Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-01-08

@cA'hScSSAAA
along, elimination of the
center jump is catching on
with coaches, officials and SPECTATORS
particularly spectators. Players are
adjusting themselves to the swifter
play, realizing they cannot run at top
speed every minute.
John Schommer, veteran Western
Conference official. believes the pres
ent stvle of play is the best since DR..
James Naismith conceived the game.
Schommer is real authority on
basketball, for he started playing
when the idea was to pitch an indoor
baseball or soccer ball into a peach
basket and there was no limit to the
players on side.
II think it is easier to officiate
since the center jump was eliminated,
and certainly there is more sustained
entertainment for spectators" Schom-
mer said the other night, after work.
ing the Northwestern-Ca California game.
certainly the added playing time and
speed made it more fatiguing on play
ers until they began to adjust them
selves. The boys have had to get
away from the fast break and long
passes and learn to conserve their en-
ergies."
"Athletic Heart" Theory Gone.
THE effects of eliminating the center
jump on players was discussed by
. prominent heart specialist recently.
1.-THE theory of an athletic heart has
been discarded by the medical pro-
fession," he related. IF boy has
sound heart, the added playing time
should have no detrimental effect.
II he has an unsound heart, he should
not be allowed to play any game de-
manding speed and endurance.
ITO my way of thinking, the great
est danger to basketball players is
lack of oxygen. Put from 5000 to
$4,000 spectators in gymnasium or
field house, and their consumption of
oxygen Is tremendous. After 10 or Is
minutes players begin to suffer from
q lack of good air. Further, the boys
would fare better if temperatures in
the field houses we're kept around 40
degrees. It is much better for the
spectators to be a bit uncomfortable
without topcoats' than for the boys to
play in an overheated space"
Acting on this suggestion, North
western cut off the heat In Patten
gymnasium recently. and the Purple
team showed an immediate pickup
In stamina.
Wise to Leave Rules Stand.
DOUG MILLS, the young Illinois
~ coach, is one strong proponent for
the current rules. Il believe that
basketball is now at its peak in popu-
larity and that it will be wise to leave
the rules as they are for long time"
he declared.
Mills is right about the popularity
of the game. 1t began to take ma
tional hold on the public with the
elimination OF the pivot play and the
introduction of the and 10 second
rules. Now, with scoring increased,
spectators are frequently on their
feet; often to pay respects to officials
for the game moves so fast that many
fouls are missed by the customers.
Coaches are learning that some of
the old methods of defense have be-
come passe. The winning teams are
those that have five players who can
hit the hoop from any spot inside
midfoor, a style of play that Purdue
has employed for many years. In the
games the writer has seen this sea-
son there have been many more long
goals, and, for spectators, midcourt
shot is much the same as long for
ward pass in football.
Wild Season Promised.
WITHOUT the Jump, it is necessary
wv for coaches to use more players,
and that is making for larger and
better squads. Height still is an
asset for high passes and play under
the baskets, but strong legs are equally
desirable, since the game really is
tough on spindle shanks.
Early games in the Western Confer
ence point to wild season. Indiana.
rated one of the weaker teams, de-
feated Illinois, champion in 1887, and
there are bound to be numerous up
sets. Purdue has been playing on the
Pacific Coast, but, when the Boiler
makers set out on their Big Ten
schedule the fur really will fly.