Best Of The Rest

FIVE TO WATCH

There are innumerable teams from coast to coast, and beyond, that are just a left-handed guard, a rebounding forward or a good team doctor away from the Top 20. With a few breaks and a lot of hard work, any of them could move up among the best. The five that seem most likely to turn such a trick are LaSalle, Southern Illinois, Auburn, Seattle and Hawaii.

?LaSalle's hopes depend on whether it can adequately replace rugged Center Joe DiCocco, the only starter lost from last year's 18-10 team. Sweet-shooting Joe (Jelly Bean) Bryant will try, but he could be a case of willing spirit and weak flesh. He must add muscle to his 6'10", 200-pound frame and learn to throw it around underneath.

Elsewhere LaSalle is solid, particularly at forward where 20-point scorer Bill Taylor has missed double figures only twice in 53 games. A demanding schedule could keep the Explorers unranked, but they should win the new East Coast Conference and get to the NCAA playoffs. By that time, Bryant may be strong enough for Coach and Shakespearean scholar Paul Westhead to say, "It is not madness.... Bring me to the test."

?The forecast for Southern Illinois is Meri-weather. That would be 6'11" senior Joe Meriweather, a 21-point and 15-rebound per game center who, Coach Paul Lambert claims, has never been outplayed. And it is risky to disagree. Lambert was so upset by the NIT's rejection of his 19-7 Salukis last season that he threw pillows at the TV while the invitees played.

With Meriweather underneath and sophomore Mike Glenn at guard, Southern Illinois should be going places this season. SIU alumnus Walt Frazier says, "Glenn will make the people forget about me." Glenn is also a dean's list student who works with deaf children when he is not averaging 15 points per game.

?Quicker than you can say "War Eagle," Auburn has become an SEC contender. Rookie Coach Bob Davis nurtured the once lifeless Tigers to a semi-healthy 10-16 record last season, largely by recruiting Guard Eddie Johnson and Center Pepto Bolden. Johnson became the SEC's leading scorer (22 per game) and Bolden the top rebounder (12). This year's freshman class is even better.

The most impressive newcomer is 6'8" Mike Mitchell, who had 28-point and 23-rebound averages in high school. Junior Glen Moon will start at center, sending Bolden to forward to compete with Gary Redding, a proved returnee. It could end up making Pepto's life a-Bismol.

Joining Johnson in the backcourt is Wayne Bracy, Alabama's top high school player last season. One of Indiana's best, Jim Krivacs, must wait in line. It is getting to be a long one.

?Frank Oleynick is encouraging Seattle fans to recall the Elgin Baylor glory days. Baby-faced Frank can go from fiat to flat out in a twitch, an ability that earned him 25 points per game last season. Of course it helped to have Buck O'Brien, the league's top assists man, around—and it will help to have him back.