European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 25, f987 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary Blue Chip formula favors Indiana Syracuse is tie Only final four team with a legitimate Center Rony Sci caly. Providence if on a Roll Nevada Las vegas is one of the Best College basketball learns in recent decades. But Indi Ana Rai tour immediate or eventual first round National basketball association draft choices Steve Alford. Dean Garret t. Rick Galloway and Keith smart. And according 10 the Blue Chip formula promulgated Here annually the Cam that will win the National championship in new Orleans monday night is the one Wilh the Moil projected first round draft choices Ai predicted by Marty Blake the Aba s scouting director. The formula in t fool proof. Two years ago Vitta Nova with Only de Pinckney As an eventual first round Choice by Iho Phoenix sum stunned George town in the title game. But last year the formula reverted to form. Louisville and Duke each with three projected first rounders Kcf in the final with he cardinals winning. In addition to Indiana s four projected Blue Chip choices Syracuse and Las vegas each have two Providence one if that. But it s a funny year Blake said. You can make a Strong Case for each at the four teams that got to new  if the formula were fool proof two teams with three projected first round choices North Carolina and Pittsburgh would be going la new Orleans. But the tar heels with Kenny Smith Joe Wolf and  lost to Syracuse in the Eastern regional final and Pitt wild Jerome Lane Charles Smith and Rod Brookin lost to Oklahoma in he Western regional second round. In the heyday of John  Blake said of inc Urcla coach whose teams won 10 titles in 12years, there were maybe two other Good teams. Now there Are 20, maybe 30, Providence came within whistle of losing to Austin Petty Indiana came within a whistle of losing to leu and vegas was Down in to slave Anderson. Iowa in Iho second half Syracuse is the Only one of the four to Hove controlled its four tournament  Blake believes thai Shikaly a 6-Foomo, 240-Poundjunior who grew up in Lebanon and Greece Lias come into his own As an Aba Prospect. He s a big Tough kid Blake said. He did t play much High school basketball. He was a Little crude Umili this year. He s not a Good shooter but Syracuse gets the Ball to him where he can Dunk  other Blue Chipper is Derrick Coleman the 6-9 freshman. He s got a pro body and he s not afraid to  Las vegas in Contrail has no Center at least not by Aba standards. Armon Gilliam is 6-9, 230, a Small Power Forward who s an excellent shooter from 10, 12 fuel. And he gets up. Not Many people can Block his  was t afraid to muscle the russians last summer in the world championships. Gerald Paddio is the Shoolin rebel a great 3-Pornt shooter. Al 6-7, he s Abig guard who has quickness going to the hoop. Hell be a first Rounder next  despite the Providence upsets of Georgetown and Alabama Only Billy Donovan the friars 6-foot senior guard is a potential first round Choice. Donovan might not even be a first Rounder Blake said. But he s sure to go in the first two rounds. He s slow but pushing the Ball up the court he t Quick. And he s a real basketball  Blake described Keith smart of Indiana a 6-1 Junior As emerging As one of the two or three Best Point guards m the nation. Smart s got Speed he can shoot and he s got As much quickness As anybody including Kenny Smith he said. At 6.1, Alford is a Nice College player who can open up a on. Some people nay he not fast enough but he has quickness and he can get hit Chol off. Cilto Veay has great talk no. He s 6-6.ticcan run and jump. Garret is 6-10, he can run and  Indiana of course needs to get by Nevada Las vegas in their saturday showdown. Because of All the controversy surrounding vegas Jerry tartarian never gets the credit he de serves Blake said people say vegas does t play Tough schedule but they played enough Good teams Tare s a Good coach. Low key his players love  to come Back from 18 Down against a Good Loam like. Iowa is really a tribute to Tark and to his  is one of the Best College teams i be Ever  Tark the shark will be chewing a Towel while Bobby Knight the Indiana coach slews in his red sweater. Bobby Knight knows As much basketball As any body Blake said. But his problem is he thinks his players should know As much basketball As he does. People Are saying thai Debby will figure out a Way to Stop vegas but Bobby did t exactly figure out a Way to Stop leu. He s Lucky he s going to new  in the All big East matchup Jim Bocci of Syracuse must produce a 3-0 sweep this season of Rick i Ilino once on his Syracuse staff. Boch Cim has always been a Good coach eve though he does t have thai glow that attracts peo ple Blake said. Bui if you play a team often enough sooner or Laler somebody s going to hit a .1-Point shot to beat you and Providence has those Good 3-Point shooters. And in Rick Phi no provi Dence also has one of the great Young  the problem is Providence also has Only Oik projected Blue Chipper. But two Yean ago that s All Villa Nova had.  sports letters drastic decision do editor How dare Dodds Italy District superintendent Helen Centanni make such a drastic decision to drop High school football without first and Foremost think ing of what an Impact this would have on All of our youths a selected few participate in football she says. Our whole Community supports and looks Forward to our football season including the military troops. What s next track basketball no sports program at All just what Are our teen agers supposed to do Over Here the Icen Center has already Cut Down drastically on teens Only programs but that t another letter. Arete driving our youth into the streets and nightclubs without a Spons program and some real support be Hind it from dodos that s cd icily where they la end up. Vincnza Naples Aviano were you asked if you wanted to continue playing we weren t and we re not going to sit still while another Bennie is taken from us it s time the regional rules were changed. Give us some Competition give our youths a fighting Chance. Dawnielle Richmond Vicenza Italy worried about Clemens dear editor now you be done ill ruined my Day knowing old Roger Clemens might have 10 play a kid s game for Only