University DAILY KANSAN STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Extra march 1,1946
KU Asked to NCAA Playoff
Copyright 1946 By The Dai'y Kansan
Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, in an exclusive statement to The Daily Kansan, today accepted the play-off invitation with Oklahoma A. & M. "We will meet Mr. Iba any day in the week except Sunday," Dr. Allen declared.
Columbia, Mo. (UP)—The fifth district NCAA selection committee today asked the basketball teams of the University of Kansas and Oklahoma A. & M. college to play one game to determine which team would represent the district in the NCAA westerns in Kansas City late this month.
The committee decision to call for a play-off game was announced by George Edwards, retiring Missouri coach and committee chairman.
Telegrams asking the two top-ranking teams of the Missouri valley district to meet in the play-off were sent to Dr. Forrest C."Phog" Allen, K.U. coach and Henry Iba, Aggie mentor.
Edwards said no date nor place had been determined for the proposed play-off game, pending receipt of the answers from Iba and Allen. Late last week he said that the Kansas City municipal auditorium was unavailable.
Iba said last night at Norman, Okla., that the Aggie board of directors would meet Saturday to mkea a decision on post-season Aggie plans.
The Aggies last year represented the fifth district
in the NCAA tournament, winning the westerns at Kansas City,the finals at New York,and then copping the mythical national title with a win over the invitational tourney champion.
The Kansas team, undefeated in Big Six play this year, was enroute back to Lawrence today from Norman, Okla., after beating Oklahoma 52-45 last night. There was no doubt in the minds of sports officials here that the invitation to meet the Oklahoma A. & M. team would be accepted.
"We have no reason to fear the Aggies," Allen told the Daily Kansan in an interview earlier this week, "and we would welcome a chance to meet them again."
Kansas lost a 46-28 decision to the Aggies at the Oklahoma City All-College tournament at Christmas-time.
"We can measure up to them in every way," Allen said.
If both teams accept the invitation, there will be a block of reserved seats for students, Earl Falkenstien, athletic business manager, said today.
At the Christmas meeting of the two District 5 standout quintets, Otto Schnellbacher had just joined the squad and was not in a first-string starting berth, while Ray Evans, 1943 All-American, had yet to join the team.