Evening star., 1946-01-28
National Honors Loom
For Irish, Unbeaten
In Cage Tests
BY JOE REICHLER,

Notre Danes star studded basket
ball team, already hailed as one of
the greatest to represent the famous
South Bend university, may also at
tain the distinction of becoming the
first cage squad in the schools his
tory to go through an entire season
undefeated
Although they are riding the crest
of 12-game winning streak, Coach
Elmer Ripley's Ramblers still have
a long way to go. Numbered among
their victims are the powerful ag-
lgregations of De Paul, Great Lakes,
Purdue, Chanute Field and Ken
lucky, but the fighting Irish still
must get by such stalWarts as
Michigan State, Northwestern and
New York University as we'll as
De Paul in return engagement. OF
these, Michigan State and North
western are to be met this week. y
Irish Bowl Over Kentucky.
Outstanding OF Notre Danes tri-
umphs was the 56-47 conquest of
Kentucky Saturday night, which
enabled the Irish to keep in front
of Oklahoma A. and M. and New
York University in the race for ma
tlonal honors. The Aggies and
Vlolets each have lost one game.
The closest any Notre Dame five
came to enjoying an undefeated
slate was in the 1886 and 1867
seasons when the late George
keogan piloted the Irish to records
of 10 victories and one defeat in
each season.
West Virginia, with II victories,
and Navy, with 6, are the only other
unbeaten major college quintets, but
their schedules have not been nearly
as tough as those of Notre Dame,
Oklahoma A. and NJ or N. Y. U.
The Aggies showed their class with
pair of convincing triumphs over
Wyoming Friday and Saturday by
34-24 and 1924 scores. Previously
Wyoming had lost only once in 13
games and was ranked among the
Nations best. The Aggies will at
tempt to improve on their 12-l rec
ord this week against Tulsa, st
Louis and Washington University of
st. Louis.
n. Y. U. Looks to Notre Dame.
The New York Violets, idle last
week, prepare for their all-importantI
Madison Square Garden clash with
Notre Dame February by engag-
ing Boston College at the Boston,
Garden Thursday. Victories in IL of
their II games, including decisions
over Colgate, Arkansas, Colorado and
Cornell, the Violets suffered only a
43-41 setback by North Carolina.
In addition to the Aggies and Vio-
lets, the group of once-beaten teams
now comprises Kansas Q4, Akron
Q2), Muhlenberg Q2), Toledo 1D
Rhode Island I'D, Yale 00), Iowa
00), Holy Cross 90. Louisiana State
80, Gettysburg 90 and Pitts
burgh (6).
A glance at the major conference
races:
Big Ten-Minnesota 40 still in
first place. Ohio State lost to leave
Iowa (4-D alone in second place
Big Six-Kansas in first place
with SO. Oklahoma second with
7 (3-D.
Southern-Duke suffered its first
defeat, losing to Maryland, but re-
tanned lead at 81 over North Caro-
lima CID.
Southeast Race Is Tight.
Southeastern-Tight race between
Louisiana State go and Kentucky
90 with Tennessee (3-D next.
uthwestern-Baylor (4-D broke
a flrst-place tie with Arkansas (3-D
by defeating Rice. Texas took over
third at Al.
Eastern intercollegiate - Dart
mouth upset Cornell to retain
chance for title. Cornell now has
ST. with Dartmouth second (4-D.
: Missouri Valley-Oklahoma A. &
NJ and st. Louis tied for first with
20. Washington third at IL.
Big Seven-Brigham Young and
Colorado U. tied for first with 81.
Wyoming at 81, third.
Pacific Coast (Southern Division)
Southern California, with a pair
of victories, took over first place at
II. California, idle, remained at
81. for second place.
Pacific Coast Northern Division
Race became wide open when
) Idaho knocked off erstwhile leaders,
oregon State, twice. Washington
! (5-3 now leads with Oregon State
second (4-3 and Idaho third go