March 2%, 1938 Be, 7, ¢, Alien University of Kansas a Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr, Allen: Please accept our congratulations at this late date on another of your marvelous basketball seasons, We had heard that you did not have 6us best of material to work with yet you produce regardless of material and opposition, The well known "wolves" must have died a hard death, | Your letters of congratulation have been greatly — appreciated, The past indoor season has been a fairly easy one, I only hope I can be in the same condition for the out- door season, | Right now I am hard at work on my thesis, It looks as “though it will keep me going from now until June, With my office work and the running I'm trying to do I think I'll have to borrow some time from someplace, To-night I'm leaving for the west. I'll compete in Cleveland and Chicago this Friday and Saturday then Portland, Oregon the following Friday. This trip affords me the chance to visit my folks who are now living in Idaho, Serry that I will not get to you at the Kansas Kelays, T head looked forward to seeing you:;then., Youtfre a part of the institution and it won't be quite complete without you, Best wishes for a successful coaches meeting, i $ oo — FOR 1938 EDITION CONVERSE BASKETBALL YEAR BOOK PLEASE TYPEWRITE REPORT No. Fill in completely, sign and return to Converse Rubber Company, Malden, Massachusetts Name of School Place Team Nickname State Coach Member of (League or Conference) Photograph Mailed with Data Sheet f] Photograph will be Mailed. (Date) NAMES OF PLAYERS (As they appear in Team Photograph) Second Row Bottom Row CHAMPIONSHIP WON (Please give official title of most important championship won). : BIG SIX CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GENERAL REPORT OF THE SEASON (Please write below a 50 word sketch of any interesting facts about your team, individual players, or particular games. It enables us to give your team proper credit for the season’s record.) THIS SPACE MUST BE FILLED IN SCHEDULE (opponents) THE SEASON’S SCORES Indicate Tournament Games with an (*) Opponents Your SCHEDULE Opponents Your score score (opponents). INDIVIDUAL HIGH SCORERS 1. 2. 3. Us of Okdehoma+ 38 __iowa State Colleges ___Us of Nebraskans Ue of Missouri* FINAL LEAGUE STANDING. TOTAL POINTS SCORED. Games Won_/ Lost__*~ TO THE COACH OR MANAGER How many of your first string players were Converse equipped?_____Names of other makes used How did they compare with Converse? others you may have tried, as to wear, traction, fit and comfort) (We would like your frank comparison of Converse shoes with any Signature and Title of person furnishing information (Important this be signed) CONVERSE BASKETBALL YEAR BOOK for 1937-1938 Season DATA SHEET Read Instructions Printed Below to Assure Your Team a Place in the 1938 Edition Malden, Mass. Dear Coach: We are reserving space for your team's photograph and playing record of the 1937-1938 season in the Converse Basketball Year Book. The space doesn't cost you a penny--you are not placed under the slightest obligation--and the publicity you get should prove of real help to you. ; It is possible to include in the Year Book the records and pictures of only a limited number of teams. In fairness to every basketball coach, representation in the Year Book is governed by the following conditions: l. Playing data and team picture must be sent in immediately after the close of the playing season. 2. Pictures submitted must show majority of players wearing Converse shoes. Let's have your co-operation--fill out the Data Sheet NOW and return it to us AT ONCE with your team's best photograph. Please send gloss finish photograph if possible. All Data Sheets and pictures are numbered as received. Assure yourself the best possible position in the 1938 Year Book by sending your Data Sheet and photograph right after the close of the season, | Cordially, CONVERSE RUBBER COMPANY Wallace R. Lord Editor READ CAREFULLY How to Get Your Team Listed in the New Year Book 1. Fill out Data Sheet (see reverse side). Please return AT ONCE 2. Send GROUP PHOTOGRAPH of team. Glossy-finish photo preferred 3. Do not send reproductions from program or newspaper —S 4. Send photos FLAT adequately protected by cardboard May It, 1958. i am enclosing herewith photograph and uaa Team for the 1957~S8 seasots . woh ei init oun noun asnbeiiia sheets regarding the Kanses Offense Ratio which I thought might prove te ee i? you find 44 desirable $0 use eny.or all of this data you may feel perfectly free to do sos Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, Mapetty Bachetenls Coney Converse RUBBER COMPANY Manufacturers of Rubber Products MALDEN. MASSACHUSETTS, U_S.A. May hy 1938. Coach Forrest Ce Allen, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansase Dear Coach: A few weeks ago we sent you a data sheet with the request that you have this filled out and returned together with a picture of your 1937-38 Basketball Team so that we might include it in this year's edition of the Converse Basketball Year Book. Not having heard from you we are again taking this opportunity to find out if you will be represented this season. In case the original data sheet was misplaced we are enclosing another one together with a reply card, which we would like to have you send by return mail. Trusting that you will be represented this year, we are Very truly yours, CONVERSE RUBBER COMPANY Year Book Editore WRL :HP Encls e (CONVERSE RUBBER COMPANY Manufacturers of Rubber Products a MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A. March 29, 1938 Dear Coach: Preparation of the 1947-38 edition of the Converse Basketball Yearbock is now under way, and we would like to include the picture and record of your team. This yeer marks the seventeenth season the company has published the Yearbook, and it will contain the most complete information on nation-wide basketball we have ever printed. Being represented in the Yearbook incurs absolutely .no obligation on your part, as the entire expense and free distribution is assumed by us. We sincerely hope you are able to cooperate with us, and for your convenience are enclosing a Data Sheet to fill out and send to us with the team photograph. Will you please sign the cnelosed post card so we may plan our space reservations accordingly. It requires no postage. Sincerely yours, CONVERSE RUBBLR COMPANY UWjatleee f Zork WRL:MAD Yearbook Editor Encs. P.S. - If you didn't receive last year's Yearbook, we will be glad to send one immediately. W. Ra Lew At the University of Kansas we have been using a method of comparing effectiveness of basketball teams. We use the term, “Kansas Offense Ratio", which is the number of points a team scores to each point made by opponents. Mrs We Ae Dill, Associate Professor of Journalism and Director of the News ‘Dacidinny GE the Taledebdy 0 Binion, dan devined tke dfeten of veting teckew ball teams. The “Kansas Offense Ratio" is in 6ffect a combining of offense and defense effectiveness of a team. For example, in the Big Six season just closed the best offense was shown by Oklahoma, wit a total of 456 scores in ten conference gemes. Kansas had only 408 points, and Nebraska, last year's co-champion, had 388. While Oklahoma was rumning up its score totals by rapid-fire play, opponents likewise were scoring, amassing a total of 401. in the meantime, Kansas was holding its opponents, including the fiery Okla~ homans, to a total of 329 points. Kansas’ moderate offense coupled with strong defense gave the Jayhawkers the championship (their 20th in 31 years of con ference competition), and Oklahoma took second place. When the "Kansns Offense Ratio" is applied to these figures it apyenre that. Kansas stored XeB40 pelute fer each cue an opponent ecored, while Oklahoma was making a ratio of 1.112, ‘These ratios, substantially un- changed, had prevailed throughout the season at least after several games had been played, sufficient to "give an average". The relationship between the offense vatio and conference standing is shown in the following summary of the 1938 season in the Big Six: iui In general, the offense ratio is a pretty fair index of how a team is going to figure in the team standings (on basis of games won). How- ever, the relationship is not certain, as in 1934, Oklahoma had a splendid offense ratio «+ next highest to Kansas' ratio of 1956 « but the Sooners lost some narrow margin games, and then won by wide margins, as Oklahoma 68+Kansas State 21, and Oklahoma 5SsNebraska 23. These fattened the offense ratio out of proportion to the number of games wone In the main, however, the offense ratio drops much in the same rate as the drop in team standing, and therefore the offense ratio can be taken fairly early in the season, as a basis for predicting team strength. One or two games, of course, are not enough to indicate a trend. Basketball Records 15 COMPOSITE SCORES—BIG SIX—1929-1937 Total Ia.St. Kan. K.S.C. Mo. Neb. Okla. Gs. Op. G.Pts. G.Pts. G.Pts. G.Pts. G.Pts. G.Pts. lost Pts. Ta. St. 14-588 10-552 12-529 13-628 10-598 59-2895 Kan. 4-444 2-543 9-499 5-492 6-565 26-2543 KS C 8-544 18-710 9-657 11-641 15-717 61-3269 Mo. 6-487 11-556 11-610 8-558 11-630 47-2841 Neb. 5-516 13-595 7-603 10-543 10-628 45-2885 Okla. 8-568 14-691 5-592 9-607 8-623 44-3085 Gs wn 31- 70- 35- 49- 45- 52- 282- Tl pts 2559 3140 2900 2835 2942 3138 17,514 Summary Offense W. L. Pet. Pts. OpPts. Gm.Ave. ||Ratio Ch \ / Kan. 70 26 .729 3140 2543 32.70-265 1235 6* Ok. 52 44 542 3138 3085 32.7 -322 1017 1 Mo. 49 47 510 2835 2841 205 -2096; 998 1 Neb. 45 45 .450 2942 2885 32.69-321 1.019 1* KSC35 61 364 2900 3269 302-341 £887 0 Ia. St. 31 59 344 2559 2895 282-322. 883 1 *_Inc. 1 tie for championship. ||Points to 1 for oppt. Four conference teams played 17 practice or exhibition games, which add to points and games, but do not greatly affect percentages or averages. With the added games: Kan. 80 30 .728 3554 2883 323-26-2 123 6% Okla. 52 48 520 3236 3196 323-319 101 1 Mo. 52 50 509 2996 3024 29.3-29.6 =. KSC 39 67 368 3161 3565 29.8-33.6 884 0 Team Rankings On offense—Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State. On defense—Kansas, Missouri Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Kansas State. On offense ratio—(Points to opponents’ 1)— Kansas, Ne- braska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State. 439 May 6, 1938, Major John Griffith,- The Athletic Journal, Chicago, Illes Dear lit, Griffith, . 4n article on the rating of basketball teams by Mr. Robert Db. — Mt. Union College, in the eurrent issue of the athletic Journal is of particular interest at ‘ the University of Kansas, for we have been using for several yeers, five or six, a method of comparing effectiveness of besketball teams. We use the term "offense ratio,” which is the number of points a team scores to each point made by opponents | *) The “offense ratio” is in effect a combining of offense end defense effectiveness of e team, for example, in the: Big Six season just closed, the best offense was shown by diclahona, with a total of 456 scores in-ten conference games, Kansas had _ only 406 points, and “ebraska, lest year's co-ghampions, had 383.- While Oklahoma was running up lts score totals by rapid-fire play, Opponents likewise were scoring, amassing a total of 401. In the Meantime, Kansas was holding its opponents, including the fiery Oklahomans, to a total of $29 points. Kansas* moderate offense coupled with strong defense gave the Jayhawkers the championship (their 20th in 31 years of conference competition) and Oklahoma took second place, , ee “hen the "offense ratio" ig applied to these figures, it appears that Kansas scored 1,240 points for each one an opponent scored, while Olf{lahoma was making a ratio of 1,112. These ratios substantially unehanged, had prevailed throughout the season-< throws from the playing floor, and from free throws. Yor exame ple, Dr, Allen reported to the coaches a study of ecoring in three final home conference games. Here are some of the compariscns: — Kansas made 85.9 per cent of its attempts at goals; the visiting teams, 21.2 per cent. ‘Kensas made 64,5. per cent of her at’ . free throws; ° ante. 54.5. Seventy times, Kansas recovered the ball on rebound from its own back board ; opponents recovered 51 tines: Kansas recovered rebound from opponents’ beck board 78 times; op- : nts recovered from Kansas* back board 54 times. Kansas made 1023 good passes of the ball; opponents, 607, Fumbles and held bells were about even, but the percentage of scoring and recovery of balls was reflected in the scoring: Kansas 159 points (and al three games); opponents 102 points. Yours very truly, Assoc, *rof, Journaliam and director, Ke Us News Bureatts WAD | \Neb. it BIG SIX CONFERENCE Ee Okla. Mo. Neb. Iowa S. n. Kan. S. S=< NN POS: Mo. Kan. Neb. Iowa S. Kan. S. Okla. N Wie O11 “I © fw Od “1 00 _ n NP OIDs B 3 n LR oa) Iowa S. Kan. Okla. Neb. Kan. S. Iowa S. Iowa S. Okla. Mo. Neb. Kan. S. i 029 =3.00 B9 00 RSE Bot wewaasS | Kan. Okla. KSC Mo. Iowa S. 0 Do O11 CO 1929 Ea eke 0 1.000 S zee pyeu: SOUP WHI pr COCOT EN 8 pf 300 COST HE CODD pt CODD THR RO pe TD OT UT HO pet S 3 —_ e Hl (mm g° 888333: so eo “10 00 PDO pt 0000 01 _ nN bo S 8 .200 10 .00 TP. 369 363 334 312 283 312 Pe. 381 292 262 352 318 OP. 280 299 330 339 320 236 299 312 326 L317 214 1,403 et gy .770 13 ee wage Poi ehaniia esos 4 __ offense ratio---next highest to Kansas' ratio of 1936--- but the SEES TOS SEES Veet eb apiay Oa oa Org entre In General---The offense ratio is a pretty fair index of how a team is going to figure in the team standings (on basis of games won) However, the relationship is not certain, as in 1954, Oklahoma had a splendid Sooners lost some nabro“ margin games, and then won by wide marginds, as the Oklahoma 68, Kansas State 21, or the 53-23 over Nebraska. These . fattened the offense ratio out of proportion to the nymber of games won. In the main, senever, the offense ratio drops much in the same rate as the drop in team standing, and therefore the offense ratio can be taken z fairly early in the season, as a basis for predicting team strength. One or two games, of course, are not enough to indicate a trend, but Jenuary 28, 1938 Ure Re Ce Fitoh Cox, If there is any way that I can help you either be» fore or after With every good wish, I-an Sincerely yours, FCA sa , oer of sited = : Varsity Basketball Coaches ie Noa A ao, VUneoratey Ae lM Cobhge ee es het ol eee thes (74773 & tapi — ee ae June 11, 1958. Mite We Re Lord, Converse Rubber Coa, Dear Me Lord: I find that it ie absolutely ible to cover the basketball rule changes and do it justice with five hund- WASAH | | Yaswity Paskotell Conoh. Extension of End Lino: The Netional Basketball Comittee at its annual rules session in Chicago om April 6 and 6, 1938, extended the end lines 4 feet behind the - ‘basket instead of 2 fect as the rules were last year. This is an optional change for those who desire to adopt it if their courts will pormit. Saue schools will move the basket 2 feet further in the court rather than to extend the lines 2 Beet beyon the end of the present end line. This rule should result in there being fewer out of bound balls and it will also give the driving basketball player an opportunity to play the bell without going out of bounds. , There was much discussion regarding the overcize of a 4 by 6 back» board. It was felt by many that corners should be cut off the 4 by 6 back~ board thereby pormitting many good shots at the basket by a player who | might be ina position back of the backboard. The National Rules Comittee was asked to ensoumge sone teas in playing tho eualler backboard to cee _ what effect it might have om the future games Three-Second Rule: "Tho milegwidch forbids a player to bo in Ms free throw lane for more than threo seconds is not to apply to a player who 4s in the hale of his free throw circle nearer the center provided he does not have possession of the bell. In other words, « player without the bell may stand in the outer half of his free throw cirole @adefinitely, but as soon as he gets the ball he 1s subject to the three-seconds rule. he bis tal Sauiatinn toc Sine throw line he is not in the outer half of the circle." ‘The adoption of this rule has caused and is causing much coment. However, the fact that if an offensive player is touching the free throw line he is considered not to be in the cuter half of the civeles The nudging and pushing by the pivot post player uder the old rules of four years ago will not be pemitted here ae peomuse the offensive player ds restvedned fron loosting in the free thror “By keeping the offensive player out in front of the free throw line . much of the fouling whieh heretofore existed will be eliminated. Many of the rule members voted for the rule as it 1s this year not because they bee lieved in At, but because there was a damnd by certain coaches for it. any of the coaches feel that in the future it will be necessary to have a 12 foot free throw line instead of a 6 foot free throw lines The double | post players are locatins themselves just off of the 6 foot free throw line | and many of the rule makers fear that the pushing and jeming under the old rule will bring back many of the griefs that endured at that times Tino Owt: ALY college teams may take five charged time out poriods without a penalty. There is also pormiseion granted if mutual agreement obtains be- tween the college teans to play the games in quarters. Coaches who desire nore than the five changed tine out periods my use the between quurtor periods to obtain two additional tine outs without penalty. Substitution: “Substitutions are not to be permitted in the interval following @ goal and putting the ball inte play from out of bounds unless a charged time out or time out for injury has been declared. It 40 still legal, hovever, - for either team to take a charged time out after a goal." This rule ws to tinmrt the toam making the goal fron substituting when the team that had — _ Just been scored upon rightfully had possession of the ball, and a substitution would stop their fast breals : Sump Balls "ALL jump tale mist tako place at least cix fect fran the noarest boundary lines that ic, the junp ball rule applied to the side-lines last yoar now applies elso to the endelinese" ‘This rule oqualizes all held balas near the boundary Line being brought in 6 feet fron either the end line or the sides — : AS | = Division Line Rule: “If a player in possession of the tall is touching or straddling the division line he is to be considered in the tack court regards - less of the direction fran which the ball canes to him, If he dribbles the ‘ball fran the back court, the tenssesonds count continues as long as he is touching the floor on or behind the line. If he dribbles the ball fran the front cowrt, he is considered to be in the back court as soon as he touches or straddles the linc, just as last year. If he receives a pass while touche ing or straddling the line, the foregoing applics in tho samo ways Under this now ruling thore is one fact to bear in mindt On the line is in the back courte” This now ruling definitely settles a1? past controversies regarding the direction of the player and the ball. ‘Zouching Ball: "If the tall is in the air on e try for goal when the sigual sounds to end a period, subsequent touching of the ball by a teammate of the thrower nullifies the goals but if such touching is done by a defensive player, the goal counts if made.” This rule clarifies the rules regarding ball touched by a defensive players Heretofore this was not clears Size of Ball: For players below senior high school age the minimm circunference: of the tall 4s to bo 29 inches. For older playors tho minimm cirousforense cone times to be 295 inches. The maximum cirowference for all balls is to be 30 inches instead of 30; inchese" It was folt timt a enellor ball for yomgsters would encourage better ball handlinge an5 a , : My Lng f : | ; Ie Pa iy : i i ii ae efit i i Be ii i a i it Ma rie i ‘i 4 i | al : ui ttle i sli + Ha at | CONVERSE RUBBER COMPANY i HMI ll Manufacturers of Rubber Products MALDEN. MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A. May 25, 1948 Dr. Forrest C,. Allen Director of Physical Education University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Allen: Thanks very much for sending along the picture of the 1937-38 basketball team, and also your very interesting story on the Kansas Offense Ratio. We know that this will prove very interesting to students of the game, and you may count on it receiving good position in the Yearbook. Just had a letter from Chuck Taylor today, and he wanted me to write and see if we could impose upon you for an article regarding changes in the game, caused by the new rules, the article to be about five hundred words in length. Would like to know if it would be possible for you to supply this, and if we could expect to receive it by June 10th. You have been very cooperative in the past, and it has been greatly appreciated. If you will let me know the sizes on two or three types of either basketball or other kinds of athletic footwear which you could use to good advantage, we would be mighty pleased to send them along at once. Very truly yours, CONVERSE RUBBER COMPANY WRL :MAD Yearbook Editor POSTAL TELEGRAPH Malden, Masse June 10, 1938. Dre Fe ©. Allen, Lawrence, Kansas. With reference to Mr. Lord's letter May 25, would appreciate wiring collect if possible to supply article requested. Thanks . | Chuck Taylor, Converse Rubber Company. REPLY -- Day Letter Collect Regret that commencement end summer enréliment duties have prevented me from replying Mr. Lord's letter. Express to him my sincere epology and inform him that I will be very happy to mail erticle air mail Saturday noon. Letter follows. Kindest regardse Forrest Ce Allene duly 7, 1958 who min the boys fellows FOUTS, Mite James Ce Campbell, dre, POAsAR a mi 1504 Parrish Avenue, Owensboro, Kentucky June 19th, 1938, Mr. Forrest C. Allen, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, ‘Dear Mr. Allen: For almost one month the writer has been won- déring why the great "Phog"Allen should send am auto- _ graphed copy of “Better Basketball" to a humble student of the game. My father returned recently from an ex- tended road trip and told me the complete story. While he was with Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hamilton, basketball tur- ned up in the conversation and Dad said I had played some and had been helped immeasurably by a book written by "some man out in Kansas", You can imagine his stfprise, and mine too, when he found out Mrs, Hamilton was your daughter. Yes Sir, it will be exactly ten years this coming Christmas since receiving My Basketball Bible, and if you ever have cause for signed testimonials let me state I have never read any book on sports which deals more thoroughly with the subject than yours. I sincerely thank you for your gift and remain, Most sincerely yours,