3
TUESDAY. JANUARY 18, 1951
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE. KANSAS
PAGE FIVE
Along the JAYHAWKER trail
By BOB NELSON Daily Kansan Sports Editor
Wanta bet last night's Kansas-Kansas State game wasn't for the 1951 Big Seven conference basketball championship? Well, even though it didn't look much like a championship game, we think it was probably just that.
Why? As we see the picture, last night's contest was a MUST on the Kansas schedule and the Jayhawkers just 'didn't come through with a much needed victory. However, Coach "Phog" Allen's club certainly gave the K-Staters a real scare, building up a 42 to 36 lead with six minutes remaining before "giving away the game" in the final minutes.
For the remainder of the league schedule, everything seems to be in Kansas State's favor with its biggest obstacle to the title—Kansas at Lawrence—now chalked up in the win column.
Well, here's the story to date. Kansas has played four games all at home for a 3-1 record—and
With so little to choose between Coach Gardner's Wildcats and the Allenmen, everyone a greed that the conference champs in this year's race would be decided on the road, with Kansas and Kansas State probably winning its six home games.
-KU-
Kansas State has a 3-0 mark with two of its most important wins on the road against its hoodoo opponent, Missouri, and Kansas. The Wildcats' other win was a one-sided home victory over the Iowa State Cyclones.
Kansas has only two more home games with these being against the always tough Oklahoma Sooners and up-and-down Iowa State club. The Jayhawkers' next game is with Oklahoma at Norman, Jan. 27, the first of four straight road games. Besides the Sooners, K.U. plays Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa State. And to make things still worse, K.U. has been a poor road club during the past three years. During this time, Kansas has not beaten Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas State, or Colorado.
Following the Oklahoma game, K.U. will be playing without its captain, Jerry Waugh, which will be another obstacle to overcome. Just how much his loss will hurt Kansas nobody knows, but the new starter must take over on the road.
Kansas State, on the other hand, is in the driver's seat and should be next to impossible to beat in its new fieldhouse. In fact, we can't see anyone knocking them off on the road, or they should at least post a 5-1 record.
-KU-
To remain in the championship picture, Kansas must win all its remaining eight Big Seven games with a defeat anywhere along the line probably giving the title to Kansas State outright. This must include a Kansas victory over Kansas State when the teams clash at Manhattan on Saturday, Feb. 24.
So, Jayhawkers, if you expect to win the conference title, you'd better show immediate all-around improvement and more consistent team and individual performing game-in-and-game-out.
GAME NOTES . . . Among the many visitors attending last night's game were five members of Ottawa high school's undefeated basketball team accompanied by their coach, Keith Oliver . . . The Ottawa club has won nine straight including a 53 to 51 overtime victory over Emporia high last Saturday to rank as the greatest club ever to play for the Franklin county school.
Henry "Four Man" Iba, coach of the Oklahoma A. and M. Aggies, scouted Kansas last night and must have worn out a couple of pencils taking notes on the Jayhawkers . . . He brings his club here Monday, Feb. 5, to play Kansas in its next home game . . . The Aggies, with a 15-0 record, are ranked as the nation's No. 1 team in this week's Associated Press and United Press cage polls.
When Kansas led 42 to 36 and the Wildeats called a timeout with six minutes remaining, "The Iron Duke" just sat and stared into space while the crowd was near panic . . . He could probably see visions of what big Clyde Lovellette, who had 27 points at that time, and his teammates would do to the Aggies' zone defense, which makes them the nation's number one club defensively.
Lovellette will get his first taste of iron-clad defense as exhibited by the Aggies when they meet here and later in a return game at Stillwater on March 10.
In the battle of coaches, Allen and Gardner each won one honor and tied for another last night. Each wore a flaming red necktie while "Phog" took "water-bottle" (water drinking) honors and Gardner the championship for getting off the bench the greatest number of times... We counted no less than 15 times that the very nervous Gardner got up to strut around and complain to officials.
Bradley Falters In Second Loss
New York, Jan. 16-(U.P).-The basketball stock of fast-breaking Indiana university shot higher than ever on the collegiate market today, while that of slump-ridden Bradley university dropped just as fast.
Indiana's hotfooting Hoosiers took over undisputed possession of first place in the Big Ten Monday night when they trounced former co-leader Illinois, 64 to 33, at Bloomington, Ind. Only the size of winning margin was a surprise there.
But Bradley's 70 to 65 loss to Detroit, a team that has lost eight games, was a real jolter.
Only a week ago the Bradley Braves were unbeaten and being hailed as the best basketball team in the nation. Their string of 15 wins was shattered in a one-sided 68-59 loss to St. John's last Thursday, but Bradley fans hoped their team had righted itself in a four-point win over Niagara.
point win. However, Monday night's loss even knocked the Braves out of first place in the Missouri Valley conference. They had a 65-62 lead over Detroit with three minutes left, but
buckled as the underdog Titans reeled eight straight points. Setting the Detroit pace was center Norman Swanson, who hooped 26 points.
Bradley center Elmer Behnke, outplayed by Swanson, led his team with 17 points and Gene Melchiorre had 16. The loss snapped a 25-game Braves' winning streak on their home court at Peoria, Ill., it was a measure of revenge for the Titans, who almost sprang this upset 11 days earlier when they lost to Bradley by only 69-65.
Indiana used its firehouse attack to overcome an Illinois height advantage. Leading by only 27-24 at the half, the Hoosiers fired up their fast break and ran the count to 36-24 before Illinois could break the scoring ice. By that time the game was gone for the Illini, who had been unbeaten in four previous conference games.
Shade, 5 feet, 2-inch Center Bill Garrat set the scoring pace for Indiana with 21 points, and also out-rebounded his 6-foot, 8-inch rival, Bob Peterson. Five-foot, 10-inch Sammy Miranda chipped in with 19 points, while Don Sunderlage led Illinois with 18.
INITIATION IS ALMOST HERE
It was the 10th win for Indiana, whose only loss was by two points to Bradley. Indiana is ranked fifth nationally by the United Press Board of Coaches and Bradley fourth.
BALFOUR'S
Phone 307
Don't put off buying initiation gifts. Order them now at Balfour's and be sure of having them when you want them.
Kansas and Kansas State, both previously unbeaten in Big Seven competition, clashed for the league lead at Lawrence and Kansas State emerged the winner, 47 to 43. It was the 12th victory in 14 games for the Wildcats, and only the third loss in 13 games for Kansas.
FLYING?
See
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
TRAVEL AGENCY
Phone 30
411 W.14th
from
MOSSER WOLF
MOSSER WOLF
Yes Sir! Quality
Is Our Watchword
... Quality in the products we sell and in the service we render. Bring your car in for a check-up before going home between semesters. You can feel secure in the knowledge that your car has been checked and serviced by experts.
Drive In Today!
STUDENT CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
Morgan-Mack
714 Vermont
Phone 3500