Evening star., 1948-03-04
CIV. W.Unworriied
AS Duke Whips
South Carolina
CoIoniuIs Are Fresh
For Tourney Debut
Against Blue Devils
By MerreH WhittIesey
Stor Sfoff Correspondent

DURHAM, N. c., Mar. 4.-There
is no reason for apprehension
among George Washington fol-
lowers over the 63-48 pasting Duke
handed South Carolina in 9
preliminary round of the 25tt
Southern Conference basket bal
tournament here last night.
Duke plays G. w. in the fourth
game tonight and that 15-point
margin over team that beat G. w
once this season sounds mighty i'm.
pressive at first glance-but Duke
wasn't any world beater last night
G. w. Coach Art Zahn, chartine
each shot in his scouting assign
ment, said he didn't care which
team won but he had hopes II
would be a close game, which woulc
make the winner tired and be-
draggled while G. w. figures to be
fairly fresh, having rested since
Monday.
Zahn was doing q lot of pencil
pushing, scouting both teams, early
lin the game, but when Duke took
a 30-14 lead he forgot about South
Carolina and started concentrating
on the Blue Devils, a team G. w
shaded here, 49-48, in their only
regular season meeting.
But that's where Zahn and lot
of others made a temporary mis-
take. Duke gave up its all-court
press, the Gamecocks regained their
composure, and in complete about
face scored 20 of the next % points
to take a 1892 lead early in the
second half.
GamecOcks Wax Weary.
South Carolina had its fling. The
team that beat G. w. in Washing
ton this year, yet barely qualified
for the tournament by tying for
eighth place, was tired and Duke S
fast break ran the Gamecocks
ragged in the last 10 minutes. Coach
Gerry Gerard had a chance to rest
his regulars as the lead mounted
Corren Youmans tossed in % points
for the Devils from all over the
court.
The G.. w. players saw the first
half, before zahn called curfew,
and to a man they figure they can
take Duke tonight. The most en-
couraging thing to G. w. was South
Carolina's 22-point squirt, during
which Duke looked little like a con-
tender.
North Carolina State, already
conceded the title by the wiseacres
here. opens today's program against
William and Mary. ~ One dollar
would get you a hundred that Will
liam and Mary wouldn't still be in
the tournament at one time during
it's game against Wake Forest last
night, but an amazing eight-point
squirt in minute and IS seconds
helped them to a 61-56 triumph
over the daZed DeaconS.
Terrapins Are UnderdOgs.
The University of Maryland
which staggered into the tourna-
ment with a 9-and-7 Conference
record, is a distinct underdog
against Davidson in today's o'clock
offering. The Terps beat Davidson
by a point at College Park early in
the season, but the Wildcats re-
gained two of their star players
since that time and, led by ALL Con-
ference George Cheek, Davidson
closed fast and won 10 Of its last
II games.
Tonight's first offering brings to-
gether North Carolina, finalist last
year and seven time champion
against v. P. l., a team conceded
little chance against the Tar Heels
George Washington and Duke fol-
low at 9:15.
Bill Cantwell, G. w. captain, high
scorer and All-Conference anc
unanimous All-District choice, will
not start for G. w. against the
Blue Devils. Zahn has his pet the
ory about keeping Cantwell out Of
the game for the first 10 minutes
or so, and he's going to stick to it
The Colonials have Howard Hoff-
man available, although his injured
ankle, which kept him out of the
last several games, still is weak.
Raleigh's $4,000 watt station
WPTF, will carry all tournament
games today at $50 on the dial
The station can be picked up in
Washington.