The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-05

doned the sport for the year.
 Replete with freshmen, the country's squads flashed brand of basketball in the third war year not far off previous standards, with no letup in spirited play and keen competition, and a noticeable in- crease in public interest.
 In Madison Square Garden, site of both the National Collegiate Athletic Assn, and the National Invitation tournaments, attend ance averaged l7,799, while the Red Cross benefit matching of the champions - Utah vs. St. Johns University attracted l8,l25 and contributed $42,O0O to the fund.
 At seasons end, basketball's of- ficials changed four rules to allow five personal fouls instead of four curb skyscraper goal-tending, per init unlimited substitution and au- thorized the referee to declare time out automatically for injuries.
 In a representative All-America the following were selected by the Helms Foundation, which simul- taneously nominated Adolpn Rupp veteran Kentucky coach, to the Hall of Fame: Forwards - Dale Hall, Army; Bob Dille, Valparaiso; Arnold Perrin, Utah; Otto Gra- ham, Northwestern and Colgate Centers Audley Brindley, Dart mouth; Robert Brannum, Ken- lucky. Guards-George Mikan. De Paul; Ava Pain, Oklahoma; Rob- ert Kurland, Oklahoma A. & M. Bill Henry. Rice Mikan was se- lected player of the year"
 Like its football team of the en- suing season, Army's basketball representative dominated their competition with Is victories in as many starts to earn recognition as one of the nations outstanding collegiate quintets, while Great Lakes was generally considered the best service team.
 Dartmouth's formidable aggre- gation romped off with the Eastern Intercollegiate league bunting for the seventh successive year with eight straight, while Tufts won Is and lost to top the New England Independents. Muhlenberg va S Pennsylvania's best. with 20-3 Kentucky walloped Tulane to cop the Southeastern Conference, Ohio States 10-2 paced the Western Big l0) Conference and Denisons nine straight scored in the Ohio Athletic conference.
 The Missouri Valley conference saw Oklahoma Aggies' 2-6 record on top, with Iowa State and Okla homa deadlocking at 9-1 in the Big Six and Arkansas dividing the Southwest with Rice at l1-l. The formal Rocky Mountain confer ence was paced by Colorado Col lege, 60, while Utah was far away the best among the independents with 22-4. On the Pacific Coast Washington captured the northern division. l5-l, and California the southern. 40. while Gonzaga': 21-2 was tops among the indepen- dents and California Tech led tho Southern California Tntercollegi- ate conference. 3-l.
 AS the sectional leaders con- verged on Kansas City and New York for national honors, the stage was set rapidly for the games most thrilling Horatio Alger saga. Utah most lightly held, bowed out in the first round of the National h. vitation via a 46-38 drubbing by Kentucky and Coach Vadal Peter sons baby faced squad prepared to entrain for Salt Lake City. But a tragic accident made 1t impossi- ble for Arkansas to continue in NCAA competition and the Utes jumped at the chance to substi- ute, accepting Dame Opportuni- tvs invitation so avidly that they performed the impossible.
 The Utes, sparkled by National high jump champion Fred Shef- field, drubbed Missouri 45-35, Iowa State 40-3l and found themselves in Madison Square Garden facing powerful Dartmouth. fresh from triumphs over Catholic, 63-38, and Ohio State 60-52. Tn a suspense laden overtime nightmare of shift ing leads, Utah edged out the Big Green 42-40 to become the NCAA champion.
 They did 1t the hard way too not only coming from behind but minus the services of their ace playmaker and high scorer, as Sheffield bowed out with an ankle injury. Matched with St. Johns National Invitation winner for the second consecutive season, they again played without Sheffield out 1.-the. frail appearing Arnold Perrin, who came through In the clutch against Dartmouth with 2 points. posted IT more in the Rec Cross game and the Utes swept tC 2 43-36 victory while capturing the hearts of New York fandom. In annexing the Invitation, St Johns Redmen came from rags tC riches, too. Conceded virtually nc chance, Coach Joe Lapchicki swift-moving, hard-nghting crew upset Bowling Green 44-4O, tool Kentucky 48-45 and continued with their amazing streak in thu finals with De Paul, 47-30. In thu c0f1aolaAihn nlavofY HAnkfIckv ha.