty boxes of the NHL. You did Maggie an injustice. Keith may have "forgotten how to hit people," but I think he has improved because of his bad memory.
RICHARD MURPHY
Chicago

POSTING THE GUARDS
Sirs:
If Abdul-Jabbar is the Kareem of the crop in professional basketball, then Doug Collins surely must be the Pick of college basketball. Curry Kirkpatrick's article (Ol' Pick and a Lot of Slick Comin' On, Jan. 15) was welcome recognition of a truly super ballplayer. We in central Illinois have appreciated Doug's ability to move a team—and in fact a whole community—for the past few years. His ill-fated Olympic heroics represented for us an instant replay of a style shown on numerous occasions. Perhaps it is being a bit naive to characterize Doug as a typical local boy just beginning to see what the world has to offer. In addition to his own experiences and irrespective of what others perceive, Illinois State's campus is not without cosmopolitan influences even though it is located "alongside the railroad tracks."

By the way, if Dwight Lamar is the self-proclaimed "best shooter in college basketball," how is it that Collins handled him easily in a shooting exhibition recently in New York?
BILL TOLONE
Normal, Ill.

Sirs:
Doug Collins is a great ballplayer who will surely make a fine pro. Richard Fuqua is lightning fast and can score from anywhere on the court. But there are people who have contained them. Last season Illinois State (with Collins playing the entire game) was rather soundly beaten by Murray State University. Oral Roberts was also beaten by Murray State in its only loss of the regular season, and this year Les Taylor of Murray State has held Richard Fuqua to seven points while scoring 22 in a losing (by one point) effort. Keep looking around, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. There is a lot of talent to be found.
DANIEL F. DIVIRGILIO
New York City

Sirs:
I was both pleased and disappointed with the article. I was delighted to see that Villanova's Tom Ingelsby was mentioned but displeased by the fact that he was mentioned so briefly and compared, not to Doug Collins, but to Ted Manakus of Princeton. Manakus is a fine guard but he's just not in Ingelsby's class Tom has outshone both Manakus and South Carolina's Kevin Joyce in head-to-head battles this season. He is averaging close to 25 points per game, 50% from the floor and 80% from the foul line, and he is the Wildcats' leading rebounder.
BOB MANZINGER
Warminster, Pa.

Sirs:
I very much enjoyed Curry Kirkpatrick's story. I realize it would have been impossible for him to mention all of the fine guards in the country this year and that is why he mentioned only the top seniors. But it seems that any discussion of outstanding college guards should include George Washington's supersophomore, Pat Tallent. Pat, with a 20-point average, is leading a well-balanced GW attack that has four starters scoring in double figures. He can do it all. He handed out 58 assists in 15 games and has been instrumental in turning a perennial loser into a big winner. After 15 games this year GW had won 11 and lost only four and could be headed for the NIT. Last year the Colonials were 4-11 after 15 games.