The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-26

Only One Member
 Of Last Seasons Crack Squad Gone
Fifth of Q series of sectional basketball round-ups.
 BY JERRY BRONDFIELD
 NEA Service Sports Writer

Midwest basketball, as rough If not as brilliant as you'll find any- where in the country, expects a stormy campaign once the pre.holi- day skirmishes are out of the way and the teams get down to the busi- ness of meeting the succession of tough ones on their schedules.
 With two or three possible ex- captions, there are no standotits, but there probably is better bal- ance of strength than there has been in years.
 Consensus is that Ohio State, which won the Western Confer- ence title last winter and lost to oregon in the National Collegiate finals, will fall far short of repeat- ing.
 The early favorite for sectional and national honors is Indiana, runner-up in the Big Ten Q year ago.
 With just e little development, Purdue, Notre Dame, DePaul and Butler also should go long way.
 Only one regular Is missing from the Indiana quintet which almost gave Branch McCracken e con- ference title in his first year as coaon, That regular, however, was Ernie Andres, All.Ameriea guard, and If McCracken can replace him the Bloomington boys should al. most be a shoo-in.
 Bob Dro and Herman Schaeffer are back at the forwards, Bill Menke at center and Captain Mar. win Huffman holds down his guard post. The other backcourt job has been won by Paul tcurly) Arm. strong, converted forward.
 Indiana doesn't have much height but collectively it has q great shooting eye and world of speed,
 Reserves are deep and good enough to run the opposition to the ragged edge,
 NOTRE DAME AND DePAUL TEAMS WILL COME ALONG
 Notre Dame, although it misses Earl Brown and Eddie Sadowski, should come with rush. with Capt. Mark Ertel at center and a clever pair of forwards in Eddie Riska and Sophomore George Sobek Tab the Irish as a tough nut to crack by February,
 Depaul bid adieu to tho great Bobby Ncu ono of the nations crack forwards, but tho Chicagoans have what it takes to wind Up as one of the best.
 Tho starting team averages 6 feet 3 inches and has four returns ing regulars.
 Elmer Gainer is again at center, Stan Ssukala, c great guard, pairs with Ed Sachs Ed Norris, c sen. His running mate in carly season for, holds down c forward post games has ben Stan Tollstam.
 When you combine height with successful fast break you've got something and that's the way DePaul measures up
 Ohio State, with Veterans John Schick and Jack Lynch showing the way to c crop of brilliant sophomoreS, is c dark horse at best.
 Piggy Lambert has another good squad in the making at pur. Boilermakers took C good Detroit team over the hurdles indicates they'll Do hard to stop.
 Fred Boretta is a fine guard. Bob 1gney is Q sharp.eyed for. ward,
 OKLAHOMA, MISSOURI AND KANSAS IN B1d SIX RACE
 Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan will be dangerous in the Big Ten. Iowa, Minnesota, Chicago and Northwestern won't cause too much trouble.
 Butler has q flock of veterans and tho Bulldogs easily should Dc among the top-rankers,
 Graduation wrecked Bradley's Famous Five" of last season. just when the Braves are attempting tho most ambitious schedule iii their history.
 Toledo's outstanding team of last season, which included the re- markable forward, Chuck Chucka- wits, was wrecked by graduation.
 Tn the Big Six the battle should be e three-way affair between Ok. lahoma and Missouri, last years co-champions, and Kansas. Fiery Jimmy MeNatt k back to lead the soonors. John Lobsiger, Blaine Currence and Bill Harvey form q good nucleus for the Tigers Kan- sas has Bob Alien, son of Coach phog Allen, and Ralph Miller to head the attack.
 Nebraska, Kansas State. and Iowa State arc slightly improved but aren't expected to have much voice in the championship pro.