The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-17
New NCAA Champ Looms
Oklahoma Out
Cage Race
Aggies, Champion For Two
Years, Drop Tilt To
St. Louis
BY TED MEIER

NEW YORK, Feb. Is. - R -
There will be a new NCAA basket
ball champion this year.
The Oklahoma Aggies, champ
ions for the last two years, we're
knocked out of the picture or Fri
day night when they lost to st.
Louis, 81 to 20. The defeat cost
the Aggies their last chance to re-
tain the Missouri Valley confer
ence title, the first step in the IN
nual NCAA Examinations.
In some ways it was sad to see
the Aggies bow out, especially af-
ter their brilliant start this year
when they won II of IL games, in
Guiding an upset victory over Ken
lucky, generally recognized as the
nations no. l quintet. However, it
adds zest to the NCAA ana
Madison Square Garden Invitation
Tournaments now just around the
corner.
The NCAA Tournament choices
currently shape up as follows:
District One - Holy Cross and
Rhode Island State the leading
contenders with Vermont, upset
last night by Clarkson, and Con-
necticut, outside possibilities. Har-
ward represented the district a
year ago.
District Two - New York Uni
versity, last years choice, a strong
contender along with Syracuse,
West Virginia, Duquesne, Navy,
Seton Hall and Columbia.
District Three - This usually
goes to the winner Of the Southern
Conference championship tourney,
now regarded as a tossup between
Duke, North Carolina and N. C.
State.
District Four - Wisconsin seems
a clinch as the honor usually goes
to the Big Nine winner and Wis
c%onsin, winner of eight of nine
league games, appears 'in'' as the
conference champion.
District Five - This is the dist
riot in which the Oklahoma Aggies
compete. The choice goes to the
winner of a playoff between the
winners of the Missouri Valley
and Big Six conferences. Four
teams. are still in the running, st.
Louis and Drake in the Missouri
Valley, and Oklahoma and Mis-
souri, in the Big Six.
District Six - Texas appears a
sure bet. The Longhorns are unde-
feated in the Southwest conference
and the choice in the past always
has gone to the conference winner.
District Seven - Either Wyom-
ing or Utah. whichever wins the
Big Seven championship.
District Eight - This goes to the
Pacific Coast conference kings.
UCLA and Oregon State are the
current leaders in the Southern
and Northern divisions. respective
ly. California still has a chance
to take the Southern title.
AS to the possible choices for
the National Invitational tourney.
Kentucky appears certain of d bid.
Coach Adolph Rupp's lads, also
eligible for the district three NCAA
nomination. in the past have chosen
to play in the garden affair. They
won the tourney last year h' a mar
row one-point margin over Rhode
Island State.
The Rhodes also may prefer to
play in the Garden tourney. Their
season record, along with West
Virginia. Syracuse. Muhlenberg
and Arizona. all of whom compel
ed in the tourney last year. merits
another bid. Duquesne. St. Joseph's
of Philadelphia, LaSalle, St. Johns
of Brooklyn and CCNY, along with
Canisius, DePaul, Notre Dame.
Bradley. Chicago, Loyola and Loras
doubtless will receive consideration.
Duquesne. the only undefeateo
team left in the country. seems
} next in line after Kentucky.
The Nab tourney at Kansas
j, City. in which such teams as Ne
vada.. Carbonate GILL Teachers,
Pepperdine ard New Orleans 10y
ola competed last year, also is
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