Harvard Faces Cornell Tonight, Columbia Tomorrow, Both at IAB

The Ivy League has a neat little trick of scheduling almost all League games on the weekend, so the teams waste the whole week in practice and then must reach competitive peaks--be "up" for games--on successive nights.

This is probably not a wholly desirable situation, especially for hard-pressed teams like Harvard. It's not too bad when you're Columbia or Princeton and play only one or two key games during the season. But when you're one of Floyd Wilson's boys, every game is a challenge.

Harvard emerged from its first post-exam weekend with an encouraging split, beating Brown and losing to Yale. In home games this weekend against Cornell tonight, and Columbia, tomorrow night, it could be more of the same.

Out of Reach

Nationally-ranked Columbia appears to be out of reach. The Lions have the top two scorers in the Ivies, Jim McMillan and Dave Newmark. And their big win over Princeton last Saturday, coupled with the New York Holiday Festival crown, shows them to be a poised, aggressive team.

Cornell, runnerup in the League last year, could be another story. The Big Red--biggest disappointment in the Ivies this year--comes to the IAB tonight probably missing its 6-5 high scorer, Hank South.

It was expected that South, center Walt Esdale, and Greg Morris would give Cornell enough firepower to cope with any other Ivy. But the 6-8 Esdale has been effectively neutralized by giant centers around the League, and South has been suffering with leg injuries.

Unfortunately, Harvard is not at full strength for the games. Jump-shooting forward Barth Royer, plagued earlier by a bad knee, now is suffering from mononucleosis and will not play. Royer said last night he may be able to play again by the last week of the season.

"No-Shooters"

Without the 6-6 star, Coach Floyd Wilson will be back in the old "no-shooters" bind. Chris Gallagher is one of the Ivy's top ten scorers and top five rebounders, but he won't get much offensive help.

Bobby Beller shot well against Yale, but he hasn't been consistent. Jeff Grate still doesn't have his confidence back, and Mickey Norlander hasn't been able to get loose for shots. Bob Kanuth will score from underneath, but Wilson may have to start using sophomore Jerry O'Neil again to get some points.