Returning to the Crimson front-court after a one-year absence is 6-ft., 5-in. Co-Captain Arne Duncan. The Chicago native--whose sister Sarah plays for the women hoopsters--has a career field goal percentage of .531 and a career free throw mark of .818.

"Arne still has to get back into the college basketball frame of mind," Roby says. "He is an excellent passer and will have a good year. He just has to get rid of some of the rust from not playing."

But while the Crimson gains one front-court stalwart, it loses another--at least for a while. Sophomore forward-guard Neil Phillips raised eyebrows in his freshman campaign by leading the Crimson in rebounding and minutes played and finishing second in scoring en route to garnering All-Ivy honorable mention recognition.

But Phillips doubled as wide receiver for Joe Restic's 3-7 football team this fall, and did not begin basketball practice until this past week--more than two full months after the rest of the hoopsters first took to the practice floor.

"I told Neil that he had to do what he thought was best for him," Roby says. "I'm not going to keep him from achieving what he wants to achieve."

"I told him that I would be the guy rooting for him the most [in football], but I've got 14 other people here to worry about, and I have to do what's best for the whole team," the second-year coach continued, indicating that Phillips probably will not start for some time.

Phillips--who jammed a pinky catching passes in football a few weeks back--was definitely the Crimson's brightest hope a year ago and was arguably the squad's top player overall. It will take the Germantown, Md., native a while to get his timing back and to get accustomed to his basketball teammates.

Meanwhile, junior 6-ft., 4-in. forward Kyle Dodson--who was inconsistent throughout most of the '85-'86 campaign--joins Duncan at the forward position. Dodson, who scored 19 points in the Crimson's season opener last week at Lehigh and another 14 points at Lafayette, has been a pleasant surprise as the cagers' steadiest performer in the young season.

Filling the pivot spot is 6-ft., 6-in. sophomore David Lang, who improved with each game last season and wound up averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest.

Lang--a Darien, Conn., native--was not recruited strongly, but has stepped in and grabbed the starting assignment away from junior Bill Mohler.

Mohler recorded a team-high 29 blocked shots while averaging 5.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season, but never really developed to his full potential.

"Bill is continuing to come along," Roby says,hinting that Mohler may start a few games down theroad. "He's thinner, quicker, and stronger, andhe's close to taking off--to becoming a very goodcollege player."

Also figuring to play prominent roles off thebench are sophomore guard Mike Gielen (5.8 ppg,2.3 rpg, 42 assists last year) and sophomoreforward Fred Schernecker (6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg).

With or without Phillips, the cagers will lookto achieve a greater balance and more consistencyin 1986-'87.

Roby says he intends to push the ball up thefloor and apply sustained pressure on defense inan attempt to maximize what he sees as the cagers'greatest relative strength: depth.

Versatile

"We're more versatile than a year ago, and wehave a little more quickness and more athleticability," Roby says, "so we can afford to make ita game of attrition."

Despite the Crimson's inability to win, Robyrefuses to make any excuses for the performance ofhis club. "Excuses are for those who use them," hetells his ballplayers.

For Roby and his still-young Crimson squad, therebuilding road is a long one, part of the journeycompleted, part of it still remaining