Page 8/The Battalion/Wednesday, October, 16,1985 Imsc po SV^ 1 ' cANNOUNCING ... ' ’THE 1985 C$4 USTII^ TI^IP c The c Future Of^Texas TANK MCNAMARA® by Jeff Millar & Bill Hinds featuring a focus on the 1986 (gubernatorial election cDate: Tigvember 7-8,1985 Cost- $ 28.00 (includes hotel transportation) due oil °r before October^ 17,5:00p.m. -Forbore-Info Call 8451515 limW 25 people sign up begins SEPT 19 TOAT'S-APiGPsa, I^M'T IT ? A fiSAU-Y 3\& OfJt-Y TOO MORE WDfor^AUPi CAKJGOBA^TD CW2YIM6 PEC0V5.. 1 Seasoned cagers return to load Metcalfs 'basket s October Values kAV'YottCM'.i. $ 25 Sllyy!, E>r. Pit Co"'' oo' *■ °^s and fmn s ^ai. ^'WV ar" w '*' W aft c/3e r Ever^tP^y *y y^ursri ■' ( ?'^ y A °«ofc >e r !i ft) Come an.i Get It at Luther’s expires Oct. 31, 1985. 2321 So. Texas Ave. 693-4438 By BRANDON BERRY Sports Writer As this year’s edition of the Texas A&M basketball team took to the court Tuesday for the first time this season, they hoped to be stronger, smarter ana much more expensive. “Talk is cheap, but right now they’re talking tough,” A&M Coach Shelby Metcalf said of his ’85-86 team. “I’ve been impressed. We have five seniors on this team and it’s been a long time since we’ve had that many around here.” Another first in a long time is the list of returning players. Four starters return from last year’s 19-11 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) team, led by last year’s second-leading scorer and Southwest Conference Newcomer- of-the-Year Don Marbury. The one player missing from last season’s winning combination is “Downtown" Kenny Brown, who led the Aggies in scoring with his long- range snooting, before quitting the squad two days before A&M’s NIT game with New Mexico. Brown was drafted in the fifth round of the NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and later cut in training camp. “We’re basically the same team we had last year, just without Kenny,” Metcalf said. “Our biggest strength, and the one that showed up in the (NIT) tournament against New’ Mexico, is that we pound the boards. I think we’re a very physical team.” The Aggie version of “Let’s Get Physical^ has junior forward Winston Crite on the album cover. “Winston’s a pro-type athlete,” Metcalf said. “We’re moving him outside this year to give him a chance to show what he can do. “I don’t know of anybody in the NBA who has the body that he does,” he said. “The worst thing that can happen is that we move him back inside if it doesn’t work out." “Downtown” Crite and the Aggies will be tested early and often in one of the toughest non-conference schedules in A&M history. A&M opens the regular season on Nov. 19 against a Top 10 team, Ala- bama-Birmingham, in the first round of the new, preseason NIT. Toss in road games against Oral Roberts and Tennessee, a home en counter with Alcorn State and first round tournament games against Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech, and the A&M team has a challenge fit- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 7:30 p.m. ROOM 601 RUDDER, $1.50 A&M Basketball Coach Shelby Metcalf begins his 23rd season. ting ol its experience and expecta tions. “We’re starting the season earlier than we usually do,” Metcalf said. “We’re going to have to get ready earlier. It’s really too early to tell what kind of team we’re going to have, but I think we’re going to have an enjoyable team to watch.’ One problem for the Aggies this year — all eight other SWC schools will have “enjoyable” teams to watch as well. “From one to nine, there’s not a weak team in the bunch,” Metcalf said. “I know Arkansas and Houston have to be the favorites, but every one had better watch out for TCU." So where do the Aggies fit into this crowded picture? “I don’t know,” Metcalf said. “I know we’re going to have a compet itive ball club. I won’t know until we get some practice, but we don’t have any problems we can’t solve." One of the problems that surfaced in last year’s tirst round NIT loss to New Mexico was A&M’s inconsistent outside shooting without Brown. “Our cuplx>ard isn't bare,” Met calf said. "I^ist year we had two days to prepare without Kenny. (Guardi Ciary Lewis has worked extremely hard in the off-season to come all the way back from his knee surgery. He’s added an outside shot this year and he’ll push (starting point guard) T odd (Holloway) this year. “(Center) David Thompson could really help us if he comes through, He’s stronger and we really need nis shot. He’s not going to start, but he could push (starting center) Jimmie (Gilbert) before the season’s over." So, when push comes to shove, what more could the “new” Aggies hope for this season? “I guess if I had one more wish," Metcalf said, “I’d like to see (for ward) Mike Clifford start hitting his free throws.” TRI-STATE SPORTS CENTER THREE DAYS ONLY! 10%-60% OFF ENTIRE STOCK OF RUNNING, JOGGING SOFTBALL AND RACQUET SPORT SHOES IN STOCK Thursday, Friday, Saturday Oct. 17,18,19 Doors Open 9 a.m. ,