Friday, March 5, 1965
University Daily Kansan
Page 9
KU Faces Cowboys in Season Closer
Hank Iba's Oklahoma State Cowboys, already assured of a piece of the Big Eight Conference basketball title, can put all the marbles in one basket Saturday afternoon with a victory over its lone contender, Kansas.
The Cowboys set sail for Lawrence with a 10-2 record compared to KU's 9-4 mark and an O-State victory would give the Pokes their first outright crown since joining the league in 1958.
The OSU-KU cage rivalry is one of the most colorful in the nation. This is the 62nd game in the series that started in 1926. KU has won 33 and OSU 27. But, State's Henry Iba holds a 28-27 edge over the Jayhawks and his battles with Mr.
Oread's Phog Allen are still talked about. Of course, the first time Iba and new KU mentor Ted Owens met they promptly set a new series record! It was State's 68-64, four-overtime win in Gallagher Hall last month. This is the kind of series it is. You don't know what to expect, except you know it's going to be exciting.
Wesley Works Well in the Shadow Of Wilt "Big Dipper" Chamberlain
By Bill Osthoff International
By Bill Osthon United Press International
United Press International Big Walt Wesley, the KU 6-foot-11 pivot, is living in the giant shadow of his idol Wilt Chamberlain.
Wesley, a junior, wears Wilt's old uniform—No. 13, and has Wilt's old disc jockey radio show on the KU campus. But most important to Jayhawker followers, Wesley is the Big Eight Conference's biggest scoring threat since the "Big Dipper" roamed the Midlands in the "Fifties."
Each of the 16,000 passes thrown to the current KU star by coach Ted Owens have paid off handsome dividends. During each Kansas practice session Owens, in his freshman year as Jayhawk mentor, fires Wesley 150 passes.
Wesley got off to a respectable start with a better than 19-point average during the first semester but those passes began to show after semester break.
'BIG DOE' — KU center Walter Wesley gets his final chance at cracking, the Big Eight individual and field goal scoring records tomorrow when the Jayhawks tangle with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The 'Big Doe,' as Wesley calls himself on his weekly radio show, has been scoring at a 30-point clip in guiding Kansas to six victories in its last seven starts that have kept alive the Jayhawks' slim hopes for a share of the conference crown.
Monte Johnson, KU's assistant athletic director and a former teammate of Chamberlain's, says Wesley "is a better shooter with a softer touch than Wilt but he is not yet the shot-blocker and rebounder Chamberlain was—not yet anyway."
His conference pace is 27.0 and he needs just 19 points in his season finale Saturday to set a new Big Eight scoring mark. The old record of 25.9 was set by former K-Stateer Bob Boozer in 1959.
Wesley is averaging nine rebounds a contest and blocks between four and five shots per game.
"He's playing as well as any center in the country today, bar none," Owens declares.
Rival coach Tex Winter of Kansas State remarks "that the first time I saw him I thought it was luck, more. But after seeing him more, he shoots that well against anybody from anywhere on the floor.
"Why he hit 14 of 19 shots against us in Columbia and finished with 34 points. But the great thing about him in that game is he sat out 15 minutes with foul trouble. The pro scouts are lickin' their chops over him," Vanatta adds.
"I've got to go along with Tex. Wesley is tops in the country as far as college centers are concerned.
"I feel he's the best college center in the country today." Winter claims. And Missouri coach Bob Vanatta agrees:
Chamberlain, who is Wesley's idol,
had occasion to see Walt last year
when he averaged 10.5 and started
only five games as a sophomore.
"I think this kid is an outstanding professional prospect because of his size, mobility and shooting," Chamberlain said.
Outstanding centers are not unusual to the KU fan, who has cheered not only Chamberlain but others such as: B. H. Born, Clyde Lovellet, Bill Bridges, and Wayne Hightower in the past 12 years.
All except Hightower guided the Jayhawkers into the NCAA playoffs and Kansas fans are hoping Wesley will follow suit.
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The Jayhawks are the tallest and hottest thing going in the Big Eight at the moment. Forwards AI Lopes (6-5) and Riney Lochmann (6-6), along with "Wonderful Walt" Wesley (6-11) on the pivot give the Jays the biggest front line in the league. In reserve, there is rugged sophomore Ron Franz (6-7), so the Cowboys again face a distinct height disadvantage. KU guards are crafty Del Lewis (6-1) and David Souchte (6-1).
In other games Saturday, Missouri invades Kansas State and Iowa State plays at Colorado.
Missouri can clinch at least a tie for third with a victory over Kansas State and Colorado will be out to snap a three-game losing streak against the Cyclones.
1. I've been weighing the possibility of becoming a perpetual student.
Last week you said you were considering the merits of mink farming.
2. With graduation drawing near I realized how much more there was for me to learn.
You didn't also realize, did you, that when you graduate your dad will cut off your allowance?
3. I must admit the thought did enter my mud.
Has the thought ever entered your mind that you might get a job and make a career for yourself?
4. What about my thirst for knowledge?
Just because you work doesn't mean you have to stop learning.
5. You mean earn while learning?
Right. And you can do it at Equitable. They'll pay 100% of your tuition toward a qualified graduate degree. At the same time, the work is challenging, the pay is good, and I hear you move up fast.
6. But what do I know about insurance?
With your thirst for knowledge, I'm sure you'll be the star of their development program.
Make an appointment through your Placement Office to see Equitable's employment representative or write to Edward D. McDougal, Manager, Manpower Development Division for further information.
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