The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 26

the k.y. i.1)m:i)W jam.akv 1909 Draws Raves Murray Virden X. S3 Star Forward Earning Reputation as One of OVC's Best Saturday at Morehead as he scored 18 points in Murray's 111-78 loss, which prompted another question. How docs Virden compare Morehead with nationally ranked Kansas, which stopped Murray 72-59 on Dec. 18? "Morehead's quicker than Kansas, but Kansas is bigger and stronger on the boards," Virden observed.

"Against Kansas, it was harder for me to get my shots off. Morehead didn't pressure me that much. It just seemed like I was in a By JIM BOLUS Courltr-Journal ft Times statf writer Mumy State basketball coach Cal Luther labels him one of the most skillful performers in the talent-rich Ohio Valley Conference. His scoring average is 22.5 points a game, fourth highest in the OVC. ''One longtime Murray follower says, "He could be one of the best players we've ever had here." 'The fellow everybody's raving about at Murray is Claude Virden, a 6-foot-5' Junior forward.

The most experienced player on Murray's young team, Virden is building quite a name for himself in OVC circles, He is sinking 51 per cent of his field-goal attempts and averaging 12 rebounds a game. His consistency is reflected by if i I ft IWJin I 1 1 iim. a daze and I couldn't get started against Morehead." Virden scored 18 points in the Kansas game. The Murray star rales Morehead's two 6-7 boardmen, Lamar Green and Willie (Hobo) Jackson, as the best opponents he's faced in his career. Murray currently has a 9 3 won-lost record and has come out even in its first two ventures into OVC competition.

Virden is confident tht Murray can repeat the feat of the 19G7-68 team that was conference co-champion with East Tennessee. "The OVC's definitely stronger this year," Virden said. "There are better kids in the league, more experience than last year. "Our chances are good; at times we play good and at times we don't. But as we go along, we're learning.

As coach Luther told us, if we can win them all at home and split on the road, we'll do all right in the OVC." The 22-ycar-old Virden has done all right ever since he took up organized basketball in the ninth grade. He received his high school training under the fact that he has hit double figures in 24 straight games. Like all but one of Murray's varsity basketballers, the dexterous, agile, "Virden is an out-of-state product. How did he wind up at the Kentucky school? "Coach Luther came up to my high school, Central High in Akron, Ohio, and talked to me about Murray," Virden recalled in a recent interview. "I visited Murray and I liked what I saw.

"I had a few other offers Tennessee Tech, Arizona State, Akron and Kent State but the only trip I made was to Murray. After I saw Murray, I decided that was the school for me and I never got around to visiting any other schools." After missing the first seven games of last season with an ankle injury, Virden made the most of his opportunity in his first starting assignment, racking up 25 points against Butler. As a sophomore, he averaged 18 points and sank 85.5 per cent of his free throws in the last 17 games of the season. "The best game I've had was at More-head last year," Virden said. "I got 29 points in that game." Virden's productivity was lessened last Staff Phot Claude Virden: Murray's 51 per cent marksman AP College Basketball Toll Team Record PH.

1. UCLA (50) 10 1000 2. North Carolina 3. Santa Clara 12 0 663 4. Illinois 10-0 651 5.

Kansas 12-1 613 6. Uavioson a 7. Kentucky 8-2 291 8. St. John's 8- 9.

Villanova 8-1 343 10. New Mexico State li-o 11. LaSalle 9-1 12. Northwestern 9-1 135 U. Detroit 10-2 lol 14.

Louisville 10-1 vi 15. Duquesne 9-1 95 16. Ohio State 7-2 86 1 Notre Dame 7 18. Drake 10-1 53 19. Cincinnati 7-3 36 20.

Marquette 8-4 1 "If I could," Virden said, "I'd like to play pro ball. I'd probably be moved to a guard. I don't think I'm strong enough to play forward in the pros." There's no question that Claude Virden is strong enoughand good enoughto play forward in the OVC. Just ask Murray's foes. coach Joe Siegferth at Akron Central, averaging 19.5 points his senior season en route to earning All-City and All-State recognition.

Virden, who has two younger sisters, is carrying a average as a physical education major at Murray. Someday, he hopes to coach basketball, but not unitl he gives it a try with the pros. College Basketball Tonight KENTUCKY-OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE Bellarmine at St. Leo's, Florida. Beeg at Wilmington College, Ohio.

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