Titlebidlands on Texas side
By Jack Harrington
Lubbock, Tex.-The KU Jayhawks' chance at a second NCAA national crown slipped from their grasp Saturday night as Texas Western edged the Hawks in two overtime periods 81-80 at the Midwest Regionals in Lubbock, Tex.
A KU victory appeared almost certain late in the first overtime period when, with two seconds remaining on the clock, sophomore guard Jo Jo White fired in a 35 foot jump shot, only to have the points stolen away when White was ruled out-of-bounds on the shot.
EARLIER, IN THE remaining seconds of the regulation period, White had stolen the ball from Texas Western guard Bobby Joe Hill, raced to the goal on a lay-up and was fouled in the process, for a total of three points including the charity shot, tying the score at 69-69.
The teams scored only two points apiece in the first overtime. It was Walt Wesley for the Jayhawks, when, as neither team could score for the first minute and ten seconds of the period, White and Al Lopes stole the ball from the Miners and completed the pass to Wesley.
David Latin, dead-eye, 6"7"
240-pound sophomore for Texas Western, tied it up with 3:02 showing. Then came White's nullified jumper, and the second period began at 71-71.
LOPES NEARLY saved the day, scoring seven points in the final 57 seconds of the second period. Both Wesley and Del Lewis fouled out in the final two minutes, and the score was 73-79 for Texas Western.
From then on it was Lopes with three field goals, and a technical foul point against Lattin, who hung on the basket rim for several seconds after stuffing a shot which was called back for traveling.
But Lopes' efforts were not enough against the shooting and ball handling of Hill and the time-eating stall that the Miners took up with a minute and 30 seconds left.
HILL WAS THE spark behind the Texas Western momentum. The 5"-9" junior from Detroit stole the ball repeatedly, and connected consistently from all points on the court. He was a master of the unexpected, driving up the middle against KU's greater height and popping in lay-ups despite the defense.
Lattin was second in points for Texas Western with 15, hitting seven field goals and one of two from the line. He is a long jumper, and caused many of Wesley's shots to fall short. His jump shot was deadly from all directions, and he seemed to hang in the air for several seconds to size up the shot.
WESLEY AND WHITE were top scorers for the Jayhawks, with 24 and 19 respectively. White showed a great percentage improvement over Friday night against SMU, when he hit only four of seventeen from the court and two free throws.
Wesley had periodic trouble with Lattin guarding him, but still hit consistently with hooks and close-in jumpers, making nine from the field and six from the line for the game high of 24.
The Hawkers used the half-court press sporadically, and it was effective in making the Miners pass across court into awkward positions. However, Texas Western was able to break men loose after a while for easy crib shots within the press.
SIX TURNOVERS, compared with four for Texas Western, along with the inability to hit three crucial one-and-one free throws in the last five minutes of the regulation period, hurt Kansas seriously.
Televised action grips spectators
By Norma C. Romano
Tears and laughter; suspense and relief characterized the emotions of hundreds of students who watched the NCAA Midwest Regional Basketball Tournament on television the past weekend.
The Forum Room, the Trophy Room and the main parlor of the Kansas Union became the weekend headquarters for KU basketball fans, who spent many hours in front of four television sets.
Many arrived as early as three hours before the games started.
AS THE KU-Southern Methodist University game unfolded, so did the spirits of the spectators.
Three Froshhwaks in their red, blue and white uniforms stood up trying to stir the spirits.
The atmosphere became tense. Finally, Del Lewis threw in a foul shot, Walt Wesley tipped in a basket and Jo Jo White hit a free throw in the closing two minutes, sealing a triump for KU. The audience was delirious. KU had won!
Loud cheers greeted every KU basket; strong boos rang out when a call was 'against the Javhawks.
MEN AND WOMEN hugged and kissed. It looked like Armistice Day. Fire crackers were heard across the campus.
The animation of the KU-Texas Western game quickly involved the spectators. They stood up when the Jayhawks made their entrance into Municipal Auditorium. They sat down. They stood up. KU was losing. Soon they were ahead.
Saturday arrived, and so did many KU fans.
A MAN PACED the floor impatient, "I haven't done this since my wife had her first child," he said.
WHEN AL LOPES made a basket, a professor encouraged him with a "Good move, my boy, good move."
A spectacular move by Jo Jo White in the final seconds of the first overtime left the audience frantic with excitement until the referee's whistle sounded, nullifying the play. White had stepped out-of-bounds. Dejection followed. Silence reigned.
Once when Wesley made a shot,
a woman fell off her chair.
Heavy clouds of smoke filled the room. Ashtraws were full.
Three women were crying.
"This is worse than a Hitehcook movie," someone remarked.
AT LAST IT was over. KU had lost 80-81.
Kansas defeat brings heartbreak If consensus determined outcome, 'We deserved the victory'
10
Daily Kansan Monday, March 14, 1966
By E. C. Ballweg Lubbock, Tex.-The University of Kansas lost a basketball game Saturday night.
It was mirrored on the faces of a dozen gallant Jayhawkers and their coaches, Ted Owens and Sam Miranda, who saw a season of hard work and determination ended in a most heart-breaking manner.
By E. C. Ballweg
It was mirrored on the face of Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe as he stood outside the KU dressing room with his arm around his young son, who echoed the expressions of his father.
IT HAD BEEN a vastly different scene Friday night as KU had downed a strong Southern Methodist University team, 76-70, to reach the regional finals. Hopes for the Jayhawks ran high and victory parties of students and alumni went far into the night at various Lubbock motels. Already students were making plans for the even longer trip to College Park, Md., to the NCAA finals.
But Lady Luck had other ideas for Kansas. With two seconds remaining in the first overtime period of a closely fought, loosely officiated ball game, sophomore guard Jo Jo White fired in what appeared to be the game winning basket. Jayhawk supporters went into an hilarious frenzy until the referee apparently saw fit to rule White out of bounds on the shot. Whether anyone else in the crowd of over 8,500 people saw White step out of bounds is purely a matter of conjecture.
rebound and retained possession for the Miners despite the fact that many later testified his foot was out of bounds.
After the ball game. White himself said, "It's always tough when you lose. I didn't think I was out of bounds on my long shot in the closing seconds. However, the officials call the ball game."
The Miners then jumped to a 77-71 lead, which proved too much for the Jayhawks despite a valiant effort and clutch shooting by Al Lopes.
After the game, Owens said of his team, "I think every boy we had did his very best. You couldn't have asked them to try any harder. I will have to label Texas Western as one of the best ball clubs around. If you get a loosely called game—and this one was, they can compete with anyone on a physical basis. I'm very proud of my men. They have a great sense of pride."
ANOTHER PLAY which would be disputed by many Jayhawk fans occurred with about three minutes remaining in the second overtime period with Texas Western leading by two points. The Miner's center, David Lattin, grabbed an important offensive
Chancellor Wescoe said, "What's there to say about the game. We deserved to win it and no one will ever convince me otherwise."
This seemed to sum up the feelings of all the KU fans at Lubbock. To them, KU was still a team of champions.
Photos by E. C. Ballweg
RON FRANZ (11) WATCHES HIS GOAL REGISTER AGAINST S.M.U. This game had the happier ending.