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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, January 4, 1968
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Jayhawk jabber
By Mike Jones Kansan Staff Reporter
This year's Big Eight tournament must have provided the fans who love upsets great bliss. The Jayhawks' defeat by a sky high Oklahoma State team was not the only contest to come out upside down.
The Iowa State Cyclones, picked by many of the conference coaches to be a title contender, came into the tournament with a 5-2 record. They were soundly beaten three times.
Oklahoma State proved its win over KU was no fluke when it came within a last second shot of beating champion Nebraska and then beat the Colorado Buffaloes for third place.
Missouri, a team that won only three games all last season, has a fiery new coach in Norm Stewart. Stewart had the Tigers hustling as they beat Oklahoma and gave both KU and Kansas State tough games before falling behind late in the second half.
This is the time of year when all eight of the conference coaches are moaning about how close the conference race is going to be. The number of close games in the tournament indicates that for once they are right. There will be no patsy in the Big Eight this year.
As for the favorite, who can say for sure? KU was a heavy choice to repeat as champion before the tournament, but now people are beginning to wonder.
KU coach Ted Owens said after the tournament he did not think that at the present time the Jayhawks are strong enough to repeat.
"Right now we are just not as strong as many people hoped we would be at this time," Owens said.
Owens and the Jayhawks aren't about to throw in the towel, however. There were some bright spots in the Jayhawk camp.
Jo Jo White played great basketball and was awarded the most inspirational player trophy, along with being a unanimous selection for the all tournament team.
White led all scorers in the tournament, dropping in 63 points for a 21-point average. He scored 28 against Oklahoma State, a career high.
Vernon Vanoy, 6-8 center, showed signs that he may be coming around after getting a slow start because of football. He scored a season high of 14 points against Missouri.
"Vanoy missed six weeks of fundamentals and this is what he needs work on now," Owens said, "He is coming around, but you don't just step out of that football uniform and compete well."
Owens indicated sophomore forward Greg Douglas will be seeing more action after giving the Jayhawks good bench support in the tourney. Douglas came off the bench to drop in five points in the first half against Oklahoma.
Those who dislike a stereotyped style of basketball have a refresher in store Saturday night.
By Richard Lundquist
Kansan Sports Editor
Colorado's Golden Buffaloes, speedy and unpredictable, will be the opening round Big Eight Conference opponent for the KU Jayhawks. Called by KU head coach Tan Owens "the quickest team we've seen so far." Colorado opens a fourteen round main event fight to determine if KU can successfully defend its Big Eight Conference championship.
Buffs shoot at KU
"Colorado plays differently from game to game more than anybody in the league," KU assistant coach Sam Miranda said. "They use different offenses more than anybody in the league and they have been changing their starting line-up every game."
These three, all under 6-4, give Colorado "basically a three-guard offense," Miranda said. As a team last year, the Buffaloes hit 50 per cent of their field goal attempts in league play.
"One of the major problems Colorado poses is that they are an excellent shooting team," Miranda said. "In (Mike) Rebich, (Pat) Frink, and (Chuck) Williams, they have three of the best shooters in the league."
Colorado's Pat Frink
Frink, called one of the best shooters in the league by Miranda, averaged 18.8 points a game last year while hitting 46 per cent of his shots. He was an all-Big Eight selection.
"In the Big Eight tournament they played a man-to-man defense in all three games," Miranda said, "but we don't know what they will play against us."
"We will definitely have Jo Jo (White) on Frink," Miranda said. "Out front we think Jo Jo is quick enough to handle him."
"But if they move him to toward and we keep Jo Jo on him," Miranda explained, "we will lose some of our defensive pressure out front."
"In the last three years Colorado coach "Sox" Walseth has played a man-to-man, a zone, and a combination of the two against us," Miranda said.
Trying to predict what the Buffaloes will do on defense presents still another problem, according to Miranda.
Miranda said that KU's probable starters will be Bruce Sloan and Roger Bohnensiichtl at the forwards, Vernon Vanoy at center, and Rich Bradshaw and White at the guards.
Colorado, with seven lettermen back from last year's team which finished second in the conference, finished fourth in the recent Big Eight tournament.
The Buffaloes' starters will likely come from a group of Rebich, Frick, Williams, 6-4 Mike Coleman, 6-8 Ted Erfert, 6-8 Kermit McMurry, and 5-11 Gordon Tope.
KU gets $750
The Creole Foundation has made a $750 grant to the University of Kansas for use in foreign student activities.
Depends on the giant. If the giant happens to be Ford Motor Company, it can be a distinct advantage. See your placement director and make an appointment to see the man from Ford when he is here on:
February 13
SENIORS! Q thru T
"A picture is worth a thousand words"
So don't be caught speechless in the Jayhawker this spring. Make an appointment with Estes Studio before January 18.
Cost $5.50. Extra prints can be ordered.
Call VI 3-1171