EXCFHNG BASKETBAL

NEW BOA

, by John Cairns UPEI's basketball _ Panthers have their third coad'l in as many seasons. rIhis time the new. face at the tq> of the bench

is that of Kevin Feighrey.

With a new season about to open, the SUN sent a reporter to talk to him. What follows is an account of the resulting interview.

J.C. — Coad'l, quite a few new faces have come into the university since your playing days here. Perhaps first you'd tell us a little about your basketball backgromd. ~

K.F. — 'Ihat is an awfully 1mg story. ‘It starts in New York, comes up to Boston, then to the Island, next to Kingston, and finally back 19 here. 'lhose are the places I've been, and it would take too long to go through each. one here.

J.C.— For those of us who do remember your playing days here, what have you been doing since?

K.F. - I was doing my Masters in Kingstcn and I started off playing with the team there, but it was a little too much to do both, so I ended up just assisting, helping out the team at Queens.

J .C. - How does it feel coaching in the same place where you were recently so successful as a player?

K.F. - You mean, 'Welccme Back, Kotter", huh? It makes it easy because I'm here. I know most of the people, and I know how things work. 'lhe adjustment time is a lot less, especially since it was so recently I was playing here,myself.

J.C. - Many people must be curious about the .answer to this next questim. I know I am. Fran what you've tasted so far, is coaching as much fun as playing?

L COMING UP H , , N E _ K.F. — No, nothing compares with playing.

I could say I don't know yet until the games

come, but I'll know when I

they do come. Coaching is as close as you can come to playing, but it ' . is just not the same thing. There are certain game situations where _ you can do things, make player substitutions and stuff like that, but once the game comes the big part of your job‘ is really over. Your job is during the week in the gym, teaching. With a player it is just the opposite. toward the games.

where his peak is.

J.C. — There are a lot

of new players on the team this year. Would you tell

us about some of them? K.F. — We had the clean sweep, twelve for twelve. Everybody is gone from last year and we hams twelve new players. I just read in "Coaching Review" that if when you talk to the press you

can't emphasize the general

excellence of your team then you should talk

about two or three players.

'lhat is what I've been doing with most everyone I've talked to.

Our big two are Larry McGee and John Gilford, our August achisitions from this summer. They are two excellent players both from East Tean State which helps. They both played together before for a couple of years. I think they are the bestltwo players we've had at the university ever. They are the ones most of our hope is riding on. Like the Yankees, we are going to be strong up the middle. Larry is the point guard and John

t; V._ ,

“TEAM

He really works 'lhat is

_ 'Nom‘u's‘ JEWELLERWS‘ m: - ‘117' K. nt Street, Charlottetown ' Phone 594-3922‘ I' ' ”

mien?

is' the centre. It is going to be a different experience for them

because they are‘nct used to carrying a whole team, and they are going to have to do it this year. 'Ihey'll play forty minutes a game hopefully, if they can last and not get in foul trouble.

The other guy we have is Jude Kel‘ly from Hamilton, Ontario. He is a really good Canadian player. I think in a couple of years he will be on the -' national team for sure.

‘Ihe fourth definite starter is our co—captain, Bill Fanning. He played with us mo years ago when we went to the nationals. He has improved a lot.

His shot is a lot better and he controls his quickness non. He used

. to have uncontrollable

speed, but now he has sort of harnessed that. He used to be like a fire engine going down a city street. Now he has turned into an ambulance. ‘He is a little more cautious, but he still has a loud siren when he comes down the court.

'lhose are the only definite starters right now. 'Ihe fifth spot we're not too sure about.

We will probably be

doing a lot of shifting in and out.

J .C. — How are your squad's prospects for the coming year? ,

K.F. ,—_'I‘he hard question! If this was any other year I'd say we would definitely be in the playoffs. I still think-we are going to make them, but it is going tobe abitofa fight. 'Jhat is mainly because mast schools are

into recruiting now. For _ I

instance, Nbunt A. and Dal have Americans playing for them this

mmum, wucuss; » mm, mm, mans, REPAIRS, ENGRAVING‘ ;

SUN, Thursday .

' Anyone has a dance once

.mw.

pa

Nov.9‘,,19§§ e 6

i

year. In the past they. usually didn't have. I just feel right now as if the immediate goal is to make the playoffs.

we get there. I know it is a cliche, but that is the way it is.

J.C. - Do you feel the guys are- prepared for

action? K.F. — I think they are innocent. 'Jhey will

think they are prepared until they get in there. Right no»; the team is optimistic and working \ hard, but once they go against guys five indies taller and thirty or forty pounds heavier, the thing is/that they don't get disCouraged and that they hang in there. . It is a long season. I think the best thing about our team is that we have twelve decent guys who get along witheach other. 'Jhat is a big thing to say in this league. Nbst other schools bring in guys who have a chip on their shoulders and think they are better than what they are playing against. 'Ileams end up having a lot 7 of disagreement. I think we are going to have twelve steady guys who

have fun together. J.C. - What other teams,

will be at the Acadia Tip—Off 'Ioimament, and how do our chances look?

K.F. - It will be our— selves, Acadia, Concordia, and Mount A. I don't really lmow what our chances are because I

‘don't know who we're _ playing yet. 'Jhey don‘t usually tell you until a few days before. ‘

J .C. — Owe the season gets underway, who do you expect tobe your toughest cmpetition?

K.F. - St. F.X., Acadia and St". Mary's will be the toughest. 'Jhey justrhave an abundance of talent, so much that if a guy gets hurt or has a‘ slump tiny don't be patient with him.- V 'Jhey dm't have to. wait. They just put Someone else in. 'Ihatgis how well off they are so they

will be the best teams. - J.C. - With a new coach

and a" host of new players the Panthers certainly

do have a changed look this season. All in all, though it should be a good. year and definitely an exciting one. Local basketball - fans have plenty to lod< forward to in the caning months.~ _ ‘