Evening star., 1930-12-15
FAST QU|NT LIKELY
AT NORTHWESTERN
Picked to Fight Wisconsin
and IIIini for Big Ten
Basket Ball Title.
BY FRANCIS J. POWERS.

~ HICAGO, December 15.-North-
western University, with q share
of the Western Conference foot
ball championship tucked away,
now is favored to capture the Big Ten
basket ball honors. The Purple starts
its cage campaign with four veterans in
the lineup and a sophomore center
who hits the hoop like old Dead-eye
Dick himself.
Wisconsin, that always will be q
dangerous contender so long as DR..
Walter Meanwell Is teaching the
Badgers, and Illinois are expected to
be the other leaders In the Conference
race.
Northwestern's play has been speeded
up by the return of Frank Marshall,
who was ineligible last season. Marshall
is one Of the fastest guards In the
Middle West and often too speedy for
the rest Of his team. Marshall not only
Is flne floor man, but also good shot
from any angle.
Reiff, although not yet great Jumper.
is expected to give the Purple the best
center it has had in years. He bagged
26 points against Notre Dame and is
exceptionally keen on long shots. North
Westerns championship hopes are
further increased by the fact that the
Wildcats do not play Wisconsin, Indiana
or Purdue this year.
Wisconsin Record Fine.
Wisconsin will have one of the small
est teams-in stature-in the confer
ence. DR.. Meanwell lost three Of his
1929-30 regulars and will have Ted
ChmieleWskl, one of the best forwards
IN the Big Ten, only for the remainder
Of the first semester.
Wisconsin again will play the short
pass game that Meanwell has taught
with much success and win be strong
defensive team. During DR.. MeanwellS
Is years at wisconsin the Badgers have
finished among the first four no less
than II times, and such q record can
not be disregarded.
Illinois has no outstanding stars, but
good all-around power and reserve
strength sufficient for almost any occa-
sion. Craig Ruby is one Of the most
successful coaches in the Big Ten, and
his teams annually rank among the best
in the Middle West.
Illinois Is quite certain to win half
Of its games and has q chance for the
championship. Like Northwestern, the
nlini are favored by the schedule and
do not meet Wisconsin, Minnesota or
the Purple.
Purdue, that last year went through
the conference season without q single
defeat, will be hard pushed to make the
first division this Winter. The Boiler
makers lost Stretch Murphy, Glenn
alton, and not even q miracle worker
like Ward Lambert can replace those
fellows
The new Purdue team will be built
around Johnny Wooden, one Of the
best all-around performers in the Big
Ten, and Kellar. Indiana, that usually
Is In the thick Of the Conference cage
battle, also must rebuild its team for
graduation took away four letter men,
including Branch McCracken, q great
center.
Michigan's team viii be handicapped
by lack Of height and viii be composed
largely Of Sophomores since all Of last
seasons regulars have been lost. Ohio
State, If it can locate a first-class CEN
| ter, may get up In the race for 1t has
two fine guards in Wesley Fesler and
Dick Larkins of foot ball fame.
Minnesota may show the greatest i'm
provement of any Conference team
since there are 10 letter men on the
/ squad and the new material Is very
| promising. Chicago promises to be
some better and II Parsons, sopho-
more, who never played high school
basket ball, develops, the Maroons may
give their opponents considerable
! trouble.
At Iowa, where Rollie williams starts
his first year as head coach in Big Ten
competition, a new team must be built
as most Of the veterans were swept
away by inehgibilities when the Hawk
eyes had their big cleanup.
! rETfl1 1Aa fam a1ru- VNtT
the lack Of men like Murphy and Nc
Cracken will make for q more even
race.
Attendance at the preliminary games
in the Conference shows tremendous
interest in the sport and the dedication
of the new Wisconsin field house, Thurs
day night, when Pennsylvania opposes
the Badgers, win draw a crowd of $500