Basketball '78: are number 1!'
'We All the elements of
basketball
a
team were
in the "77-'78
truly superb Ram finally displayed
season,
and the results
Fine leadership from Jiggy Williamson, awesome of rebounding from Sly Wil liams, outstanding playmaking by Stan Wright, along with an excellent all-around job by Irv Chatman and a host of others, helped the Rams pull through with their finest season of basketball in the school's history. The hoopsters amassed a classy 22-6 reg ular season record during the 197778 campaign, a year never to be for-
were
outstanding.
senior
Losses and
Clemson and
to
games led
believe that it another
rocky
skeptics
just the
was
in the
Brown
some
season
Slate
Michigan
victory against
a
ensuing
to
of
start
for URl,
fense and
"Our
nfidei
er's
the
;
confidence dividends
big
loss
in
pulled upping their
and the
key
themselves it
once
play payed
arrived.
After
Michigan State. The straight victories
to
Rams
galore were achieved by Rhody quintet last year, but no anticipated the surprising results at pre-season. Discipline and cohesiveness were the two big question marks
build
ally." Confidem
their
Milestones
didn't
off four
seasonal record to 6-2,
the
one
at
the outset of the
season.
The annual
The
Rhody quintet suffered a di.sheartening loss al Stanford. But Ihey came back one day later in their ncxl game and defealed the alw;iy,s-iough
killer schedule
San
be
Wright called
was also supposed to hindering factor. And finally, the biggest question was, 'Will Sly be academically eligible for the entire a
Francisco
part of
Somehow, the Rams managed ail those
come
another.
ning
the of
return
campaign
nine
way
lettermen,
or
begin
with five yeai
transfer
perfectly in all prising upset.
at
team
prior
URL to
the
out on
the
nothing
to
who clicked
players categories for
a
sur
Leading the offensive troops for URl the three Ws; Wright with 17 points. Williamson. 1.5. and Williams chipped in with 12 for a team that were
show 57.8% from the floor in the game.
of the
play
25 lo
were a
beating the Dons
the determined
new
under his beh vs
to
into that game and
1 shot of
West coast. All that meant
the
members. Jack Kraft, the head coach
start
going
else."
poinl underdogs
plus
in both veterans and
depth
to over
one
included
eligibility for an entire improved height and
Chatman's season,
problems,
elements at the
Key
of
l3'/i
were
Slan
victory "a pivotal proved that we
We
nyon The Rams
S7-S5,
Dons. the
our season.
up
do that. I'n
take
(
^
The time
of itself," he said.
finally
could start Kraft had all the to
be
just
of the team
a
bit
season.
had
just
wound up with
Photos
by
reasons
skeptical
in the world at
the outset
After all, the 1976-77 as a
much
potential
13-13 mark.
John DcWaele and Ga
but
came on
in
the
came
anew.
when the Rams
Their seasonal debut
November 25ih IPTAY
against Ohio
tournament.
Rhody
ousted their opponents, 81-69, led by Williamson's career high of 26 points in
a
single
game.