December 14, 1939. Mre Jerry Brondfield, Sports Department, NEA Service, 1200 West Srd Ste, Cleveland, Ohioe Dear lire Brondfields: I aa sorry for the deley in responding to your kind letter of the 2nd instant requesting publicity material on our basketball team this years I em enclosing seme material which has been ron tac ee hanes oe Ge ee ee eee ee i ay a Hi 7 Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Sducetion and Recreation, Varsity Basketball Coach, MAIN OFFICE NEA SERVICE 1200 WEST THIRD. ‘ST, CLEVELAND, OHIO (te) (NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION) SUPPLYING A COMPLETE DAILY FEATURE 461 EIGHTH AVENUE .. . . NEW YORK SERVICE TO NEWSPAPERS IN THE UNITED TRIBUNE TOWER: 0.0 ce ee CHICAGO STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES ... 1013 THIRTEENTH ST.,N.W. . WASHINGTON COLOR COMICS AND MAGAZINE PAGES 812-814 MISSION ST. . . . SAN FRANCISCO 1257 SO. LOS ANGELES ST. . LOS ANGELES « NEWSPICTURE SERVICE, INCLUDING 455 CRAIG ST.W. . . . .. MONTREAL SESS eee =. = Srey ABT ROOM 26, 80 BOUVERIE ST. . . . LONDON ENGRAVING, MATTING AND PRINTING. $2 RUE LE PELETIER .=. << « } RARIS Dece 2, 1939 Phog Allen Varsity Basketball Coach niversity of Kansas Dear Mr, Allen: Well, here it is ,andther basketball season again, and if you arentt too. busy I wonder if you couldn't give us another lift with a little information. We're merely roundup up some notes on how the teams shape up in every section of the country, and in conjunction therewith, we 'd appreciate it very much if you'd give us a few choice sentences on the situation in the Big Six and Missouri Valley in general. lt would help, too, if you could kist a few of the boys who are most likely to star. I realize you won't beable to go into detail..e.be as brief as you wanteeeebut of course, the more fiope you have for us, the better. Thanx muche Sincerely, j a LLof Jerry Brondifield Sports Departmenteo P.Se ¥ou might have the Kansas publicity man send us some pictures of your outstanding Kansas players if you hate them available. THE WORLD’S GREATEST NEWSPAPER FEATURE SERVICE Be Missouri Velley basketball Kansas! regulars back in action are Howard Engleman and Ralph Miller, forwards; Bob Allen, center; and Dick Harp, guard. What the Jayhawks lack this year is height. Although they are not midgets, the Kansas players are just of average height, with no giants to compare with these on other conference teams. John Kline, junior guard, is the tallest man on the squad at 6 feet 3. Kline is a rugged rebound man and usually is inserted into the Kansas lineups when the Jayhawks are up against e man 6 feet 5 inches tall or taller. Ordinarily, however, Bruce Voran, another junior, will hanitie be Dick Harp's running mte at guard. Voran is a much smoother player than Kline and is a better scorer. He is an even 6 feet tall. Engleman, a brilliant scorer, should rank high in the conference sforing race. He is a sensational one hand shot and is poison around the basket. Last year, against Oklahoma, he set a new K.U. individual scoring record of 27 points. Allen plays the "quarterback" position as it is known on his father's teams. He calls the plays on offense and starts each play. He is a beuufiful ball handler and a fine"feeder". Miller was handicapped by a “football knee" last yeaf and will be held down by the same affliction this year. Don Ebling, senior letterman, probably will alternate with Miller at forward. The first team probably will linemg up with Miller and Engleman, forwards; Allen, center; Harp and Voran, guards. The second team will be Ebling and Bruce Reid, forwards; Jack Sands, center; Kline and Bill Hogben, guards. 7 Nebraska will be strong, basing its hopes for a godd season on height and some fine sophomores. Back from last year's team are Al Randall, 6 foot 7 inch center; and Don Fitz, 6 foot 4 inch guard. A brilliant sophomore prospect is Sid Held, 6 foot 4 inch guard. Sophomores also probably will man the forward posts, as a number of good new men are available here. These include Goetz, Radtke and Grote, Iowa State which won five conference games last year and lost five, expects to be tougher this winter. Bill Bliss, big guard, was the only regular lost and sophomore additions are very promising. Bob Harris, racehorse forward; Don Beresford, forward; Al Nicholas, burly center; and Bob Menze, little guard, are the Cyclones! returning regulars. Beresford has lost his first team post to Al Budolphson, a sophomore sensation, but the other three are starters again. Basketcall | ; Coa ee, Kansas State has some of the powrest material in cage history there. The Wildcats! new coach, Jack Gardner, is starting from Hock. bodton. Ervin Reid, center, is the only regular reuirning ton last year's cellar team and the new sophomores include no exceptional prospects. Three reserves from last year, Robertson, Graham and Miller, appear likely to win starting berths. The other starter at present is Horacek, a sophomore forward. An unusual feature of the Big Six season should be the number of tienes tall. players in action. Every team in the league, eseene bucks: will have a player at least 6 feet 6 inches tall. | Missouri has a 6'7" man, Wison, and a 6'5" center, currence. Nebraska boasta a 6'7" center, Randall, and a 6'5" sophomore, Dunker, Oklahoma has a 6 foot 6 inch center, Ford. Iowa State's sophomore center, Situs tier, is 6'6" tall and Kansas State has a 6'6" sophomore. : | Kansas has its smallest team in history. The tallest men on the squad are two reserves who are 6'34" tall. Neither of these men is expected to get to play any this season. The tallest of the men playing much at all is John Kline, 6 foot 24 inch guard. Oklahoma A. & M. should have things all its owng way in the Missouri Valley conference. The Cowboys have won or shared in the con- ference championship the past four years. This year Coach Henry Iba expects to have one of his best teams. Graduation took only one regular and the sophomore crop is the best in the pthoel fa history. Regulars back are Harvey Slade and Gene Smelser, forwards ; Jesp Renick, center; and oward Doyle, guard. Renick has been moved to oa - guard where his rebounding ability pays big dividends. Taking, his place | igs at center is. Vern Schwertfeger, a O15 junior college transfer. , Se Best of the fhashy sophomores are L.G. Eggleston and: Charles Hin Scheffel, forwards; and Leroy Floyd and Bud Milliken, guards. Rezteston was a high school sensation at Walters, Okla. Basketball teams from the Missouri Valley sector will invade Madison Square Garden for the first time this year. The present season is expected to find basketbell in this section on a par with any in the countrye In the Big Six conference five strong teams will battle for the league pennant. Only Kansas State appears to be devoid of title hopes. Oklahoma and Missouri, co-champions of the Big Six last year, suffered few losses by graduation and both neve fins sophomore reinforce< ments. Consequently, the Sooners and Tigers stand a good chance of being even stronger than they were last year. Oklahoma has Jimmy MoNatt, all-Big Six Sebeeeks Herb Scheffler, rugged center; and Marvin Mesch and - Marvin Snodgrass, guards, back from last year's startle five. MeNatt and Mesch can be counted on to roll in the points and Scheffler is the best rebound man in the conference. A good scorer in his own right, Scheffler is most valuable for his ability at taking the pall off the backboard. Oliver Curtis, « 6 foot 4 inch lad, is rated the best of the Sooner Sophomores. Scheffler also is 6-4. Missouri has three regulars back to build its team arounde Foremost is John Lobsiger, captain for the second year. Lobsiger was all-Big Six eh last year and should repeat. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall, a crack scorer and a oul tak on defense. Bill Hervey, agile forward, and Blaine Currence, 6 foot 5 inch center, are the other two reguaite back. Currence developed tremendously as the season progressed las year The tall boy is an end on the Tiger football team and he will miss basketball practice until some time in Jenuary if Missouri is invited to the Orange Bowl, as expected. However Missouri has a capable alternate for Currence in Haskell Tison, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall. Tison was the first string center at the start of the season last year. He is weak on defense, but is a fine scorer, especially good on free throws. To fill the vacant spot at forward, Coach Edwards has Clay Cooper, a strong scorer. However, Cooper also is a member of the football teams Kansas will boast an all-veteran team this year, partly be= cause the Jayhewk sophomore crop is one of the poorest in history, How- ever, Coach F.C. Allen has four regulers returning, which gives him the nucleus for a fine team. ! Kansas’ regulars back in action are Howard Engleman and Ralph Miller, forwards; Bob Allen, center; and Dick Herp, guard. What the Jayhawks lack this year is heights Although they are not midgets, the Kansas players are just of average height, with no giants to compare with those on other conference teams. John Kline, junior guard, is the tallest man on the squad at 6 feet Se Kline is a rugged rebound man and usually is inserted into the Kansas lineups when the Jayhawks are up against a man 6 feet 5 inches tall or taller. Ordinarily, however, Bruce Voran, another junior, will be Dick Harp's running mate at guard. Voran is @ much smoother player than Kline and is a better scorer. He is an even 6 feet tall. Engleman, a brilliant scorer, should rank high in the confer- ence scoring race. He is a sensational one hand shot, and is poison around the basket. Last year, against Oklahoma, he set a new KeUe individual scoring record of 27 pointse Aljen plays the "quarterback" position as it is known on his father's teams, He endte the pleys on offense and starts each playe He is a beautiful ball handler and a fine "feeder". Miller was handicapped by a "football knee" last year oni wit be held down by the same affliction this year. Don Ebling, senior letter- man, probably will alternate with Miller at forward, The first team probably will line up with Miller and Engleman, forwards; Allen, center; Harp end Voran, guards. The second team will be Ebling and Bruce Reid, forwards; Jack Sands, center; Kline and Bill Hogben, guardse Nebraska will be strong, basing its hopes for a good season on height and some fine sophomores. Back from last year's team are Al Rendall, 6 foot 7 inch center; and Don Fitz, 6 foot 4 inch guard. A brilliant sopho- more prospect is Sid Held, 6 foot 4 inch guerd. Sophomores also probably will man the forward posts, ag a number of good new men are available here. These include Goetz, Radtke and Grote. _ Iowa State which won five conference games last year and lost five, expects to be tougher this winter. Bill Bliss, big guard, was the only regular lost and sophomore additions are very promising. % _ Bob Harris, racehorse forward; Don Sorcaford, forward; Al Nicho- las, burly center; and Bob Menge, little guard, are the Cyclones! return- ing regulars. Beresford has lost his first team post to Al Budolphson, a sophomore sensation, but the other three are starters again. Kansas State has sone of the poorest material in cage history there. The Wildeats' new coach, Jack Gardner, is starting from rock bottom. “he Ervin Reid, center, is the only regular returning from last ah cellar teem and the new sophomores include no exceptional prospects. Three reserves from last year, Robertson, Graham and Miller, appear likely to. : win starting berths. The other starter at present is Horecek, a sophomore forwards An unusual feature of the Big Six season should be the number of tall players in actione Every teem in the league, except Kansas, will have at least a Player 6 feet 6 inches tall. | Missouri has a 6'7" men, Tison, and a 65" center, Currencee Nebraska boasts a gtr" center, Randall, and a 65" sophomore, Dunker, Oklahoma has a 6foot 6 inch center, Fords Towa State's sophomore center, Sehneider, is 66" tall and Kansas State has a 6'6" sophomore. Kansas has its smalles team in history. The tallest men on oe. squad are two reserves who are 6433" tell. Neither of these men is ex- pected he ae to play any this teasone The tallest of the men playing much at all is John Kline, 6 foot 2§ inch guard. = Oklahoma As & Me should have things ell its own wey in the Missouri Valley conference, The Cowboys have won or shared in the sonfer= ence championship the past four years. This year Coach Henry Iba expects to have one of his best teamse Graduation ion only one regular ond the sophomore crop is the best in the school's history. 7 Regulars back are Harvey Sladé and Gene Smelser, forwards; Jess Renick, center; and Howard Doyle, guard. Renick has been moved to guard shere his rebounding ability paye big dividends, ‘Taking his place at “5+ * center if Vern Schwertfeger, a 6'5" junior college transfer. | Best of the flashy sophomores are LeG. Eggleston and Charies Scheffel, forwards; and Leroy Floyd and Bud Millikan, guards. Eggleston was a high school sensation at Walters, Oklae Hae Hi fle i i g'sthsas'; 3 Cc. 126 pounds—Lee Mills, M. B. 135 —. Duncan, U: -. Ww. A. No. 93 A. C. 147 pounds—John Grotzinger, M. E Cc. 160 pounds—Clyde Baker, M. B. C. 175 pounds—Leon Vaughn, M.. B.C. ~ Heavyweight—Louis Shelton, M. B. C. Negro Golden Gloves Cham... pions. OPEN DIVISION, ; 132 pounds-—Charles Bush, G. A. = 118 peur nés—Alvin James, G: A. 1°43 pownds—ECwerd Miller, G, A. a po:nds — George Brie Gi "4 pounds— Thomas Hamilton, % ASG: 169 pounds—Prul Fcbbs, G. A. -175: pounds— Albert Jordon, Ga yi c. Heavyweisht—Omar Brown, G. A. .. NOVICE Be : 112 pounds—Levi rou TASC; 118 pounds—Walter Riles, i. ‘C: 126) pounds—Jewell Colbert, 5, Cc. H. . 135 pounds—Gilman Vital, G. A. C. 147 pounds—Edward Johnson, J. 0, H. 160 pounds—Charles Moore, G. A. C. 175 poundar—h, V. Vander, G A, C. NOW LISTEN, SON, GO IN THERE AND— whee, mee tase arom wd Oe (By the Associated Press.) CLEVELAND, Jan. 12.—Sonja Henie, figure skating star, termed ridiculous last night an assertion made in New York Supreme court by Dennis R. Scanlon, promoter and agent, that he saw to it judges favorable to her were appointed for the 1936 Olympic championships. “It’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard,’ declared Miss Henie, Court strategy of .the father-to-son variety is in vogue when the K. U. cagers take the floor, ‘because “Bob” Allen is the team’s quarter- back- center-forward and his father, Dr. Forrest C. (Phog) Allen, is the university’s widely- -known basketball mentor. Above Bob is shown receiving a. bit of instruction which he probably will use against Kan- sas State in the Big Six game at Lawrence tonight. Ole Ur Ui LMTCSW Ziat001 8 VA ar avavsT@d league annals. Dizzy Dean, the popoff guy with the buggywhip arm, who won more than twenty games a year for four | straight seasons. Lefty Grove, who led the American league in earned- run pitching average for nine years, won 108 games in four seasons. DiMaggio Into the Picture, Carl Hubbell, 20-plus winner for fiye successive years, probably the a a HE who is appearing in ‘an ice show here. “As a matter of fact I skated in the 1936 Olympics without even a single Norwegian judge, although there were judges from almost every other country in the event. “Scanlon is going to be in for a lot of trouble, because I’m going’ to New York next week to testify, and tell plenty. “T’m not worried, because this is just another suit.” she laughed. “I was sued for a million once, and didn’t worry.” SWIGARYT TO BUCS AGAIN. PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12.—(A. P.) —The number of Pirates in line for 1940’s baseball reached to eighteen today with the signing of 24-year-old Oadis Swigart, Archie, Mo., pitcher. Swigart was optioned to Knoxville last year, and recalled by Pittsburgh in the fall, . f National league's” ‘best. of the °30s, DiMaggio, who came with a rush late in the stretch, and may go down as No, 1 among baseball’s all- time aces. Bob Feller, Mel Ott, Red Ruffing. They were great. But, in our book, Gehrig was the man. Three times in the decade he led his league in runs batted in, and cet a record at 184 in 1931. Once, in 1934, he was batting champion. Three years ago he was voted the most valuable player. For thirteen straight years he-= scored 100 or more runs. Thirteen years he hit for 300 or more total bases. Thirteen seasons he batted in 100 or more runs. He hit four home runs in one game and blasted twen- ty-three homers with the _ bases | loaded. These were all records. ‘He played in seven world series, thirty-four games, with a batting average of 361, and held the rec-1, (iceman ap sina n pndinesios Jenuary 15, 1940, Mite We Te Bowen, Manager, Columbia, Missourie Dear Mire Bowens Our basketball team will leave Lawrence night, the 17th, and will arrive in Columbia et 5:15 Thursday mornings There will be twelve of us, and we will want rooms for the day. We will be going out Thursday night after the game, leaving Columbia at 10:00 peme because the boys do not want to miss their Friday classess : a ee ee Oe eee yen Sey eee te ae ee visit with youe “ith best wishes, I am Very sincerely yours, Direeter of Physical Education and Recreation, FCA sAH Varsity Basketball Coache Jamary 16, 19406. Very sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation, FCAs AT - Varsity Basketball Coach. lire We Ge Holt, Holt‘'s Cafe, Boonville, Moe Dear Mr, Holt: Thanks very much for your wire which I received this afternoune I am sorry that we will not sec you on this trip to Columbia as we are going end returning by train, The wather has beon so bad thet wo felt it best to mike the trip this way. With best wishes, I am Director of Physical Edueation and Recreation, : CLASS OF SERVICE 1201 SYMBOLS ’ = tn is a oo | _DL=Day Letter elegram or le- s m unless its de- i ( 18 8 ) ee erred character is in- LC=Deferred Cable dicated by a suitable symbol above or pre- : NLT =Cable Night Letter ceding the address. R. B. WHITE NEWCOMB CARLTON J. Cc. WILLEVER \ Ship Radiogram (i PRESIDENT CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT : Fis Tag Gas aes ee co de STANDARD TIED woe Mery your Geey 3 eae mc a aaa ae best wishes, I an Very sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education ani Recreation Varsity Basketball Coache UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE MEXICO | January cnd, Athletic Director Kansas University Lawrence, Kansas Dear Sir: The Basketball Team of The University of Mexico has in proyecto of making a goodwill tour through the East and Middle West of the United States during January and February, 1941. We would like to know if a game could be ar- ranged with your college at the time stated above. Sincerely t& as Barrfos,