The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1946-02-11
wide OPEN
HOOP SCR AMPLE
ny NORMAN MILLER
United Pres Sports Writer

New York, Feb. li--(UP)-There
wasn't an indicated basketball
team in the country today but
there was a "ful house" OF con-
tenders for national championship
honorS.
Three top-ranking quintets, New
York University, North Carolina,
and Bowling Green, emerged from
brilliant weekend battles to win ma
tionwide acclaim and merit con-
sideration for basketball's world
series"-the big tournaments in
March.
N. Y. us Vlolets, ignoring the
experts who made them Viewpoint
underdog came through with q So
to SO victory over Notre Dame and
established themselves as the casts
leading contender.
The triumph was the 18th In IA
games for coach Howard Cams
Violets. For the Irish, still not to
be counted out Of the national pic
ture, the setback was the second in
l6 starts.
North Cardinals Tarheels, whose
previous achievements probably
haven't attracted the plauditS due
them, finally commapde0 attention
by handing Navy its first setback
in nine starts this season, 81 to 49.
Won ~, Lost 2
The Carolinians, who also were
responsible for New York Univer-
sity's lone defeat Of the year, have
a record Of % wins against two de-
feats and definitely merit tourna-
ment consideration.
Bowling Green of Ohio stepped
back into the limelight with rous-
ing 48 to 81 upset over Oklahoma
A and M in the finals Of the Chi
cago stadium round robin meet.
Oklahoma A and M, defending
national champion, previously had
won IA straight contests and had
been beaten only once, by DePaul,
this season. The Cowboys, far
ahead of their closest rivals in the
Missouri Valley Conference, are
still one of the most formidable
teams in the land.
In other sectors there were at
least half dozen teams whose
outstanding performances put them
in the forefront nationally.
Iowa, defending champion Of the
Big Ten, was back at the top Of
the conference heap with seven
wins in eight games. The Hawk
eyes total record Of IL wins and
one loss stamps them one Of the
claSsiest in the midwest.
In the Big Six, coach Forrest
(Phog) Aliens perennially strong
Kansas Jayhawkers were the Lead
ers, indicated In six conference
starts. Only Oklahoma A and M
has been able to take the measure
Of the Jayhawkers in 16 games
played to date.
Dartmouth topped Cornell, IS to
So, over the weekend to come with
in easy shooting distance Of its
seventh Ivy League hop title in
eight years. The Indians need only
a victory over Columbia this Satur-
day to make it.
Yale N. Z. Champs
West Virginia's speedy Mount
aineers, recent conquers OF Army,
have hung up IS triumphs against
q lone defeat in the east and must
be counted in on any nationwide
hoop reckoning. Yale, finishing its
campaign with q Saturday victory
over Holy Cross, was top team in
New England with IA wins and one
setback.
Baylor was top-drawer team in.
the Southwest Conference with q
record Of eight victories and one
Delete, although the Arkansas Ra-
zorbacks were close behind with as
many conference wins and one
more setback. The Bears have an
overall record of 10 victories and
two defeats and also have an eye
out for national tournament bids.
A wide open race was If progress
in the Big Seven conference, where
Brigham Young, Wyoming, Colo
RADIO and Utah were tied for first
place with flve wins and two losses
each.
On the Pacific cosst, California
led the Southern Division Of the
conference with nine wins an one
defeat, while Oregon State and
Idaho, usually somewhere around
the league cellar were tied for first
place in the northern sector.