Past guards shed light on present

PENN, 1978 --"Poor" Bob Weinhauer. While some college basketball coaches have enough trouble finding one quality guard to quarterback their team, the first-year Penn coach has found himself in the "predicament" this year of having four. Bobby Willis, Stan Greene, Tommy Crowley and James Salters each have been getting equal playing time of late and that's exactly the way Weinhauer looks at each member of the quartet -- as totally equal. "Each has been playing equally well and you know someone can always come in and pick up the team. It's a nice problem to have because each can play well whether they're starting or not," Weinhauer stated. Some people might contend that a situation such as the one the Quakers have at present might not be advantageous. For example, a more "stable" team with two guards playing most of each game could lead to a better sense of continuity on the whole. But the Red and Blue's success of late and the comments of some of the individuals involved serve to quash those thoughts. Crowley, who has been providing the Quakers with a tremendous spark off the bench lately with his dead-eye long-distance bombs, isn't complaining about not starting. "That doesn't bother me at all," declared the senior. "It's not who's there at the start; it's who's in at the finish. I read that somewhere and I know it's a cliche, but I believe that it's definitely true. As far as who I play with, that makes no difference to me. I believe any combination of guards on our team can and will work." Weinhauer has shown no reluctance in using Willis and Salters, the only two legitimate point guards, at the same time. It might appear such a move could inhibit Penn's offense, but Weinhauer disagreed. "Two point guards in together definitely adds to the offense because they can see what's happening all over the court," he pointed out. Willis, Penn's primary playmaker, sees other reasons why two point guards help the team. "Being in the second-guard position [shooting guard], I can concentrate on getting rebounds and playing better defense," the junior said. "I can also fast-break more because I know Salters will be bringing the ball up and I don't have to worry about that. Generally, though, I don't like to think that any guard has a specific role." Comfortable, in fact, is perhaps the best way to describe the over-all situation. Any guard combination Weinhauer has put on the court of late seems to work well together and that's not something every team in the country can boast of. This feature was written this week in January 1978. The striking resemblance to a backcourt that combines the abilities of present day Penn guards Michael Jordan, Garett Kreitz, Matt Langel and Lamar Plummer provides some perspective on the Quakers current playing style. The article originally ran under the headline "Quakers Quartet -- Separate but Equal."