Tigers Prove Class of Big Seven _
Tourney and Should Remain Tough
Last Night’s Supercharged Effort Was Extraordinary, but

in Preceding Games Missouri Displayed Over- |
All Sharpness and Know-How.

 

 

By Ep GaricH.
(A Member of The Star’s Sports Staff.)
XPERIENCE not only is
uy the best teacher, it also
- is the best grindstone
: against which to wear
off the rough spots and put a
‘high luster of excellence on an
jathletic team.

That was amply proved last

night when Missouri coasted to

{the title of the ninth annual Big
Seven pre-season basketball
;;tournament.

Admittedly Missouri was at a
‘white heat last night, hitting 51
{per cent from the field in the

first half and shooting 47.6 per
cent for the game. But even in

 

FINAL STANDIN oe
Ww. Pt

POSSSQUT Bees chcassceccieeosdireus 3
Kansas State .......c0- Rae
Iowa State .. eee
TC ORGEAUUD cy e3igcaacdsecesseaade 2
GRIGNOIIA.. 'asccecccctasacocsess a
California . eek
TORTS A oie oc cteweeee 1
WONERERG= Host ccccscsscscncted 0

TOP SCORERS.

1
-
1
2
2
2
3

 

G.
Duncan, Iowa S.....31
oO. _U.

Lane,

Stewart, M. U. 2
Jeangerard. Cock
Elstun, K, U. 20

 

i.
17
Thompson, I. §...14

 

 

Cae
. McKeen, “cal.
k, O.
7
tougher contests preceding the
finals, the Tigers looked Jike
what they are, a well-balanced,
smoothly meshing basketball
crew...

Aiding in establishi hag
gleam to the Missouri is
this line-up of experience Rob
Reiter, center, in his fourth s
son; Med Park, forward, in his
fourth season; Redford Reichert,
junior playing his second season,
jand Norm Stewart, a junior
|playing his second season. Only
|inexperienced man on the start-
ing five is Lionel Smith, a
sophomore. Available in reserve
is Gary Filbert, a 2-year letter-
man.

That plus Missouri’s practice
(in all sports) of playing tough
early season opponents has put
a patina on the Tiger team
which made it seem on a differ-
ent level of excellence than
Kansas State in the finals.

The Tigers excel in the floor
game and in passing, which is
sharp. The pass and cut and
the drive under the basket from
the sideline worked to perfec-
tion in the finals.

Anything can happen in basket-
ball and Missouri may lose a
few games (witness the loss to
Houston) but over-all the Tigers
will be mreED

pee
, /ORMOSiH ~od-I~3.4
: e
ATCO 00M OA NIE

 

 

 

 

:|sary.

343/edly led his high school team to

; |More. He is speedy, agressive, a

be soon. Smith’s injury was not
thought to be severe.

Better Days for Cyclones.

None can begrudge the sudden
emergence of Iowa State as a
power. Long the Cyclones have}
been easy targets for others in|
the conference. No longer is that!
true.

In Chuck Duncan at center
and Gary Thompson at guard
the Cyclones have two of the
best in the league. Duncan is a
letterman of last year but has
learned much since then. Only
6-5, the Cyclone post man is a
quick, agile center who is a
pleasure to watch. And he can)
move outside and pop over the}
top of the defense when neces-|}

Thompson is a real find. The
sophomore was a 3-year all.
stater in Iowa and single-hand-

the state title there as a sopho-

top shooter and far more court-
wise than most sophomores.

The Cyclones will be hard to
beat at home.

Looking at the Others.
he others in the loop

 

and Jimmy Peck, the
ers rely again on speed
nd hustle, plus Bruce Drake’s
agicianship in designing of-j}
ensive maneuvers. The Sooners|!
lack a good big man in the mid-}
dle, which will hurt. The back|
line is as well manned as any
in the league, though. Drake
uses a zone defense quite a bit
to offset the lack of rebounding
height. This gives his shorter
boys better position when the
ball hits the backboard.

Colorado—Much .-better than
they showed in the first round.
Experienced (like Missouri) and
well rounded, the Buffs will be
a contender again. Burdette
Haldorson one of the best big
men in the loop. Perhaps a little
more desire would make the dif-
ference here.

Kansas—Lots of sophomore
talent, lots of sophomore mis-
takes. The Jayhawks by mid-}
season will be another of Phog|
Allen’s hustling, worrisome,|
speedy crews, akin to last year!
but not up to ‘that level of excel-
lence. Lack a good big man in
the middle,: which likely could
keep the Jayhawks from any
big success. Next year should be
the year, with all the starters

 

returning.