_ The K.U. NEWS BUREAU

W. A. Dix, Director

UNIVERSITY OF Kansas, LAWRENCE

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Basketball Without the Center Jump
hiwonsets on both sides of this question are many and
convincing, with the result that I am unable to decide for certain
which way I prefer the game.

On the side of returning to the center jumps are the facts that:

(1) the game has been made dangerously stenuous, and
(2) a good deal of color has been os ae game.

The first reason is by far the most important, for here we
are concerned not with mm temporary injuries to some of the players,
but instead possible permanent injury to f the players. Injuries
such as twisted knees, charleyhorses, etc. are only occgsional and are
usually short lived, but the strenuous pace of the present game exposes
all the players to certain ills. (Heart treubtre abe SES G rel breakdown
in health, I imagine.) This is particularly true of high schools and

small colleges. Large universities are not feateattAilay oo
Aten hgnade frccg,

With regard to color, the elimination ‘of the center jump

¢

put : 7
has mage games on much the same S as scrimmages. The only differs-

ence is that you are playing outside competition instead of your
teammates. Just score and let the other team throw the ball in, like
kids always used to.do in sandlot games. No formality/ or uncertainty.
On the other side of the fence I can see the following facts;
lessened.
(1) the freakishly tall player's worth has been mak
$2) the vicious contact work around the center jump is
gone with the elimination of that play.
and there is
(3) the game is fasterpytyhitt more scoring.
Beanpole centers are nowheres near as valuable to their

teams as they were before. Although the tall man still can get rebounds

and tip the ball in or bat it wway. from the basket, he can no longer