KU wins Big 8, NCAA berth
By MIKE WALKER UDK Sports Editor
The KU Jayhawkers won the Big Eight Conference title last night for the second consecutive year and guaranteed itself a berth in the NCAA Regional tournament.
The regional begins at Allen Field House next week.
The Jayhawkers cinched the title by defeating Colorado 66-59 before a crowd of 14,500. KU still has to host K-State Saturday in the season finale.
TEMPERS FLEW late in the game as Vernon Vanoy got mad at Bob Bauers of Colorado. The two Kansas City boys were guarding each other closely, when they tangled under the basket.
Pat Frink knocked Howard Arndt down during a drive for the bucket, and one of the KU cheerleaders became angry and squared off with Frink. The referee had to shove the mad Javhawker away.
The turning point of the game came with 8:37 left in the second half.
Jo Jo White sparked the Jayhawkers as he drove the entire length of the court for two points with a lay-up.
KU caught fire and started controlling the backboards.
Kansas had 31 rebounds compared with 26 for Colorado. Fourteen came in the second half for KU.
Rodger Bohnenstiel paced the Jayhawkers with 21 points. Most of his points were tallied from lay-ups and short jumpers. Many times a Bohnenstiel bucket would ease the pressure from KU when the Buffalos were gaining momentum.
RON FRANZ FOULED OUT of the game, but not before he scored 12 points including KU's initial four points. Jo Jo White scored six points in the first half and five in the second for a total of 11 points.
Vernon Vanoy scored nine points, four coming in the last three minutes of the game in
crucial free throws. Bruce Sloan and Howard Arndt scored seven and six, respectively.
Sloan was in great form as he stole the ball from the Buffaloes five times and converted the steals into a lay-up and two dunk shots.
KU grabbed the lead 6-5 with a steal and a lay-up by Sloan with 16.42 left to play in the first half. KU then changed to a man-to-man defense and a half-court press. Vanoy picked up three fouls in the first seven minutes of the game.
COLORADO CAUGHT FIRE and gained part of KU's seven point lead back with 4:20 left to play, but Sloan's dunkers erased CU's threat. The Jayhawkers were on top 30-23.
The KU press blew Colorado apart in the final two minutes of the first half. The half time score was 32-25.
As soon as the second half started, Vanoy picked up his fourth foul. Colorado made four points before KU could muster a basket.
Jo Jo White scored a free throw to cool off CU. Colorado now was down by only two pints. But a free throw by Franz and a bucket by Bohnenstiel put KU ahead 36-33.
With 13:09 left KU boosted its lead to six points with Bohnenstel hitting two baskets in a row making the score 44-38.
Ron Franz fouled out with 5:12 left. Pat Frink grabbed Sloan from behind when Sloan raced for a fast-break.
SLOAN'S FREE THROWS made it Kansas 59. Colorado 52 with 3:55 left. White broke loose down court and passed it to Vanoy who put it in the net giving KU a 61-52 advantage.
Pat Frink made Colorado's last six points. Sloan was fouled at the minute mark and missed both free throws, and Frink missed two free throws with 59 seconds remaining. Vanoy scored the last point of the ball game in the last 25 seconds.
KU hit 45 per cent of its field goals and 58 per cent of its free throw attempts; Colorado hit 39 per cent and 65 per cent.
Big 8 gets NIT berth
A Big Eight team will definitely have a berth in the National Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament next week.
Colorado, Kansas State and Nebraska are among teams being considered.
Whether the selected team makes the trip will be up to the administration of the particular school. Duke said he felt at least one of the three teams would be willing to go to the Invitational.
"The CHOICE of the team will be up to the NIT selection committee." Duke said.
Wayne Duke, executive director of the Big Eight Conference, announced during the half-time of the KU-CU game that negotiations had been completed with NIT officials.
The Big Eight team will play the winner of the Marshall-Villa- nova game.
Daily Kansan Tuesday, March 7, 1967
6
Still fourth in UPI
SUA
Current Events Forum
The only decision still to be made in the Big Eight Basketball Conference is who will play in the National Invitational Tournament in New York City.
The Jayhawks will move into the final game of the season this Saturday against K-State with an identical record from 1966. It is KU's best since the 1956-57 days of Wilt Chamberlain when KU copied the NCAA Regional and had a 24-3 showing.
This week's UPI rankings, including first-place votes, winloss records and points tallied:
The Kansas Jayhawks cleared the way for their second consecutive NCAA berth Monday night, defeating Colorado 66-59, and strengthened their position as the UPI's nationally fourth-ranking team.
presents
KU RETAINED the number four spot, for the third straight week, with a 20-3 record and garnered 204 votes from UPI's voting writers across the country.
Some thought the Hawks might move into third as number-three-ranked North Carolina lost Saturday night. But the Atlantic Coast Conference Champs outpointed the Big Eight Champs, 232-294.
Professor and campus pastor at Berkeley
Dr. Frank Moellering
"Ways to Peace in Viet Nam"
Wed., March 8 at 3:30 in the Pine Room of the Union
on
Team Points
1. UCLA 34 (25-0) 349
2. Louisville 1 (23-3) 307
3. North Carolina (21-4) 232
4. KANSAS (20-3) 204
5. Princeton (23-2) 167
6. Houston (23-3) 150
7. Western Kentucky (23-2) 127
8. Texas Western (20-5) 84
9. Tennessee (20-5) 68
10. Boston College (19-2) 61