PAGE FOUR
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1942
Day by day the path is getting clearer but it is still a little too early to be predicting much in the way of a bright future for the Jayhawkers. Last night they got over what many thought would be their hardest hurdle. Kansas State fell before the Crimson and Blue onslaught in a pitifully easy game.
There just wasn't any competition. Only for a five-minute stretch just after the mid-way point in the first half did the game even appear interesting. At that time K.U. had built up a 9 to 2 lead but this was quickly whittled down as Danny Howe and Larry Beaumont hit the bucket for seven points and were trailing by only a bucket.
KANSAS DEFENSE WAS OUTSTANDING
Foremost of these was the Kansas defense. In contrast with the Oklahoma game, the Jayhawkers stationed their men farther out from the basket and played more of a man-to-man defense. The basic defense still remained a stratified zone but the players were picking up their men all over the court and were following them more instead of checking off quite so much.
But Kansas put on the pressure and tallied ten points to the Aggies three in the final five minutes and the ball game was as good as over. At no time during the last half did the Wildcats ever threaten the Jayhawks and the closest the two scores came to each other was at the start of the half, nine points.
The entire game was extremely ragged throughout. Both teams shagged up and down the floor as if the game were a second-rate soccer match. There wasn't an outstanding man on the floor. There were, however, a few spots during the evening that appeared a little more lively than others.
This didn't give the Wildcats but a few seconds to take their shots and the majority of these were hurried indeed. Evidence of the effectiveness of the Kansas defense is shown in the percentage of shots made by the Aggies. Kansas State fired at the basket 71 times and connected only 9 times for a mark of 12.7 per cent.
Admittedly the Aggies were poor shots last night but the Jayhawk defense was quite instrumental in making their aim as poor as it was. Typical example was Jack Horacek, leading Aggie scorer until last week. Topeka Jack took 18 shots against the guarding of Ray Evans and potted just one of these on a one-handed quick flip shot after he had cross-courted with the ball. Danny Howe and Larry Beaumont each took 13 shots and made three goals.
Beaumont's three baskets were beautiful to watch. Two of them came on long, two-handed flip shots and the other was a dizzy one-handed shot from deep in the corner after T. P. Hunter had fouled him. Howe, on the other hand, made all of his on tip-ins and just bullied his way to the ball.
Kenny Messner, former teammate of Ralph Miller and Hunter, made one out of five shots and the other starter, Bruce Holman, made narry a bucket on his six shots. Marlo Dirks and Johnny Bortola failed to connect on four tries and George Mendenhall, John St. John, Fred Kohl, and Bill Engelland each took two shots with the latter the only one to hit, his lone goal coming one second before the final gun on a tip-in.
The Jayhawks were not too sharp with their basket eyes but came up with a respectable average of 27.1 per cent on 16 baskets out of 59 shots. John "Thin Man" Buescher was the big gun among the offensively-minded Jayhawks. Bisch connected for five buckets out of 12 shots for a mark of 41.7 per cent, which is pretty good shooting.
Next in line was Charlie Black with four out of 15 for an average of 28, per cent. Ray Evans made two set, arch shots out of eight attempts for 23 per cent. Disappointment of the evening as far as field goal shooting was concerned was Ralph Miller's showing. "Cappy" made only three buckets out of 18 attempts but this was offset somewhat by his successful sinking of seven out of eight free throws. T. P. Hunter banged in one of his two shots, Marvin Sollenberger fired away three times and hit one swisher, and Vance Hall missed his only attempt.
BUESCHER CAME THROUGH IN GRAND STYLE
Most pleasant surprise of the game was the demonstration that Johnny Buescher displayed. During the first few minutes of the game many fans were wondering just why he was in the starting line-up. It wasn't long until they were fully cognizant of the reason and it was more than one. He was bringing the ball down the court in wonderful style and his passing was as flawless as ever. But to top it all off his basket shooting was really up to snuff as he garnered 12 points. The K-State clash, along with the Missouri game, was probably Bisch's best effort of the season.
Ralph Miller played a new game last night. He had to. During the first half he took seven shots at the basket and failed to tally once. "Cappy" fully realized that this was his off night and he proceeded to feed his teammates with some of the prettiest passing that Nichols gymnasium had ever, or will ever, see. One comment heard was "Miller could probably pass better blind-folded than the entire K-State team could do in broad daylight." And it came from a K-State student! Miller's shots rolled around the ring the entire night without dropping through for him. In the final minute of the first half Cappy made a beautiful underhanded shot that dipped down into the bucket only to pop out again. Miller was there to take the rebound and laid another perfect shot onto the backboard but this also rolled in and out. Shots like this continued for the full 40 minutes but "Cappy" made up for the failure of these to drop through by playing an outstanding passing and floor game.
Kansas Whips K-State
Hopes Live In Ragged Tilt,45-26
The Jayhawkers kept alive their title hopes last night by downing the Kansas State Wildcats at Manhattan in the poorest game of the season, 45 to 26.
The contest was ragged throughout and in contrast to the thrilling, slam-bang battle played at Lawrence earlier in the year, the game last night was dull, lifeless, and methodical throughout.
Buescher Goes Good
Ralph Miller was high scorer again for the Kansans but only by benefit of the seven free throws which he dunked through the hoop. He was held scoreless from the field for 25 minutes and looped three fielders through the hoop in the remaining time to finish with 13 points. "Cappy" qualified his offensive playing by his brilliant passing and team play.
John Buescher was the true Kansas offensive star as he cashed in his chips for five buckets and two free throws. He led the Jayhawk break down the court each time and his passing was up to his usual high standards.
Charlie Black with eight points and Ray Evans with six tallies aided materially in the win as the former rebounded beautifully and the latter shone on defense.
For Kansas State Danny Howe was the offensive leader as he gathered in 10 points. Larry Beaumont, who broke his nose in a second-half collision with Charlie Black, was the sparkplug of the Aggies, however, and his charging tactics up and down the court provided the only real competition for the Jayhawks.
Kansas Scores First
Kansas broke into an early lead as Charlie Black dribbed around Kenny Messner to sink a set-up in the first half-minute of play. Johnny Buescher followed this with a sweeping, one-hander from the corner and the Jayhawks were off to the races.
Messner scored first for the Aggies on a set shot with four and one-half minutes played. Kansas took another spurt as Marvin Sollenberger was left unguarded in the corner and potted a sweet set shot.
Ralph Miller, who hadn't been hitting on his early shots, came up with one of the prettiest passes of the game when he blocked Beaumont's long shot, recovered the ball and dribbed down court to pass behind his back to Buescher, who took the sphere on up to the goal and counted two more points. Bisch made the ninth K.U. point when Messner fouled him at the ten-minute mark. Kansas led, 9 to 2.
Kansas State put on its only real display of talent at this point when Danny Howe took a rebound and made a tip-in, being fouled by Sollenberger while shooting. The free throw was good and K-State trailed 9 to 5.
Wildcats Spurt Once
Beaumont then took two long, two-handed flip shots and both crashed the netting without touching the ring. This tied the score
Kansas-45
| | G | FT | F |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Black, f | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Ballard, c | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Miller, f | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Hall, f | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bueschér, c | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Johnson, c | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Evans, g | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Hunter, g | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Sollenberger, g | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Walker, g | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals ... 16 13 15
Score at half—Kansas 21, Kansas State 12. Officials—Ted O'Sullivan, Missouri; E.C. Quigley, St. Mary's. Missed free throws—Kansas: Miller, Black 2. Kansas State: Beaumont 2, Messner 2, Howe 2, Mendenhall 1.
Kansas State----26
G FT F
Horacek, f ... 1 0 1
Bortka, f ... 0 0 2
Holman, f ... 0 0 1
Dirks, f ... 0 1 2
Kohl, f ... 0 0 1
Howe, c ... 3 4 1
Mendenhall, g ... 0 1 2
Engelland, c ... 1 1 0
Messner, g ... 1 0 1
Beaumont, g ... 3 1 2
St. John, g ... 0 0 1
Totals ... 9 8 14
at 9-all with 14 minutes having beer played in the first half.
JOHN BUESCHER
This was the last time the Aggies were ever within hailing distance of the Jayhawks as the heat started to come on from the Crimson and Blue quintet.
with nearly 15 minutes played. Ray Evans then took a high arch-shot from fairly close and T. P. Hunter followed this with a close-in one-hander.
Crowd Gives Vent to Emotions
Miller made good his two free throws on Bruce Holman's foul to score his first points of the game
Beaumont broke an Aggies cheer as he looped in an unconscious one-hander from deep in the corner after Hunter had jostled him considerably. The free throw was bad and the Aggies trailed 15 to 11.
After the floor had been cleared
Miller made good his third free throw on Marlo Dirks foul and when Beaumont fouled Hunter the crowd just stormed. Of the 2,900 people in overflowing Nichols gymnasium, a goodly portion of them let fly at the officials with programs, pencils, and whatever they had handy. This was the most violent demonstration of the evening but minor repercussions occurred several times before the game was over. After the floor had been cleared
Hunter made good his free throw and duplicated the feat 15 seconds later when Dirks fouled him. Black then hustled in for a set-up and K.U. led 20 to 11. Miller finished the Kansas scoring on a free throw after Johnny Bortka's foul and Dirks tallied the final Aggies point on Hunter's foul.
The second half was Kansas all the way. Evans started proceedings with a high, arch-shot from center court but this was matched as Jack Horacek got his only goal of the game on a quick cross-court thrust with a one-handed shot shot.
With four minutes and 25 seconds of the half elapsed, Miller sank his first field goal of the evening on a long, two-handed swisher. He followed this 25 seconds later with a typical one-handed swisher.
Black made good on a tip-in and Buescher did likewise. Howe added three points to the Aggie total as he scored on a tip-in and Hunter's foul. Howe repeated on his free throw act again as Hunter committed his fourth foul with seven and one-half minutes played.
Mendenhall fouled Miller to give "Cappy" two successful free tosses. Evans and Mendenhall each made free throws and Howe scored on a tip-in to give Kansas a 34 to 21 lead at the 10-minute mark.
Miller sank a one-hander from deep in the corner as the game continued to get rough. Mendenhall
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