THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY oe

Howarp L. Bevis, President a

DEPARTMENT oF PuysIcAL EDUCATION
L. W. St. Joun, Director COLUMBUS

August 16, 1940

Dr. Forrest C. Allen
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear "Phog":

After the National Collegiate Basketball Tournament
last season, there was some comment to the effect that we would
be following a better procedure if we had one tournament of
eight teams, representing the eight districts of the NeCeAsAe,
play off at some good spot like Kansas City, for example,
rather than to conduct the tournament as we have been doing
heretofore through a Eastern playeoff and a Western playeoff,
followed by the final game between the winners of these two
tournaments.

I am wondering if you have any dofinite reaction as
to tho rolativo merits of the two plans, The objoction to
the prosent plan, as offored by a fow coaches, was that it
moant too much timc away from classcs. I am not suro that
this is a valid objection, because tho time away from classes
would probably bo greator, on tho wholc, if wo wero to havo
the singlo cight toam tournamont. Tho only teams that would
be forced to bo away from classos under the present plan would
be the two teams who play in the final gamo, fThore is no qucs»
tion but what a single cight team tournament would be a big
tournament, but I am pretty definitely of tho opinion that
such a tournamont would have less chanco of succecding
financially (unfortunately, wo do have to leok at this side
of tho picture) than tho plan we have had in effect.

Thoro is to be a mecting very shortly of the Executive
Committee of the National Collogiate Athlotic Association and
the matter of tho basketball tournamont will come up for dise _
cussion. I wonder if you wouldntt be kind enough to forward to
me immediately any reaction you might have concerning the tourna»
ment. It is our hope that wo can announce definite plans for
the coming N.CeaeAds Tournamont much carlier than we have been
able to do in the past. I am sure you will agreo the carlier
wo can make dofinite plans the better satisfied all coaches will
bee So wontt you please write to me at once, if you care to
registor an opinion in regard to this mattor?

ha

Very sinceroly yours,

e ¢
HeGe Olson
Chairman, NeCeAcAs Baskotball
HGOsM Tournament Committco