Big Green Is Bigger Behind Palmer

While the Harvard men's basketball team was knocking off its exams, Dartmouth played a couple of nonconference teams to tune up for its visit to Briggs Cage Tuesday.

Dartmouth (10-5 overall, 3-0 Ivy) was the preseason favorite to win the Ivy League title, and the Big Green has lived up to its advance billing.

Leading Dartmouth is All-America candidate Jim Barton, who is averaging 23.8 points per game. Dartmouth's all-time leading scorer, Barton has had to shoot less this year because of 7-ft, 1-in. junior center Walter Palmer's improved play.

Palmer, who led the Ivy League in blocked shots last year, has developed into an offensive force, upping his scoring average from 6.3 points per game last year to 10.6 this year. He scored 17 points (on 8-for-9 field goal shooting) in the Big Green's 103-90 victory over the Crimson January 7 in Hanover, N.H.

"Hopefully, we've seen the coming of Walter Palmer," Dartmouth Coach Paul Cormier said. "When [Palmer and Barton] are playing well offensively, we're a tough team to beat."

Starting at Point Guard...:Unlike Ralph Sampson of the Golden State Warriors, Crimson center Fred Schernecker has no illusions about playing point guard. But that doesn't stop him from firing up three-pointers.

Schernecker, 6-ft., 7-in. tall, has hit six of 18 three-pointers this year, including at least one in the Crimson's last four contests.

As a sophomore two years ago--Schernecker took a year off to study in England--Schernecker nailed seven of 21 three-pointers.

Most of his trifectas have come when Schernecker has played the pivot in the Crimson's four-guard, one-center lineup.

"Part of our transition game sets up the shot for me trailing on the play," Schernecker said. "This year, I've tried to move inside more, and it has actually helped give me an open shot because no one is expecting it."

Although Schernecker says he will continue to put up the three-pointers, he has no dreams of trying to catch teammate Mike Gielen, the team's leading three-point shooter.

"I don't think the coaches would like that too much," Schernecker said. "I'll shoot it when I'm open."

Gielen Hits The Charts: Gielen not only leads the cagers in several statistical categories, but he is also among the Ivy League's leaders.

Gielen is listed among the top five in five different categories, and he is the league leader in four of them.

After three Ivy games, the Bowie, Md. native leads in scoring (17.3 p.p.g.), three-point field goals (11 of 22), steals (10) and assists (19). Gielen is also second in free throw percentage.