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Page 12/The BattalionAThursday, November 21,1985
Battalion File Photo
Texas A&M guard Don Marbury (3) grabs a re- the Aggies open the regular season against No. 15
bound against Houston last season. Marbury and Alabama-Birmingham tonight in The Summit.
NIT to tip-off first round
A&M faces UAB in Houston Summit
By BRANDON BERRY
Sports Writer
Two weeks ago, the Texas A&M men’s basketball
team scrimmaged against a team comprised of former
NBA players and collegiate All-Americans.
At 7 p.m., in the first round of the NIT Big Apple
Tournament in The Summit in Houston, the Aggies
will open the regular season against,No. 15 Alabama-
Birmingham, which touts present-day All-Americans
and future NBA players.
“The road sure doesn’t get any easier,” A&M Coach
Shelby Metcalf said. “Alabama-Birmingham (tonight’s
All-Star packed opponent) came within two points of
oing to the Final Four last year (in a loss to Memphis
tate).
“They run the fast break better than the Athletes In
Action (the Aggies’ All-Star scrimmage opponent).
They play good defense. They’re well-coached (by
Gene Bartow). They don’t have any weaknesses that
jump out at you.”
And UAB doesn’t lack talent.
The Blazers are led by senior guard Steve Mitchell,
who was the team’s leading scorer last year, averaging
21 points per game.
“Mitchell is a First round draft pick in the NBA,”
Metcalf said. “He has outstanding quickness. He can
penetrate and he can hit the outside shot. We’re wor
ried about getting our guys in foul trouble because of
his quickness — he should be a lot quicker than most of
the guys that guard him.”
Metcalf will start junior point guard Todd Holloway
against Mitchell and then rotate players as nepessary.
“The thing about Alabama-Birmingham that scares
me the most,” Metcalf said, “is that they won the Alaska
Shootout last year, which proves they aren’t a slow-
starting team. But we’re a little bit ahead of where we
usually are at this point in the season.”
Earlier this week, the Aggies received disappointing
but hot unexpected news that junior forwara Winston
Crite, who was drawing rave early season reviews until
spraining an ankle, will not be ready to play against
. UAB.
Former walk-on Paul Crawford, who was named the
unanimous recipient of the first annual NIT Big Apple
Tournament Scnolar Athlete Award, will replace Crite
I in the starting line-up.
“We’re really pleased with Paul,” Metcalf said. “He’s
had to make the transition from a 6-(foot)-5 post man in
high school to a small forward in college, and he’s han
dled it well. He’s smart and he’s a hard worker. The way
| we see it, he’ll only get better.”
Will the Aggies miss Crite’s presence in the starting
. line-up and under the boards?
“Oh, there’s no way we can replace Winston, ” Met-
, calf said. “Nothing against Paul, but in all of my years of
coaching, I don’t think I’ll ever have the luxury of re
placing a Winston Crite. He’s just too good an athlete,
j “The doctors say that if we win on Thursday, we
could be able to have him ready to play a little on Sun
day (against the Duke-Lamar winner in the regional fi
nals should A&M defeat UAB). I’d sure love to have
that opportunity.” ^
For A&M to near that much-needed knock of oppor
tunity, Metcalf said the Ags must do two things:
“For us to be competitive, we have to keep them
(UAB) off the boards and get back on the fast break,”
he said. “Sometimes, they may make some mistakes on
the break, but it's not because they don’t know what
they’re supposed to do or anything the other team does.
Theyjust give in to their talent.”
Going the other way on the court, UAB plays mul
tiple zones and man-to-man pressure defenses.
“They’re a lot like Arkansas defensively, but they
don’t gamble as much,” Metcalf said. “They try to score
off their defense.”
In addition to Crawford and Holloway, Metcalf will
start junior forward Mike Clifford, senior center Jim
mie Gilbert and senior guard Don Marbury, the team’s
leading scorer from last year.
“We need a good game out of Donnie,” Metcalf said.
“He’s our best player. Winston’s our best athlete and
Donnie is our best player.”
Metcalf is also hopeful to see less of the Gilbert he
saw in the first half of the AIA scrimmage — passive,
foul-prone and unable to hit the inside shot — and
more of the second half Gilbert — rebounder, scorer
and aggressor.
“That’s the Jimmie you’re going to see this season,”
Metcalf promised. “He’s been playing like that in prac
tice all along. He could be the best center in the (South
west) conference this year. He should definitely be the
best defensive center in the league.”
The Aggie bench saw considerable playing time in
the AIA scrimmage and could be a big factor against
UAB. Seniors A1 Pulliam and Gary Lewis contributed
experience and leadership, from their forward and
guard spots, down the stretch against AIA.
Meanwhile, senior center David Thompson had the
best night of his brief Aggie career with 11 points and a
more physical look to his game. Metcalf gave his own
explanation of Thompson’s recent emergence as a po
tential force under the basket.
“Just like I told the Sports Illustrated people, he’s
(Thompson) gotten over losing a loved one,” Metcalf
said. “He grew up on his parents’ dairy farm and he
had a cow that he was particularly fond of — Lucy. He’s
always had the talent, but now he’s gotten over Lucy.
Who knows how good he can be now?”
The same could be said for the Aggies.
“We’ve got a good chemistry and everyone seems
happy,” Metcalf said. “But right now, we’re undefeated.
It’s easy for them to get along now, they don’t have any
thing to fight about.
“That’s why there’s so many churches. I can remem
ber when some friends told me about a really nice
church with a congregation of 100 people. By the time I
saw it there were two churches with 50 people each.
“If people fight in churches and in big cities and
places like that, who can say what will happen in a place
as complex as College Station?”
T/te MSC V.isucil A-tti Committed
c.O'Xdia.ULij A,nv.Lt(i6 you and ijolla fr'u.o.ndA
■to attaid the, opening ofi an
exhibition ofi
idoaks by
TAiMJ Vo cents
Thursday, November 27, 79S5
MSC GoJULe/ay
7:00-8:00pm
Exhibit continues tluiough VecembeA 15,1985
1 EMILIO'S PIZZA
Free delivery
$13.34
Large 20” 2 item
PIZZA
GoodThurs., Fri., Sat., Sun.
Free delivery
„^ a , HWTT after 5 p.m.
846-TAMU No Coupon
846-8268 Necessary
• P.A. Equipment •Banjos
• Bass guitars •Amps
• Mandolins
• Sell
• Trade
• Repair
1911 S. Texas, C.S.
Acrou from the water tower
693-8698
PUTT
$250
|qj23ISE
Give someone
a tan for Christmas!
sreveN spi€U3'
Mon-F
Death W
Charles
Bronson
Buy someone you care about a
gift certificate for 5 or 10 tanning
sessions and get one FREE for
yourself!
104 Old College Main at Northgate
Walk-ins are welcome.
Call 846-9779 lor
an appointment.
‘FALL PHOTO CONTEST ’85 .
sponsored by {
MSC Camera Committee «
Nov. 23 J
Prints accepted Nov 18-22 at MSC 1st floor!
tables 10:00 a.m.-2:00a.m. J
Print size: 8x10 to 16x20
mounted on 11 x14 to 16x20 board
Entry fee: $3 00 per print
Prizes: $50 00 Best of show B&W & color,
ribbons & trophies
For more info, come by Camera Cubicle in
SPO (MSC Rm 216) for rule or call 845-1515.
i
Thought for Food for Spring!
Spring Registration is here!
A’.
BREAftf,
’AST
C/y /o fy*/* supper
& V %) X
V
dtpt 'Vs.
Well, whatever, we have a plan for you. Choose your
plan at registration and leave your dining worries with us.
Your best deal is the 7 DAY PLAN (20 meals) at
$691.72 ($2.23 per meal). This is the best buy for your
dining dollar.
But your schedule may be different. So here is another
deal. The 5 DAY PLAN (15 meals) Monday through Friday
for the non-weekender, is $644.42 ($2.68 per meal).
If you want to be even more flexible, try the ANY 12
PLAN. Choose any 12 of the 20 meals. For late risers who
still want to eat on the weekend, this plan is $625.49 ($3.36
per meal).
If you're still undecided, consider the AGGIE POINT
ACCOUNT. Eat anywhere on campus with your I.D. Card.
The AGGIE POINT ACCOUNT is a success. Look at
this bonus system for lump sum deposits.
DEPOSIT
BONUS POINTS
$150-$299
$300-$399
$400-$499
$500-$599
$600-$699
NONE
300
600
1000
1800
Some persons purchase both a board and a point plan.
ATTENTION FACULTY arid STAFF:
The AGGIE POINT ACCOUNT is now available to you
for dining anywhere on campus.
For details about the AGGIE POINT ACCOUNT call
845-5421 or 845-3005.
w,
Quality First"
Department of Food Services
TARGE1
S*l. A Sun. 2:43 5:05-7:15-1
Agnes of Q
JANE FONDA
Relax, you're nev
DETTER OF
DEAD
Battali
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