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University Daily Kansan Friday, March 11, 1955
Kansans Name 3 Unanimously To All-Opponent
By LOUIS BUCK Kansan Sports Writer
Burdette Halderson, 6-foot 9-inch center for the Colorado Buffaloes; Bob Jeangerard, high scoring forward for Colorado, and Tulsa's Bob Patterson, one of the leading scorers in the nation, were unanimous choices in a poll of nine Jayhawk basketballlers for an all-opponent team for the season just completed.
Thirteen men from squads met by Kansas this year were named in the poll to select an all-opponent and all-Big Seven team by the "regulars" on the squad. Other than the three mentioned the selection was varied, with the exception of Oklahoma's Lester Lane, who received seven of the nine possible votes.
On the all-opponent team, Monte Robicheaux, quick-moving guard from Rice, was voted a place on the front line with Lane. Robicheaux caused the Jayhawks considerable trouble in the double-header meeting with Rice here.
One of the first names mentioned by each player polled was Halderson, a unanimous choice for the center slot on both teams. Halderson placed high in the Big Seven scoring column plus grabbing a large share of the rebounds in this season's contest.
In the back line Patterson and Jeangerard were unanimous choices on the all-opponent squad. Jeengerard practically defeated the Jayhawks alone at Boulder, scoring 30 points and playing an outstanding floor game. Patterson was the leading Tula scoreer this season, playing well against Kansas despite the Jayhawk victory.
On the all-Big Seven team, Haldorson, Lane, and Jeangard were repeated as choices by the nine polled Jayhawks. Finishing out the five positions were Gary Thompson of Iowa State at a guard and Cyclone center-forward Chuck Duncan.
Thompson was an outstanding second period spark for the Cyclones all season, playing a good floor game and though one of the shorter men in the league at 5-10, still an exceptional rebounder.
Pacing the Cyclones with 37 points here, Duncan led his team to a 77-59 victory over the Jayhawks and set a new Iowa State scoring record. Duncan drew five votes for the all-Big Seven forward slot mainly on his scoring feats throughout the season.
Other guards receiving votes were Pachin Vicens, K-State; Jimmy Peck, Oklahoma; Norm Stewart, Missouri, and Charlie Mock, Colorado. Haldorson was the only center to place in the poll. Med Parks of Missouri and Rex Ekwall from Nebraska received votes for the forward position.
Two Advance In Prep Meet
Lawrence and Atchinson high schools advanced to the second round of the regional basketball tournament in play at Lawrence high school gymnasium.
Lawrence moved up with a 77-68 victory over Hayden, as they wiped out a one point deficit at the start going into the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Doyle Schick paced the Lion attack with 19 points.
Achison had an easier time of it,
leading all the way in their 55-44
victory over Highland Park. H. C.
Palmer led Achison with 25 points.
In tonight's play, Atchison will meet Topeka at 7:30, with the Lawrence-Leavenworth tilt following immediately after the conclusion of the first game. Tonight's winners will play Saturday night for a place in the state tournament.
Robin Roberts won 23 games in 1954, giving him the longest streak of consecutive 20-victory seasons among active pitchers at five.
By LEO FLANAGAN
Kansan Sports Writer
That farce of the American sports scene, the all-American team, is with us again. It used to be that these mythical teams were selected twice yearly, at the ends of the football and basketball seasons. Now, we are subjected to both pre-season and post-season picks.
The futility of trying to name these squids is matched by a companion bit of asininity—the conducting of polls to rate the nation's teams.
Attempting to select 11 football players as the nation's best is ridiculous, but not satisfied with this, "experts" to to the sublime trying to cite five basketball players in a similar light. They fail to realize that out of the thousands of players who participate, they can no more name the nation's best, than they can draw a square circle.
An examination of the basketball squads selected thus far this year throws some light on this foolishness. The Associated Press had on its first three teams only two players from west of the Mississippi, San Francisco's Bill Russell and St. Louis' Dick Boushka. The United Press also had but two western representatives, Russell and Santa Clara's Ken Scars.
Collier's magazine had one westerner, Russell; and Tulisa's Bob Patterson, on its 10-man squad. But what of such players as Utah's Art Bune, and Wichita's Cleo Littleton? Because they weren't named to these fictitious teams, does it mean they aren't as good as the Eastern players.
Certainly not. What it does mean is that there more are more schools in the East playing major college basketball, thus, there are more good players, but not necessarily better ones.
Also, the fact that a larger percentage of America's population lives in the eastern half of the country enables more persons to know about these good players, and thus vote for them.
But how did Russell, Boushka, Sears, and Patterson make any of these select fives? Russell made them by playing on the mythical No. 1 team in a metropolitan area. Boushka has been an outstanding star for three seasons and gained
recognition through St. Louis' playing outside its own area.
Sears was probably the best player in southern California, probably receiving the majority of votes in that section. Patterson just came into prominence this year.
Now comes the pitiful fact that the experts contradict themselves. The AP, Look, and UP teams are picked by sportswriters and broadcasters. The AP polled 323 persons, Looke polled 632, and UP gave no figures. The Collier's team was named by 324 coaches.
Yet only LaSalle's Tom Gola, Duquesne's Dick Ricketts, and Russell made all of the sportswriter-broadcaster squads. And, Look selected a 10-man team, four of whom didn't even make the AP and UP second teams.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that Russell was runner-up to Gola as UP player of the year, yet could only make Collier's second team. Also, the only first team that Indiana's Don Schlundt made was Collier's.
Considering the foregoing, it is obvious that the polls and squads are nothing but titles, serving more to the detriment of the sport than to its progress. Some drastic corrective action is in order.
Ralph Kiner, ace home run hitter of the Cleveland Indians, has competed in 1,359 major league games, of which 815 were with cellardwellers Pittsburg and Chicago.
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Coach Happy With Hustle
Mather cited the intense competition for positions as one of the chief factors in the improved spirit of the squad.
The KU football squad went through a spirited workout yesterday, which Coach Chuck Mather described as the best since he took over as head coach a year ago. Matter was pleased by the all-out effort displayed by the team and said he believed everyone was doing his best.
The team continued to work on both offense and defense in preparation for the game condition scrimage which will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Memorial stadium. The Jayhawks will not hold practice today, taking a rest after four strenuous workouts.
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IM Volleyball
FRATERNITY "A"
Beta 15-15, PiKA 0-2,
Sigma Chi 15-15, Theta Chi 6-14,
Delta Chi over PKT (forifeit).
DU 3-15-10, ATO 15-8-14.
INDEPENDENT "A"
INDEPENDENT "A"
Nu Sigma n 15-15, Battenfeld
Liahona 15-15. Stephenson 6-8.
INDEPENDENT B
AFROTC 15-15, ASME 6-4.
Newman over Schizo's (forfeit).
FRATERNITY "B
Beta 15-15, DU 6-9.
Sigma Chi 15-15, Delta Chi 2-7.
Phi Gam 15-15, SAE 5-4.
DUCK'S well-known SEA FOODS make
the perfect Lenten Dishes.
824 Vt.
Louis "Sachmo" Armstrong Saturday, March 12 Student Union BALLROOM
All School dance sponsored by IFC. Tickets on sale NOW in the Student Union. $1 per ticket