Short Shots
BY BRUCE CARNAHAN Kansan Sports Editor
Two early conference losses to Missouri and Iowa State dimmed KU's hopes in the race for the conference championship, but consecutive victories over Colorado and Oklahoma have suddenly thrust the Jayhawks back into the title picture.
The victory over Colorado, defending Big Eight champion, coupled with last night's 78-41 thrashing of Oklahoma, the preseason tourney champs, assures rival coaches that KU has finally picked up the confidence, experience and momentum necessary for a conference contender.
The Sooners, minus star Garfield Hurd who was suspended from the game because of disciplinary problems, attempted to slow up the contest so that they could stymie Dave Robisch's powerful inside play. But OU's game strategy was in vain as the Jayhawks patiently waited out the Sooners and gradually pulled to a commanding edge late in the opening half. KU let many such leads slip away earlier in the season, however this time the 'Hawks showed a killer instinct, put together 40 minutes of complete basketball, and buried the invading Sooners.
OU's attempt to control the game with a deliberate offense tempted Ted Owens, KU coach to say, "I think it was good strategy of McCloed to play possession and try to spread us out, but I'm going to the national committee and fight for a time clock." Owens stressed the importance of the proposed time device by saying, "If every game was played this way (the OU game) we would have just a handful of people."
Particularly impressive in the victory were KU's balanced scoring attack and an effective press. Owens said Robisch was the key to the offense because he was able to pass off when the Sooners sagged on him on the baseline. Owens said he thought the press would work against OU because it bothered them in the tournament and because Colorado had success with the press against the Sooners.
The contest also proved that KU's backline corps have finally come to age. Both Aubrey Nash and captain Chet Lawrence played one of their better games as they netted 11 and 8 points respectively.
Owens was particularly pleased with the play of Roger Brown, second line center, and stressed Brown's importance by stating, "I was really pleased because Roger has to help us down the stretch. He just needs to loosen up."
The stretch run is nearing and the Jayhawks have proven that they will be in the thick of the race, one of the most hectic in the conference's history.
10 KANSAN Feb. 3
1970
Baby Bull goes to air
Pierre Russell, the 'Hawks 6-3 junior forward, lets fly one of his typically high arching jump shots that netted him 16 points against the Sooners. Defending for OU is No. 50, Ronnie Lynch.
Jayhawks blister OU
By STEVE SHRIVER Assistant Sports Editor
Kansas ran off 14 straight points at the end of the half and avenged an early season loss to Oklahoma, 78-41, last night in Allen Field House. The Sooners never threatened after trailing only 20-19 with 4:14 left before intermission when the Jayhawks unleashed a 16-2 outburst in front of 9,500 screaming fans.
Once again, Dave Robisch, the Big Eight's leading scorer and rebounder, coped game honors in both departments finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds. He canned 14 of 15 free throws before yielding to reserves with about four minutes left when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
But, one of the 'Hawks most devastating weapons against the Sooners' slow-down offense, was the full court press which forced 22 OU turnovers and gave KU several easy layups. The Sooners could not handle the press and Pierre Russell came through with several steals, three of them in the burst at the end of the half. Russell finished right behind Robisch with 16 points and 9 rebounds, but it was his sparkling defensive heroes that gave the crowd its biggest thrill.
Clifford Ray led Oklahoma with 12 points and 5 rebounds before fouling out with nearly six minutes left in the game. Ray was one of three Sooners to foul
while the Sooners could manage only 32.5 of theirs. The Jayhawks committed only 17 fouls and OU hit 15 of 19 for 79 per cent; KU converted 65 per cent of their charities on 24 of 37.
out as OU committed 26 persons.
OU missed the services of Garfield Heard, their leading scorer with a 19.8 average, and two reserves who had been suspended for the game by coach John MacLeed for missing a weekend bed-check.
Dominating both defensive and offensive backboards, the 'Hawks carved out a 38-19 rebound advantage over the shorter and outmanned Sooners. Kansas committed only 11 technical errors, well under their 20 per game average.
Passing the ball as many as 18 or 20 times before taking a shot, the Sooners were in the game until KU went into their press. It was a curious twist considering the usual running, high-scoring affairs KU and OU have put on in the past, and may have caused some fans to recheck the uniforms to see if it wasn't really Oklahoma State on the floor.
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Kansas hit a blistering 59 per cent of their shots in the first half and ended the game shooting 52 per cent of their field goals,
The victory left KU with a 3-2 conference record and OU sank to 1-4. Both teams now have 12-5 overall records. The Sooners, Big Eight Tourney champions, have been regarded as title contenders, which made the win all the sweeter for Kansas.