KU opens basketball season tonight
By RON HANSON UDK Sports Editor KU's defending Big Eight championship basketball team begins its pre-conference schedule
tonight as it travels to Fayetteville, Ark, to play the Arkansas Razorbacks in the seasonal opener for both teams.
Following the game with Arkansas, the Jayhawks, who were 23-4 last year, will have little rest as they meet Xavier Saturday night and Ohio State next Monday. Both of these games are
Big Eight basketball coaches evaluate 1966-67 season
By JERRY KLEIN Assistant Sports Editor
The coaches of the Big Eight basketball teams were asked to forecast the season.
The following is thier insight into how the season will turn out.
NEBRASKA, Coach Joe Cipriano. 6 years. W-81, L-72.
"This is the first year since I've been here that I feel there are six teams able to win the conference and Missouri is an unknown because of so many junior college transfers.
Perhaps Oklahoma State is a year away from being a challenger, but will be improved. I do think it is going to be tough to tumble the champ out of there. Kansas has a lot of good returning people and they are going to surprise. Oklahoma State, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas State all are going to be better.
KANSAS: Coach Ted Owens, 2 years W-40, L-12.
"In my six years at Kansas, I can't remember when there have been more teams with a reasonable chance to compete for the conference championship than this year. I think you'd have to say, on the basis of returning people, that Nebraska is the favorite.
At the same time, Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma and our team appear now to have the best chance to compete with Nebraska.
Experience is invaluable for a veteran team. It will be a dogfight with the possible exception of Nebraska. Everyone is improved but us. I think we will have a chance of competing in the Big Eight race."
IOWA STATE: Coach Glen Anderson. 7 years W-83, L-91.
"I think it will be terrific with five or six teams in the running for the championship. I don't want to have to name any now, but I sure can't remember when there has been this much overall balance as this year.
It will be difficult to pick out anybody. Even though Nebraska and Kansas on paper might appear stronger than the others, it will take a great team effort to win this year.
KANSAS STATE: Coach Tex Winter. 15 years W-250, L-126.
"This could really be a dogfight this year. Nebraska comes back with basically the same club that finished second last year. Kansas lost some key people, but will draw from a talented freshman team of a year ago. Colorado could be the most improved club. Iowa State will be strong. Oklahoma State and Missouri will be vastly improved. Oklahoma, with Don Sidle and Willie Rogers, has two of the finest players in the country.
Nebraska will take the role of Kansas, one of the finest teams in country last year. KU will be good but I can't see them any better."
COLORADO: Coach Russell
"Sox" Walseth. 12 years W-173,
L-122.
"It appears to me that most teams are going to be improved over last year. Kansas is probably the only one which suffered any great losses, but I'm sure they will be in contention anyway. It is true that any one of a number could win.
Over the years, I think the Big Eight has been well-balanced, but I think this year there are
more championship calibre teams than usual. It will take an exceptional team to end up in the first division this year.
MISSOURI: Coach Bob Vanat-
ta. 20 years W-345. L-164.
"It is going to be aJulu. Six of the eight teams have a chance to win the whole thing with only Oklahoma State and Missouri not counted now. But, I'll tell you Oklahoma State is going to be rough and we could be greatly improved
Kansas State is better, Iowa State is better, Colorado is better. I can't see Kansas slipping. Nebraska will be real tough and Oklahoma will improve. Actually, I can't remember when there could have been such equalization from one to eight in the Big Eight.
to be played in Allen Field House starting at 8 p.m.The three games in five days are expected to give the KU coaches a chance at finally determining a definite starting lineup.
It will be the oddest race I've ever seen. On a given night, anyone can knock one off. No doubt, the toughest in the past few years."
"The conference should be tougher than nails this year. Gosh, who isn't going to be good? With the addition of junior college help, everyone should be tough. Nebraska and Kansas have to be favored now, but Colorado has both its guards back, Pat Frink and Lynn Baker. Iowa State can also be rough."
OKLAHOMA: Coach Bob Stevens. 7 years W-65, L-110.
OKLAHOMA STATE: Coach
Henry Ivy 37 years W-724 L-279.
OKLAHOMA STATE: Coach Henry Iba, 37 years W-724, L-279. "I don't know enough about who's back and things like that. But, I'd guess you'd have to go along with Nebraska, Kansas and Kansas State. I don't know how well Colorado is and Iowa State and Oklahoma could be awfully tough."
for
As it stands now, the Jayhawks will start these five men against Arkansas: Ron Franz, forward, 6-7; Howard Arndt, forward, 6-7; Vernon Vanoy, center, 3-8; Jo-Jo White, guard, 6-3; and Bruce Sloan, guard, 6-5.
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FRANZ IS the only senior in the tentative starting lineup as all the rest of the players are sophomores. This is in stark contrast to the Jayhawks' season opener last year against Arkansas when there were four seniors in the starting lineup with Franz being the only underclassman. Last year, the mighty Hawks defeated Arkansas, 81-52, at Lawrence.
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KU head basketball coach Ted Owens said that he isn't sure if the four sophomores will continue to start after the Arkansas game, but he did say that they will continue to start until someone beats them out. The two most likely candidates to take over later on are 6-6 forward Rodger Bohnstenihl and 6-7 forward Bob Wilson. Bohnsenihl is a junior and Wilson a senior.
When the Xavier Musketeers come to Lawrence Saturday, it will mark the first time the Jayhawks have ever played them. Led by 6-11 pivot Luther Rackley, the Musketeers will be trying to better their so-so season last year when they were 13-13.
KU HAS ONLY played Ohio State once previously, and that meeting was last year when the Jayhawks defeated the Buckeyes, 81-68, at Columbus, Ohio. Last year Ohio State had an 11-13 record, its poorest since before the days when Jerry Lucas played there six years ago.
Ohio State's top player is Bill Hosket, a 6-7 junior who led the Buckeyes in scoring (18.5) and rebounding (13.1) last season.
Preceding the game with Xavier, the Kansas freshman team will meet Kansas City Junior College, and the preliminary tilt before the Ohio State contest will match the Jayhawk frosh against the KU varsity reserves. Both games will begin at 3 p.m.
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Daily Kansan
Thursday, December 1, 1966
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