Viking_Yearbook_78

Freeman's reaction was simply, "I would have enjoyed playing in front of a larger home crowd, but I guess that's the way it goes. " Apparently so, for only after exceptional performances, such as his hitting a high of 81 points in a game, did the crowds increase. Even then they appeared restless if he only averaged 31 points. It is to Freeman's credit, however, that the size of the crowds increased considerably since his start at PSU . This apparent apathy to basketball in general and, Freeman in particular did not stop at the gates but extended on into popularity polls. Pizza Hut sponsored a Basketball Classic in which eight men were nominated strictly by ballots available to any and all taking time during a game to fill them out. It is unfortunate that up until the deadline, Freeman-the nation 's leading scorer and multi-record holder-was running twelfth in an eight-man race. It was only after innumerable pleas through the physical education depart– ment and the Vanguard sports section that Freeman received enough votes to make the team . This phenomenon is due in part to the ever present apathy and Freeman himself. The "Free" has not been an easy hero to follow.From his onset at PSU, his skills have set him apart from the others on the team and the coverage he has received helped to keep him there. When the local press talked about PSU basketball they were inevitably talking'about-Freeman . Thi stype of blitz put a strain on other playerson the team who were trying just as hard, if not harder. The unforettable coaching technique of Ken Edwards did little to smooth this situation . It was hi s practice to have the others constantly feed the ball to Freeman and Edwards occasionally pulled a player for not passing t he ball when he felt the player should have. The fans were quick to notice and after two yearsof thi s– coupled with the performance of some good pl ayers who were overshadowed by Freeman 's own performances– they became sensitive to the apparent loss of team play thinking. During an awards ceremony for Freeman, City Auditor George Yerkovich , who carried a congratulatory letter from the mayor, blundered, " Portland has the world champion Trailblazers who won it with 12 team players, and now they have Freeman Williams who did on his own ." The reaction was instantaneous : boos arose from the crowd , making its feelings on this particular issue clear. Still others felt Freeman was little more than a " gunner" constantly shooting while displaying a real weakness in the area of defense. Much of these feelings were put to rest when Denny Drum, coach of the Summer University Games, said, " He may be the best all-around player we have here. He's not just a scorer. He is a fine passer and he can play team defense." Regardless of anyone's personal feelings of Freeman , he will be sorely missed during next year' s basketball season . His skills not only won PSU games but nationwide atten– tion as well. Now that Freeman has graduated , his goal is to obviously go into the pros. " Going in the first round [of the professional draft] would be a big honor for me and my family. It's something I've always wanted ." Freeman sums it all up by saying, " I just want to play bas– ketball ; make me some money." 23