Evening star., 1941-02-17
i. :. Title Goal
AsCourt Races
Near Finish
Hoyos, CoIonioIs Rated
Among Leading Score
Of Nations CUNTS
BY HUGH S. FULLERTON, Jr.,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE vari-
Gus basket ball races, objects of
intense interest since the teams
ended their international "barn-
storming" last month, are approach
ing a settlement. The next ques-
ton that arises is, who are the
leading candidates for the 1941
national title?"
Obviously the teams that already
have virtually clinched their con-
ference titles rate first conSidera-
ton. These are Arkansas, unbeaten
in eight Southwest Conference
games; Stanford and Washington
State in the two divisions of the
Pacific Coast Conference, wyoming
in the Big Seven, North Carolina
in the Southern Conference and
Kentucky in the Southeastern loop.
North Carolina and Kentucky
can't win their title outright, but
have to go through the ordeal Of
defending them in tournament play
starting February 27. They're both
outstanding favorites, however, as
the Tar Heels haven't lost in IL
conference games and Kentucky has
won its last five to move into first
place after bad start.
Kansas, Wisconsin Good Bets.
Other teams that look to be good
bets are Kansas in the Big Six and
Wisconsin in the Big Ten. Creigh-
ton and Drake are tied for first
place in the Missouri Valley Con-
ference, while Dartmouth suffered
its first Eastern League loss at
CornellS hands last Saturday and
now has a battle on it's hands
against Columbia as well as the
Comedians. Wisconsin's margin
over Indiana is slender, but the
Badgers have won seven conference
games in g row.
Taking all-season records into
consideration, Arkansas, which
dropped its only game to the Phil
lips Oilers, a powerful A. A. U.
club, in 16 starts; Stanford, with
two losses in 20 games; Washing
ton State Q7-3), Indiana. winner
of 26 successive home games and
IS of Is played this season; Wis
conSin 03-3), Dartmouth (12-3)
and North Carolina 13-4) rank up
at the top. With them such teams
as Seton Hall and Baltimore, each
unbeaten in IA starts; Rhode Island
State 16-D, Long Island Q7-0,
Georgetown, Villanova, DuqueSne,
George Washington, Notre Dame,
recent conqueror of New York U.
for its 10th straight in a 14-3 rec
ord; Toledo, De Paul and Bradley
Tech.
Before they get down to scrapping
for the national collegiate A. A. title,
won by Indiana last year, number
Of things remain to be settled.
On Top This Week.
Among this weeks doings:
East-Dartmouth plays Yale, then
runner-up Columbia, and may be
ousted from the league lead. Balti-
more risks its unbeaten record
against Long Island as the Black
birds return from Midwestern trip.
Seton Hall plays ST. Joseph Of In
diana while Rhode Island has four
games listed.
MidWeSt-WisconSin plays Pur-
dues 1899 Big Ten champions and
weak Wisconsin while Indiana
tackles two toughieS away from
home, Ohio State and Iowa. Kansas
concentrates on tonight's tilt with
Oklahoma A. and Ma duel be-
tween the coaching masters" Phog
Allen and Hank Iba-while the other
Big Six contenders battle among
themselves. The Oklahoma AggieS
also test both Missouri Valley lead
ers. Creighton and Drake.
South-Although there's a heavy
schedule, with Wake Forest playing
five games, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Washington and Lee, Will
liam and Mary and Virginia Mill
tary already are sure of their places
in the title tournament. Richmond,
Duke and Wake Forest likely will
fill the other spots.
Vanderbilt, dark horse" after
beating Georgia Tech and Auburn,
apparently holds the key to the
Southeastern situation. The Com
modores play Kentucky once and
Tennessee twice this week. Second
place Florida is through for the
season.
Southwest-Arkansas, finally leav-
ing its home court, can clinch the
conference title by beating last-place
Texas Christian twice if Southern
Methodist loses any one of three
games. The weeks nine contests
make up the heaviest schedule in
conference history.