Evening star., 1939-01-30
1ie-Ending Ti|ts
Color Program
In Midwest
Keen Coast Battling
Due, but East, South
Have Mild Cards
BY HUGH S. FULLERTON, Jr.,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

=
NEW YORK, Jan. 30.-Since
basket ball strength is so we'll dis
tributed that even standout team
seldom gets through a season I'M
beaten, it isn't likely any of the
major conference college races will
be settled for another month or.
more. Nevertheless, there's decisive
action scheduled this week in prac-
tically all of the major circuits.
A few MidWestern teams last week
defied the unwritten rule that there
can't be any important games while
midyear examinations are going on
ard the main results were first
place ties in the Big Ten and Big
Six circuits. Minnesota and Ohio
State wound upon even terms in
the Big Ten, as the Gophers knocked
Illinois out of the lead and Ohio
State took two games. Iowa State
climbed up even with Missouri in
the Big Six race.
Lively Week in Midwest.
Tonight Minnesota plays at Chi
cago in a game which likely will
send the Gophers ahead again. while
Iowa State takes on Nebraska's live
ly team, tied with Kansas for Sec
ond in the Big Six race. These
games take some of the edge off
pair of Saturday contests which still
shape up as the ones to decide the
leadership. Minnesota and Ohio
State come together at Minnesota
and Missouri plays Iowa State at
Ames.
Oklahoma A. and M, unbeaten
leader of the Missouri Valley Con-
ference, also flirts with trouble to-
night when it plays Drake at Des
Moines.
In the Pacific Coast Conference,
California and Southern California
had it out last week without reach
ing a decision about the Southern
Division title and tomorrow and
Wednesday Washington and Oregon
will try to come to a conclusion
in the Northern section.
Coast Clashes Important.
Washington, unbeaten this sea-
son, tops the group. while Oregon
is right behind with seven games
won and one lost. Their two clashes
this week may settle things. provid-
ing Washington State, still within
striking distance, doesn't beat them
both out. California retained the
Southern Division lead by splitting
games with the Trojans. This week
it's U. c. L. A. against Stanford.
The leaders don't meet again until
late February.
Colorado, setting a fast pace in
the Rocky Mountain Big Seven after
dropping Wyoming from the picture
last week. risks its unbeaten record
in Utah Friday and Saturday, play
ing Utah State, the second-place
team, and Brigham Young.
On the Eastern and Southern
fronts. things remain comparatively
calm for another week.
Baylor again is the most active
member of the Southwest Confer
ence. playing Arkansas twice. while
Southern Methodist. the unbeaten
leader, remains idle. The Bears
whipped Rice to gain second place
last week.
East's Leaders Entrenched.
Alabama, which captured the
Southeastern Conference lead by
beating Kentucky after losing to
Georgia, plays only Vanderbilt.
Georpia's threatening team and
Louisiana State, tied for second, play
Auburn and Mississippi State, re-
Spectively.
Wake Forest already is assured OF
place in the Southern Conference
tournament with seven victories in
eight games, and the deacon's won't
be badly worried if they lose to
North Carolina or South Carolina,
both second division teams. Runner
up Maryland makes strong bid this
week, playing Duke, North Carolina
and North Carolina State.
After a week of complete inaction,
the Eastern Conference race begins
afresh with Saturdays Carnegie
Tech-Pittsburgh tilt topping the
program. Pitt may turn the tables,
but even that can't oust Carnegie,
winner of four straight.
Dartmouth, which won its first
three Eastern League games, faces
last-place Yale Saturday with little
prospect of loss and none at all
Of losing the lead.