The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-01
TEAMS FACE
SECTIONAL WARS
Some Of Powers Of Last Sea
son Will Not Measure Up
To Past Performances
BY JUDsON BAILEY

To Past performances
BY jUDSON BAILEY
NEW YORK, Dec. 31.-LR-It's a
new year and quite likely q new deal
that the nations college basketball
teams face as they prepare to fold
up the transforming baggage and
settle into sectional schedules.
If the first month of skirmishing
proved anything it was that Oregon,
Ohio State, Long Island university,
Clemson, Missouri, Oklahoma, Drake,
Dartmouth and some Of the other
powers Of the 1899 a aren't
going to measure up to the past per.
formances this campaign.
On the other hand the early ac-
ton has shown that Southern Cali
fornia, Stanford, Indiana, Illinois,
DePaul, Colorado, Utah, Pennsyl-
vania, Baltimore and some others
are entitled to the upper crust.
The two most impressive leaders
to casual observers have been South
ern California and indiana.
Meeting choice competition on
their ~undefeated transcontinental
swing, they added lustre last week
by ending the 42.game winning
streak Of Long Island with a $40
decision and bowling ove Temple
$3.50.
The boosters, favorites in the Big
Ten race, have won even straight
games and last week disposed Of
two previously unbeaten foes, Du-
quesne by 51.49 and Vi.lanova 45.33.
In the debit column Of last sea-
sons leaders, Oregon's NCAA and
Pacific coast champions, already
beaten in three out Of six road en-.
gagements, lost two others to De.
Paul 1897 and to Western Illinois
Teachers 42.40 before %trouncing AL
gustana (Il.) 1922.
Ohio States Buckeyes, champions
Of the Big Ten, dropped consecutive
games to Kentucky $3.50 and to
Pittsburgh, 1890.
BY next Friday or Saturday near.
iy every major conference will be
ready for open strife.
BY sections the New Years Day
picture is something like this:
East: The Ivy league will get
started Saturday, Pennsylvania play.
ing Cornell. Penn showed 1t will
have to be given consideration by
humping California 1884 last night.
Dartmouth's defending champions
were swamped during the week by
Stanford 1923 and beaten by
Rochester IN. " 1886. Undefeated
and untested Brown is a dark.
horse.
Long Islands Blackbirds probably
still are the leading eastern inde-
pendent, with eight victories against
assorted opposition, although their
57-49 setback by Southern California
furnished their national standing.
Baltimore and Rochester look like
the leading rivals for this vague
honor.
Midwest: Indiana's grip on the
Big Ten or the eve of the confer.
ence t!p-oft is anything but firm.
Illinois has won six without being
beaten. The Him pummelled Notre
Dame 1929 and Drake 1892 during
the week. Northwestern and Chi.
cago also are undefeated, but hardly
tested.
Real threats for a wide open a
however, came from Minnesota
which took two Of a three game Sc.
r'es with Washington at Seattle last
week; from Michigan, which has
lost only n game; and from Pur-
due, which stopped Southern Meth.
odist 1925 and Rice 52.41.
De Paul, incidentally, enhanced
Its midwestern leadership by the
Oregon victory and another over
Centenary, 46-14, last week. Its only
loss this season was an overtime
decision to Southern California,
Bradley Tech, a top.notcher last
year, won from California 40.39 and
Cornell 1881 during the week.
South: Outlook In Southeastern
and Southern conferences is be.
elouded by lack Of sufficient compe.
tition, but Kentucky's victory over
Ohio State in a Sugar Bowl game
on top Of its previous conquest of
Clemson, defending Southern con-
ference champ, indicates the Wild.
cats will be fearsome again,
A line on the Southern conference
ought to be available after tomor-
row night when Clemson meets
Maryland, the team it defeated for
the title last winter. Clemson was
beaten by Baltimore 54-4o last
night.
Missouri Valley: Oklahoma Agaies,
co'champions with Drake in the
Missouri Valley conference last sea.
son, have bounced back from = loss
IN their opening game by winning
nine straight and won the fourth
annual Oklahoma invitational to,,r,
nament last night with a s7.34 vic.
tory over Texas Tech. Drake also
dio a bouncing act, for after LOSING
out Of five games in ten davs
1t nosed out Iowa State 1890
which was unbeaten in five
games.
Tl>
Inc Iowans were regarded as Big
81. conference standouts with an at.
tack that had averaged SO points
a game. Kansas now looms as the
Dig gun. Missouri and Oklahoma.